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The science behind having fun
“Enjoy life. there is plenty of time to be dead.”
- Hans Christian Andersen
It can be easy to get sucked into the chaos of everyday life when we are focused on our commitments and obligations. Tending to our families, ourselves and our careers can sometimes seem like all work and no play. While it is important to address our needs and those of our loved ones, taking time to enjoy life should be a priority for everyone from a simple self-care perspective. There are plenty of health benefits to incorporating fun into our daily lives. Your doctor may not prescribe fun, but it can do wonders for our sense of wellbeing.
Something as simple as playing games or partaking in recreational activities can help reduce stress, boost our energy and even help us sleep better. Having fun can help improve our relationships and even increase our cognitive abilities, including our memory capacity. All of these amazing benefits are available to us simply by spending more time acting like a kid again. What a concept! Think back to what it was like to be a carefree kid, where one of our biggest concerns was making sure we were home in time for dinner.
Depriving ourselves opportunities to have some fun and enjoyment on a regular basis can actually contribute to increased stress and depressive symptoms. It makes sense if we think about it…
