“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”
George Bernard Shaw
Fun is the lightness and laughter that makes you come alive and reminds you how good life can feel.
The trouble is, most of us put fun at the bottom of the list. We hold it off until the work is done or the to-dos are cleared, which they never are.
And though we might be brilliant at looking like we’re having a good time on our socials, we’re not always good at actually letting go and losing ourselves in the moment – we’re so used to being in control that switching off feels unfamiliar, even when we want to.
Real fun isn’t curated or performed, but felt. When we let a bit of silliness, surprise or spontaneity in, our energy and creativity follow. So does the version of us that feels wide open to life again.
Psychology spotlight - Embodied joy
…is pleasure you feel in your body, not just your mind. Running about and dancing fire up your whole system in ways screens never will – you feel properly alive again!
Did you know?
Children laugh freely and without thinking. As adults, we edit ourselves, hold back and structure everything – which is why fun only happens if we make room for it.
Inside the body
Micro-dopamine loops are the quick hits we get from scrolling, notifications and likes. They mimic play for a second, but never give you what real fun does – that full-body reset where everything wakes up again.
Fun at work
Fun isn’t just a perk or a nice-to-have; it builds affective trust - the sense that the people around you are warm, human and on your side. A playful moment or sharing a laugh makes teams more at ease with each other - which unlocks better work.