How to Be Happy and Have More Fun – Differently

7 Rather Different Tips to Be Happy and Have More Fun

If you’ve ever wondered if your life should be more fun, more interesting, if you should feel happier, read on and enjoy!

Different Views of Happiness

I read. A LOT. And by an interesting coincidence, recently I read a number of articles on happiness – how to be happy and have more fun in your life. All of these articles had a different ‘take’ or viewpoint on the same subject – which was interesting in itself.

So, I’ve taken the best bits out of all these articles and put together a really nice article that shows what you need to do to be happy.

Why Is It Good to Be Happy?

There’s a huge amount of research that says happiness is vital to our wellbeing.

When you are happy, you reduce your stress levels, your immunity improves (so you’re less likely to catch germs and get sick), and you live longer.

When you make time for fun, you generally begin your days with more energy and enthusiasm. You’re more productive, innovative and willing to take on challenges than those who work long hours without allowing themselves any time for leisure.

Those are pretty big benefits, aren’t they?

On the other hand, research also shows that people who don’t incorporate fun into their lives are far more likely to suffer burnout and all the problems that it causes.

To give you an example, imagine a man who is a dedicated and hardworking professional, and a father of two kids. He spends countless hours at the office, neglecting his personal life and never making time for things he enjoys. He spends time with his kids out of a sense of duty – “I must” rather than “I enjoy this”. He suffers burnout – a downward spiral where each day he has less energy than the previous one. He just tries to survive his day, and then drowns out his discomfort each evening by binge-watching Netflix and drinking lots of bourbon as a way to ‘unwind’.

What is Happiness?

It’s pretty easy to know when you’re NOT happy. But what exactly is happiness?

• It’s NOT the absence of misery. Negative emotions are part of life – and in fact, they contribute to your overall happiness by making you appreciate your positive feelings.
• When you have fun, you are actively enjoying whatever-it-is that you’re doing. This is different from some activities that seem to be fun but are really just numbing discomfort (e.g. mindlessly scrolling social media, or drug or alcohol abuse).
• You’ll see lots of messages telling you that to be happy, you need the ‘perfect’ partner, the ‘perfect’ job, the ‘perfect’ home and so on. But happiness is not an end. You don’t achieve happiness by gaining more and more possessions, or by ticking off accomplishments. They bring only temporary satisfaction. You find happiness INSIDE yourself, not with things.
• Happiness is not feeling good all the time. It’s more complex. It’s a sense of contentment with your life as it is, it’s feeling gratitude, and joy and meaning.
• And once you achieve happiness, it’s not permanent. It changes, depending on your circumstances.

Happiness is a journey, one that you actively choose every day.

And I’ll show you how to do just that.

Tip #1 – Get the Basics Sorted

If you read most stuff on how to be happy, you’ll be told you need to have good relationships, keep fit and earn enough money.

Yes. There’s logic to that. But it’s FAR from the whole story.

But it’s Tip #1 because you do need to sort out the basics first. Then you can move on to the more interesting stuff.

Sorting out these basics will stop you being miserable, which then makes it easier to be happy.

1. Cut out toxic relationships from your life. Spend time with people you truly enjoy and who love and support you.
2. Keep your body healthy – eat good food 80% or most of the time, and keep moving.
3. For your mental health, quit the news (or just get the main stuff once a day). Stop doom scrolling. Turn off the screens.
4. Find a job that doesn’t hurt your soul while still allowing you to pay bills and enjoy life a little too.

A note on money. It’s really good to have enough money so that you don’t have to worry about paying bills and sorting out life’s emergencies. That removes a LOT of stress. But after that, additional wealth doesn’t make you any happier.

This is where most advice on happiness stops.

Yes, you need to get the basics right, so you won’t be miserable. But actually being happy is much more fun! Keep reading!

Have More Fun Tip #2 – Bundle

This is a great tip, and it’s perfect if you lead a very busy life.

Combine or ‘bundle’ activities to make them more enjoyable. You’ll not only save time, but you’ll also have more fun because suddenly, your routine chores become engaging experiences.

Here are some examples.

• Combine things you enjoy. Invite family and friends along to things you already want to do, such as going to a museum, attending a concert, or exploring a new area. You’ll create lasting memories, strengthen your relationships, and probably enjoy it even more with laughter and companionship.
• Create a playlist of your favourite upbeat tunes to boost your mood – then listen, enjoy and sing along as you clean, fix things or cook.
• Create a friendly competition with a family member. See who can complete a task faster – you’ll both enjoy it more by ‘gaming’ it.
• Bundle exercise. Don’t do it alone – invite a friend to join you for a walk, hike, or fitness class. You’ll enjoy the activity more – and you’ll be more motivated to continue and stick to your fitness goals.

Think about a task or habit that you want to get done. Then ‘bundle’ it with something nice – research shows it works. You get the job done AND you enjoy it!

Tip #3 – Spice It Up!

“Variety is the spice of life” they say – and it’s true. New, novel experiences keep your life fresh and exciting.

