A RECIPE FOR MORE FUN
ometimes what’s supposed to be the jolliest time S of the year turns into a mad rush that’s not so fun. Science journalist Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again (The Dial Press, Dec. 21), $27, has the antidote for that: Put down your attention-seeking phones, apps and other media and focus on real fun, what she calls “the confluence of playfulness, connection and flow.” Here’s her advice for finding more “true fun” in your daily life. —Dillon Dodson
GET MOVING Physical movement and/or being outdoors contribute to fun, Price’s research confirms. Try activities such as biking or swing dancing or even cleaning the house to your favorite music. Or simply take a walk outside and breathe some fresh air.
LOOK FOR JOY Take note of what makes you happy. “Calling out those tiny moments and giving them weight really boosts my mood,” Price says. “I encourage people to keep a journal to note these moments throughout your day.”
CONNECT COVID-induced quarantine has increased feelings of isolation, but (safe) human connection will always be important. “In my own research, when people described past experiences of true fun, the vast majority involved other people, even for self-described introverts,” Price says.
AND DISCONNECT She calls binge-watching and social media interaction “fake fun.” Those activities “are designed to be very compelling and make you want to consume it in excess, but it makes you feel worse afterwards,” she says. Recognize fake fun and start to replace it with real-life interaction or other more tangible things that give you joy.
DECOUPLE MONEY FROM TIME “We've been conditioned to believe that any use of time that `oes not result in being financially compensate` is not good.” But when expensive products are marketed to us as enjoyable, how much more do we work to pay for them? “Fun actually boosts our productivity because it lets us take a break. It's much more restorative than other things we do with our leisure time. But it should be its own reward.”