Literary Insights

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The author recently realized she had become addicted to mindlessly scrolling on her phone, even while holding her newborn daughter. This was a wake-up call.
She traced her phone obsession back to becoming fixated on eBay during her pregnancy, searching for vintage hardware to use in her kitchen renovation.
Once the reno was done, she kept eBay searching out of habit and boredom. She’d do it for hours, losing time.
One night while scrolling and feeding her daughter, she suddenly saw the situation from a distance - a mother ignoring her baby to stare at her phone.
This made the author realize how thoroughly phones can control our lives, scattering attention and changing who we are. She had to make a change fast.
She decided to turn this personal issue into a professional project, realizing many people were losing themselves to their phones but few were addressing it.
The more she observed, the more concerned she became by people distracted by phones while driving, out to eat, and in conversations.
She felt like the only one noticing phones were a serious problem, like in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
She decided to write a book to investigate this issue and provide solutions, wanting to live an engaged, present life.
The author had a realization while trying to entertain herself during a digital detox that she no longer knew what activities brought her joy and fulfillment. This led her to recognize she had an empty “play tank” and needed to relearn how to have fun.
She signed up for a beginner guitar class for adults, which became a weekly highlight. The class gave her a sense of freedom, engagement, and connection.
She felt an intoxicating feeling she called “True Fun” - not casual fun like a pedicure, but a deeper, more energizing and uplifting feeling. This made her come alive and infused her with exuberance that buoyed her for days.
She became obsessed with figuring out how to have more “True Fun” in her life by identifying the factors that generated this feeling. She remembered other peak experiences of “True Fun” like singing in the car with friends after a wedding.
The author realized chasing “True Fun” could be the key to reclaiming fulfillment and joy. This inspired her to write the book.
The author had an experience in a guitar class that she describes as “True Fun” - a feeling of being fully present, engaged, free from self-criticism, laughing, playfully rebellious, and making deep connections.
This led her to reflect more on the concept of True Fun - it is not dependent on certain people/contexts, doesn’t require money, and is available to everyone if basic needs are met.
She realized we have misunderstandings about fun - thinking some people can’t have it, it requires wealth, or we don’t have time for it. But she argues fun is a cause, not just effect, of happiness.
We often settle for “Fake Fun” from things like mindless scrolling versus “True Fun” which nourishes us.
We’ve been conditioned to think pursuing fun is frivolous and selfish, when actually it can help us pursue loftier goals like happiness and meaning.
The author embarked on an adventure to have more True Fun in her life by identifying the factors needed for it, creating space by doing less, and being more intentional about her free time.
The concept of “fun” is difficult to define precisely. We use the word loosely and in many different contexts.
Catherine Price wants to identify a specific type of fun that she calls “True Fun.” This is an intense, joyful feeling that she experienced while taking guitar lessons.
She believes True Fun has the power to profoundly improve our lives if we can learn to have more of it. But first we need to define it clearly and distinguish it from other meanings of “fun.”
The dictionary defines fun broadly as enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. But we often use “fun” and “had fun” very loosely.
To harness the full power of fun, we need to become much more precise in how we use the word. We need to identify what characteristics make an experience truly fun.
Price aims to provide a clear definition of True Fun, explain why it’s so beneficial, and give practical tips for inviting more of it into our lives. She believes prioritizing True Fun can make us happier, healthier, more creative, and better able to cope with life’s challenges.
Despite how often we use the word “fun,” academics have largely ignored studying it directly. Even play scholars like Johan Huizinga admit fun resists analysis.
There is very little psychological or scientific research investigating the effects of fun. It is seen as too frivolous and vague to study rigorously.
In the absence of academic research, the author tried to define “True Fun” by getting feedback from a diverse group she dubbed the Fun Squad.
The Fun Squad shared rich anecdotes of experiences they considered True Fun. These spanned all ages and often involved deep connection, silliness, playfulness, creativity, and abandon.
Though the experiences varied widely in their details, the Fun Squad seemed to share an innate, visceral understanding of the feeling the author meant by adding “so” in front of fun. Their stories illuminated key components of True Fun.
The author found the similarities across these stories about peak fun experiences fascinating and compelling, further demonstrating the value of trying to define and study this nebulous concept.
The author collected many examples of “True Fun” from people, which were diverse but shared a common energetic, joyful feeling.
Based on people’s definitions of fun, the author proposes that True Fun involves the intersection of playfulness, connection, and flow.
Playfulness brings lightheartedness, freedom, and lack of obligation. Connection involves bonding with others or your environment/activity. Flow is total absorption where you lose track of time.
When these three elements combine, something magical happens - you experience the energy and engagement of True Fun. It is fleeting but can create lasting positive memories.