If you mindlessly watch TV because you’re bored, do something different instead.

• Explore a new area
• Learn to play an instrument
• Take up a new sport
• Talk to plants and trees
• Learn a new language
• Contribute to a cause you care about
• Try a new recipe
• Set up a bird feeder
• Sign up for a dance class
• Walk barefoot
• Join clubs or organizations and meet new people
• Volunteer in your local community
• Notice Nature all around you (yes, even in a city)

By actively engaging your mind AND body you’ll not only improve your happiness, you’ll also help to prevent brain fade as you age.

Set aside time each week to try something new. Simple or complicated, you’ll have more fun in your life.

Always try to involve the outdoors and Nature – it’s a great healer, it’s green and eco-friendly, and it’s free! If in doubt, just think of simple, authentic pleasures.

When you’re planning your holidays or vacations, or the weekend, enjoy familiar activities but also add something new and novel. You’ll be glad you did!

Now – BEWARE – you might not like the next tip. But keep reading – it’s an important tip that you’ll be glad you read!

Slash your stress!

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Happiness Tip #4 – Think of Death

I know, I know. It’s not nice to think of death.

But the fact is – life is temporary. Everything you know and love and care about will all be taken away one day. When you remember that, you’re forced to choose what’s truly important to you right now.

Your material possessions, all your success and accomplishments, the fact that someone messed up your order—none of it really matters when you think about how temporary this all is.

When you look at life this way, what does matter becomes crystal clear.

1. What do you want people to remember about you?
2. What is the legacy you want to leave behind (NOT just financial)

When you ask yourself these questions, you clarify what’s really important to you. And so you can prioritize those important things.

Think about this.

Really.

Happiness Tip #5 – Explore and Commit

It’s important to be proactive and create your own opportunities for fun. When you do, you set yourself up for success.

The more you explore, the more likely you are to find activities and experiences that truly resonate with you.

Then, commit to them by scheduling them. When you schedule specific dates, you make sure these fun options actually happen.

Inviting others to join you in the fun can further strengthen your commitment to these plans.

Consider creating a ‘fun jar’ or a ‘fun file’ –

1. Write several fun options on a slip of paper each.
2. Put them in a jar.
3. When you’re looking for something new to do, simply draw a slip from the jar.

This way, you always have something fun to look forward to.

Try to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

1. Set up boundaries to protect your personal time
2. turn off work-related notifications during evenings and weekends,
3. schedule regular ‘fun breaks’ throughout your week.

Yes, you need to make time for doing fun things and enjoying time with good people. But you will also have unhappy moments.

Accept them as they are and appreciate the happy moments more when they come along.

Happiness Tip #6 – Don’t Idealize

Your life might not work out as you planned. For example, you may lose a loved one, split up with a partner, lose a job, have an accident.

Allow yourself to grieve over these events (we often think we only grieve over death, but we should grieve over other important events too).

You will see reminders of your loss everywhere. For example, after a breakup it can look as though everyone else is happily coupled.

But don’t think everyone else has a better life. Most people are more comfortable sharing only the good stuff. Social media posts make many people feel more isolated and less satisfied with their own lives. But remember, you’re not seeing the full picture! Don’t think their lives are ideal – they’re probably not.

Concentrate on finding your own happiness.

Tip #7 – Remember and Reminisce

Think about fun times you’ve had in the past. You’ll feel happy. When you feel grateful or appreciative of the good times, you ‘extend the value’ of the fun you had.

When you reflect on your positive experiences, and the people involved, you’ll appreciate the good things in your life, strengthen your connections to others, and boost your overall sense of contentment.

Deliberately set aside a few minutes to think about past experiences that brought you joy. Remember the people, places, activities and events, and relive the emotions you felt at the time.

You might wish to keep a gratitude journal, where you can record these memories and express your appreciation for them. Or just remember them. There’s no right or wrong here – do whatever feels best for you.

As you develop your habit of remembering good times – or even bad times when you relied on others to help you through, or when you helped others – you’ll also notice an increase in your happiness, contentment and appreciation. These all lead to improved mental and emotional health, stronger relationships and increased life satisfaction.

When you reminisce with friends and family, you strengthen your bonds with them (and perhaps schedule another get-together to make new memories).

Having Fun Brings You Happiness

I said earlier that happiness is not permanent. To stay happy, you need to actively focus on the things that bring you joy. And mostly, those things will be connecting with others and engaging in activities that give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Look inside yourself, not at things.

Fun is not frivolous, it’s not unproductive or a waste of time. It’s a vital part of a life well lived.

With just a little practice, this journey towards your fun habit will not only bring you more happiness and satisfaction, but also improve your relationships, make you more productive, and support good physical and mental health.

What’s not to love about fun?

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Warm regards,

P.S.  Don’t forget to join the 5-day Yoga to De-Stress Challenge –  it’s fun! You’ll be glad you did.  Click here to join – it’s FREE!