Benefits of Spending Time Having Fun

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Although pleasure has various contextual definitions, the act of having fun is really only defined by the person experiencing it. Each of us has the power to get more pleasure out of our lives sometimes we just need the right push.

Now that we move on from what felt like the longest year ever, having fun is so important. According to the Mind Body Green page, here are five research-backed reasons you should have more fun, and why taking at least 30 minutes a day to make it happen is so important.

Why fun is important?..

• Can improve your relationship

Adults tend to have their days mapped out by other people's priorities. When our lives lean toward excessive stress, we often miss opportunities to engage in prosocial behavior. And when our lives become routine and lackluster, our relationships tend to break down.

Giving 30 minutes to rediscover fun with a partner or friend can go a long way. Psychologists and relationship experts John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman, of Seattle's Gottman Research Institute, say fun and adventure are important parts of a successful relationship. They found that happy couples know how to have fun together — suggesting that when we partake in the same acts of humor and affection, our conflict resolution skills also improve.

Remember to always be present with other people. When you are with your partner or friends, turn off your cell phone and avoid any other distractions that jeopardize enjoying the moment. Do this, and you will see your relationship develop.

• Good for the brain

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When you are having fun, you naturally stimulate your curiosity and use your imagination, which helps strengthen your visualization and critical thinking skills. One way to have fun while stimulating the brain is to read a book. Reading can not only reduce stress, it can also take you out of your current reality into another world that is off the page. Enjoying fun activities that introduce us to new ideas and concepts — such as when we read — also helps promote independent learning, which we know helps protect us from cognitive decline as we age.

• Can encourage physical activity

Experts have found that regular exercise is just as powerful for treating anxiety and mood disorders as depression. Although exercise initially increases the stress response in the body, individuals exhibit lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine after periods of consistent physical activity.

In addition, physical activity energizes the release of dopamine, oxycontin, serotonin, and endorphins. Sometimes referred to as DOSE, this powerful combination of neurochemicals plays an important role in regulating our moods and helping to boost brain power.

While exercise may not be a "fun" idea for everyone, there are approachable ways to get started, such as doing an exercise of your choice for just 30 minutes a day. Remember that it doesn't have to be intense exercise: you can go for a walk, start a park, or join a yoga class online or in person.

• Makes you laugh

It's no secret that chronic stress has long-term negative effects on our well-being. The adage "Laughter is the best medicine" has been proven to be powerful through many replicable studies. Therefore, it is clear that laughter is a natural antidote to stress.

When you're looking for ways to increase the fun in your life, try to find opportunities to laugh too. One study found that individuals who tend to laugh show fewer negative feelings when stressful situations arise. This provides further validation that laughter can not only reduce stress but also help us deal with it when it occurs. The same study shows it also helps reduce stress comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety. Finding more opportunities to laugh is as easy as committing to a comedy show, asking your friends silly questions, or making plans to visit your funniest relative.

• This allows you to take care of the inner child

Plato said, "You can find out more about a person in one hour of play than you can in one year of conversation." Unfortunately, as we get older, we tend to prioritize games and call them imagination. As a result, playing ends up becoming a relic of our younger selves. But psychologists are now emphasizing the importance of play for adults. Play is an important part of a child's development, and its usefulness does not diminish just as we age.

Finding adult ways to have fun can help us arouse our curiosity to play.