True Fun only occurs in the present moment. It is easier to evaluate than general happiness. The same activity can be fun or not fun depending on contextual factors like mood, attitude, and company.
Distraction, judgment, and self-consciousness are enemies of True Fun as they prevent full presence, playfulness, and flow. But minimizing these can help us experience more True Fun.
There are many positive experiences, like satisfaction, wonder, and awe, that are not “True Fun” even though they are rewarding. True Fun specifically requires playfulness, connection to others, and flow/engagement.
While certain activities or people may make True Fun more likely, no one thing intrinsically creates it - the same activity can be fun one time but not another.
Things often pursued for fun like busyness, material possessions, and self-medication/numbing are not actually True Fun. They provide short-term pleasure but not long-term joy.
Passive consumption like TV, social media, etc. is also not True Fun on its own, though it may facilitate fun if done socially. On its own it risks becoming addictive “Fake Fun.”
Fake Fun tricks us by triggering fun brain chemicals but leaves us unsatisfied. It pulls our compasses off course from our true passions.
Identifying Fake Fun takes effort but allows us to spend time on activities that are genuinely rewarding. The filters of playfulness, connection, and flow help reveal the difference between True and Fake Fun.
We are all going to die, so it is important to make the most of our limited time and actually live and enjoy our lives. Much of what stresses us out ultimately doesn’t matter.
Our lives are what we pay attention to. Our attention is our most valuable resource for experiencing meaning and joy. We can’t multitask, so we must be intentional about where we direct our attention.
As kids, we are natural at finding True Fun through playfulness, connection, and flow. But this ability atrophies as we grow up and we stop prioritizing these things.
Modern life is not set up for adults or kids to experience much True Fun. We get so used to lack of playfulness, connection, and flow that we don’t even realize what we’re missing.
When asked to recall a recent fun experience, most people struggle to come up with good examples, suggesting we’ve forgotten what True Fun feels like. Reconnecting with True Fun can help us live more fulfilling lives.
The author notes that people today seem reluctant to share experiences of joy, connection, and flow during talks and conversations. She believes this reflects that we are out of practice seeking “True Fun,” which she defines as the combination of playfulness, connection, and flow.
Historically, humans have required social connections to flourish, and our greatest achievements occur when we are in flow. The need for play is also biologically intrinsic. However, it’s hard to generalize about how often people in history experienced True Fun together.
The Industrial Revolution changed how we think about time and productivity. We went from accomplishment-based work to hourly factory jobs. Marketing then linked material goods to happiness and fun. This cycle drives consumerism but leaves less time for True Fun.
Today, we see time as money and believe idle time is wasted. This mindset causes stress and discontent. We try to fill voids by working more to buy more, rather than seeking play, connection, and flow.
Prioritizing outcomes over satisfaction may explain high anxiety today. True Fun seems unworthy when we believe all time use should have purpose and productivity. We need to rediscover the value of playfulness, connection, and flow.
Modern life makes it difficult to experience playfulness, connection, and flow. We live far from family/friends, participate less in community organizations, and lack spontaneity.
There is an epidemic of loneliness. Surveys show high rates of loneliness and lack of meaningful connections. Social media use correlates with feeling left out and lonely.
Constant distractions from technology make it hard to achieve flow. We are never fully present due to interruptions from devices.
The need for quantifiable outcomes and external validation makes us document rather than experience life. This prevents authenticity and wastes energy.
The pandemic exacerbated these issues. Social distancing prevented connection, lockdowns eroded work-life boundaries, and technology became an even greater coping mechanism.
Our relationships with devices are dysfunctional. We interact with them constantly in a two-way manner. They demand our attention and erode boundaries between work and life.
The solution is not to abandon technology but to strive for screen-life balance. We need to be more intentional about when we use devices and not let them control our attention and time.
We spend a significant amount of time on our devices - over 4 hours per day on our phones alone. This constant fragmentation of our attention with “time confetti” is exhausting and unfulfilling.
Much of our screen time is the result of habits and unconscious urges rather than conscious choice. Our devices manipulate our psychology to keep us hooked.
Excessive screen time consumes time we could spend on more satisfying activities like hobbies, friends, and family. It leads us to “Fake Fun” like mindless scrolling and consumption rather than “True Fun.”
Our brains have essentially been “hacked” by tech companies using algorithms designed to keep us engaged. These hack our subconscious in ways we don’t fully realize.
The author had a wake-up moment seeing the effects of her phone use on her daughter. This made her realize her unhealthy relationship with technology and prompted her journey to change.
We fail to curb our harmful technology use because our brains have been manipulated in ways we don’t recognize, similar to the author not recognizing clear diabetes symptoms earlier in life.
We need to become aware of how technology is controlling us so we can take back agency and spend more time on what really matters.

