Top 5 Proven Strategies to Stay Healthy by Having Fun

Top 5 Proven Strategies to Stay Healthy by Having Fun

Have you ever felt guilty about just “having fun?” 

Did you suffer pangs that you should be doing something else when taking time out to play a game of darts with the kids? 

Or did you feel bad about calling in sick at work to indulge in a coffee morning with your girlfriends?

Well, you can shed the guilt and self-reproach. Having fun is the best way to stay healthy!

Cultural Attitudes Towards Leisure

There are strikingly different attitudes towards relaxation, fun, leisure, and taking a break across cultures, age groups, and geographies.

Some studies show that Western cultures regard fun and humor as positive traits, while many Eastern cultures consider it to be flippant, less respectful, and not inappropriate in many situations. 

Attitudes also differed during different eras, when for instance in Puritan England, entertainment was considered unholy and a form of idleness. 

Having fun was seen as unproductive, and only indulged in by those who weren’t serious or were immature. The rewards of working overtime, holding multiple jobs, and never taking a vacation are all enshrined in the work ethic. 

However, these attitudes change with time, and history shows us that following a crisis such as war or an epidemic people discover new ways to relax and lower their anxiety by having fun. Today the emphasis is on work-life balance and emotional wellness. 

What Does Having Fun Mean?

When you’re doing something that gives you light-hearted pleasure, or you’re enjoying yourself, making merry, taking part in a new and pleasant experience and perhaps giving a lighter touch to an otherwise serious activity that’s having fun.

Creative activities, things that evoke childhood pleasures, and those that are different from daily routine would also fit this definition. 

A fun activity stops being fun when it becomes goal-oriented and gets too structured or managed.

In that sense, fun can be a very personal experience. Something that you consider as being fun may seem meaningless or boring to someone else. 

Fun and Relaxation: The Wellness Connection

Neuroscientists have discovered that when the human brain encounters an agreeable, novel situation, dopamine is released, resulting in a feeling of pleasure that is stored in the memory.

This counters feelings of anxiety and stress. It creates a memory bank of positive feelings that will stand you in good stead when you encounter an emotional crisis. 

Relaxation allows the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to take over.

It counters the Fight or Flight response generated by the sympathetic nervous system in the face of a real or perceived threat.

Once the issue is resolved, the body has to come back to normal, and this is when the rest and digest response kicks in.

When you’re having fun, the mind and body are in a rested and calmer state and this offers long-term benefits in terms of physical and mental health. 

Having fun helps you to:

• Sleep better
• Have improved memory and concentration
• Have more energy
• Cope better with stress and anxiety
• Fight depression
• Feel less self-conscious and self-important
• Build better relationships with people

Top 5 Proven Strategies to Stay Healthy by Having Fun

• Say “Yes” More Often:

Most of us are so caught up in our routines that we dislike unscheduled events. Break out of this treadmill-like existence and be more open to new experiences. Your friend calls to invite you to take a weekend painting class. You think, “Oh, it’s a waste of time and money, I’m no Picasso!” but it’s something that would give you and your friend time together, playing with colors, making new friends, and enjoying a stress-free break.

• Activate The Good Hormones:

Select activities that will relax and heal. Meditation, yoga, a spa or sauna experience, massages, a warm shower, listening to your favorite music (preferably nothing stressful) learning a new language, playing a board game, or simply going for a walk in the park can lower your stress levels and activate serotonin and dopamine. Non-competitive sports and exercise help your body to relax and flush out stress hormones such as cortisol and acetylcholine.

• Coloring Books:

If you thought crayoning and coloring were things that belong in kindergarten, think again. Today, coloring books for adults are all the rage. They are relaxing and put you in a more peaceful state of mind, while you get a sense of achievement at the end. Similarly, mindful hobbies such as diamond painting or gardening can compel you to use both body and mind positively. Painting by numbers is another great way to chill out and chase away the blues. 

• Be Who You Are:

If you enjoy cleaning your closets on your day off, that’s what allows you to relax. Some people use routine chores such as ironing or doing the dishes as stress-busters. If that’s your thing, there’s no need to apologize for it or feel ashamed to confess that you enjoy cleaning the bathrooms or washing out the curtains. You will find that people respect and accept you more and appreciate the quirky and fun side that you project. That’s much more relaxing and comfortable, rather than hiding your real self.

• Detox from Devices:

Give yourself a real break from your phone, laptop, tablet, and even the TV for a complete digital detox. This is truly having fun. It helps to reset your body clock, lower your stress and alert responses, find new and more creative ways to enjoy yourself, and also bond with those you love. Get off social media and its constant noise and your own compulsive need to check it every half an hour. Connect with your family and friends without distraction.

You’ll find that you sleep better, and feel less lonely, judged, or depressed. Being away from social media allows you to understand that FOMO is not a real thing at all.