Recently, I read a post about how constructive criticism can be destructive. In my experience, I know this to be true. I’m sure you’ve had the same experience. So why do you (I’m including me in this) continue to be your own worst enemies? Why are you your harshest judge? To fight your way free of the mental blocks (writer’s block for those doing nanowrimo). You know the ones that say housework is drudgery or the day job is soul sucking. Or something many of us are saying, 2020 is the worst year ever. It is, but… By telling yourselves over and over and over how bad things are, you reinforce the feelings that only bad things happen. For your sanity, you have to get past that. How? By having fun? What’s that you say? How can you make it fun when things are so bad?
If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.
Katharine Hepburn
Unstructured Play
Ms. Hepburn may have been talking about rules of acting or laws or life. But here, we’re talking about having fun, unstructured play. A playful attitude and a little bending of the rules that allows all sides to have fun is great for reducing stress. It also enhances your relationships.
You probably know that unstructured play or free play is vital to a child’s development. But it’s good for adults, too. In fact, unstructured play may help reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
Live and work but do not forget to play, to have fun in life and really enjoy it.
Eileen Caddy
Read the transcript or watch this TED talk by Stuart Brown about how important play is. He discusses how lack of play is significant in the lives of murderers and other maladjusted people. But strikingly, he talks about how a husky at play causes an altered state in a wild, aggressive polar bear searing for food.
I think that success is having fun.
Bruno Mars
Fun Makes Your Brain Work Better
Follow your dreams. Just make sure to have fun too.
Chris Brown
Play lifts your mood. An enhanced mood increases dopamine. Dopamine is associated with reward, satisfaction, and motivation. Thus you pay more attention to what you’re learning or doing.
Play for a Sense of Wellbeing
You just do what you can and you have as much fun as possible.
Frank Ocean
Play also increases serotonin. Serotonin is the key hormones that stabilizes our mood and our sense of wellbeing. It not only makes you feel better, it blocks sad thoughts and feelings.
Even simply remembering a happy or fun event will increase your serotonin levels.
Make it Fun
At the end of the day, if I can say I had fun, it was a good day.
Simone Biles
So what do you want to say and feel at the end of the day? Try putting aside the woes and worries you have. Set aside time for play at least once a week. Every day would be better. It’s your choice. Will you make it fun?