The companies behind many of our most addictive apps and sites have figured out how to manipulate our brains and behavior. They trigger neurochemical changes that make us feel like we’re having fun, when really we’re not. This compels us to keep using their apps in ways that benefit the companies, not us.

It’s not your fault if you feel addicted to your phone. These apps are designed to be addictive. If it’s hard to change your habits, it doesn’t mean you lack willpower - it’s because the apps hook us intentionally. They’re part of the “attention economy,” where our attention is the product being bought and sold.

These apps’ only goal is to interrupt our real lives and keep us glued to screens as long as possible. They make money by capturing our attention and selling it to advertisers. The more we use the apps, the more personalized ads and content they can show us, and the more money they make.

They modify our behavior using “adaptive algorithms” - programs that learn from our interactions and show us increasingly personalized content to keep us engaged. This explains experiences like seeing an ad for something you just talked about with a friend. The app’s algorithm predicted you’d be interested based on collecting data about you.

These algorithms steer us toward choices that benefit their creators, not necessarily us. They compare our data to thousands of similar users to predict what we’ll do next, then nudge us in profitable directions. So we lose time and agency following paths not of our own choosing.

Every minute we spend staring at algorithmically chosen content is time not spent living life. The algorithms also shape our emotions by exposing us to content designed to manipulate our feelings and behavior. This distracts us from authentic experiences and makes it harder to experience true fun.

In summary, addictive apps use algorithms to hijack our neurochemistry, attention, emotions, and behavior in ways that benefit the tech companies, not us. This makes it very difficult to resist the lure of our devices, even though they often undermine our well-being and ability to have real fun.

Algorithms are shaping our lives in ways we may not realize. Small nudges accumulate to have a big impact on the decisions we make.
Many tech companies deliberately design apps to be addictive using techniques like “brain hacking” and “persuasive design.” They aim to commandeer our attention and hook us like slot machines do.
Smartphones trigger the release of dopamine, a chemical associated with motivation and pleasure. Our brains can’t distinguish “real” rewards from “fake” ones designed to manipulate us.
Tech companies exploit this by baking in dopamine triggers that give us little hits of gratification to keep us coming back. Things like notifications and “likes” operate like slot machines - unpredictable rewards that compel us to keep pulling the lever.
As a result, many people display compulsive, addictive behaviors with technology that resemble psychiatric disorders. But it’s so commonplace we don’t recognize it as abnormal.
To take back control, we need to understand how tech companies manipulate our brains’ natural tendencies. Then we can be more intentional about how we spend our time and attention.

The main point is that technology is hijacking the brain’s dopamine-driven system of motivation and reward in order to addict us to apps and devices. This threatens our ability to choose how to spend our time and attention.

Smartphone apps exploit three dopamine triggers in our brains - novelty, rewards, and unpredictability - to hook us and get us addicted.
Novelty triggers dopamine release, which motivates us to seek out new things. Apps provide endless novelty, so we never get bored. But this dulls reality as our brains adapt to constant stimulation.
Rewards like likes and comments also trigger dopamine, creating social validation addictions. But this validation is often fake or meaningless, leaving us feeling empty.
Unpredictable rewards are particularly addictive. Not knowing when new emails/notifications will arrive keeps us constantly checking our phones anticipating a “maybe” reward.
These dopamine triggers are not inherently bad and serve evolutionary purposes. But apps provide such frequent overstimulation that it leads to mindless addiction, distracting us from real life and real fun.
Understanding how these triggers work can help us resist phone addiction and take back control of our attention and time. The dose makes the poison - used wisely, these tools can enhance life, but in excess they deprive us of meaning.

The constant dopamine hits from our devices lead to distraction and addiction. This harms our ability to experience flow, make meaningful connections, and form long-term memories. We are trapped in a cycle - we compulsively check our devices for dopamine despite the harm, and the FOMO and cortisol release when we can’t check make us even more compelled to check again. Chronically elevated cortisol negatively impacts our prefrontal cortex, decision-making, and emotional regulation. We need to step back and create healthy distance from our devices in order to regain control.

Our lack of screen-life balance is hurting relationships, productivity, creativity, memory, focus, sleep, authenticity, mental health, and physical health. It’s sapping happiness, inhibiting good decisions, exhausting us, eroding work-life boundaries, and steering us away from what matters.
Smartphones in particular encourage constant engagement and provide a quick dopamine hit that trains our brains to seek distraction. This makes it hard to focus on bigger goals that require patience.
Cortisol released during stress impairs cognition and judgment. Phones deliver stressful info and interactions that keep cortisol high, harming health.
Tech companies profit from our data and attention. Their algorithms maximize engagement for money, not our well-being.
We need more True Fun - activities done for their own sake that counteract negatives of constant work and screen time. Fun is the solution, not just a distraction.

In summary, lack of screen-life balance driven by tech companies’ goals is sapping our health, happiness, judgment and ability to focus on what matters. We need more True Fun to counteract this.

Here is a summary of the key points about how True Fun is good for us:

The most important benefit of True Fun is the fun itself - it feels great in the moment to experience playfulness, connection, and flow.
True Fun has astonishingly powerful positive effects mentally, physically, and emotionally. It helps tap into a “rising current” while lack of screen-life balance creates a “whirlpool” of negative effects.
True Fun facilitates things scientifically proven to lower disease risk and lengthen lives: reducing anxiety/stress, boosting confidence, finding humor, laughing, strong social ties, community, time in nature, physical activity, focus/engagement, purpose, and control.
Playfulness reduces stress, boosts immune function, increases pain tolerance, enhances creativity and problem-solving.
Social connections reduce mortality risk, help us live longer, and lead to better physical and mental health.
Flow states make us more motivated, productive, and happy. They also boost performance.
True Fun should be pursued not just for its health benefits but because it inherently feels great in the moment. Its positive impacts are a bonus.

Here are the key points:

Play and playfulness are often misunderstood and undervalued in adulthood. Play is not just games or sports - it is any absorbing, purposeless activity that provides enjoyment. Playfulness refers to an attitude of letting your guard down, seeking lighthearted connection, and not caring about outcomes.
Play and playfulness are integral to a satisfying life. They stimulate creativity, learning, and relationships. Studies show play can improve cognitive functioning, mood, and physical health.
Play brings people together. Shared play creates bonds, confidence, and closeness in relationships. It provides shared experiences that tie groups together.
Adults can cultivate more play and playfulness. This may involve trying new hobbies, traveling, learning an instrument, or adopting a more lighthearted attitude. Allowing more play into life can profoundly impact happiness, health, and relationships.
Loneliness can have severe negative effects on our physical and mental health. It has been linked to higher risk of conditions like heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, depression, and more.
Loneliness can alter gene expression, turning certain genes on or off. This demonstrates how deeply it can impact us on a biological level.
The health risks of loneliness may be comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes per day. It is a major risk factor for early death.
Loneliness impairs cognitive abilities, increases stress hormones, disrupts sleep, and makes us hypervigilant to social threats.
In contrast, high-quality social connections are vital for wellbeing and healthy aging. The Grant Study found relationships to be the biggest predictor of longevity and life satisfaction, more so than money, fame, IQ, or other factors.
We don’t need deep relationships to gain benefits - even brief pleasant interactions with strangers can boost mood and reduce stress.
True Fun enhances our social connections, bringing people together and fostering a sense of shared humanity. It can create an extended “family” and community.
Fun activities often involve physical movement and time in nature, both of which also have positive effects on health.
When we experience “collective effervescence” through shared joyful activities, it can be rapturous and profoundly meaningful. True Fun enhances our social wellbeing on many levels.
True Fun arises from the combination of three elements: playfulness, connection with others, and flow (deep engagement in an activity).
Playfulness brings joy, boosts creativity, reduces stress, and increases resilience. Being playful with others helps form social bonds.
Connection and collective effervescence (shared excitement) are themselves forms of fun. Connection also often leads to flow.
Flow is a state of total absorption in an activity, characterized by a loss of self-consciousness and sense of time. It is often present during peak life experiences.
In contrast to meaningless “junk flow,” flow from activities we care about contributes to ikigai (purpose and meaning).
Laughter is a key sign of True Fun. It has numerous health benefits like reducing stress and improving cardiovascular health. Shared laughter increases bonding.
Overall, the combination of playfulness, connection, flow, and laughter that comprises True Fun provides a host of physical, emotional, and social benefits. Pursuing True Fun can be a key component of a happy, meaningful life.

True Fun makes us happy by creating a self-perpetuating positive cycle - having fun makes us happy, and happiness makes it easier to have more fun. Fun is a more concrete path to happiness than simply trying to “be happy.” Research shows that up to 80% of our happiness is within our control through voluntary behaviors like pursuing fun.

Fun also helps us flourish, according to psychology research. The elements of flourishing (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) are often generated through True Fun. Fun satisfies the higher levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The broaden-and-build theory states that positive emotions build resources that lead to flourishing.

The author tried prioritizing fun and found it had many positive effects:

It fights the time-value paradox where we assume productivity and money equal worth. Fun is intrinsically motivating.
It connects us to our shared humanity, an essential element of flourishing.
It builds empathy, helping us understand others.
It boosts creativity by getting us into flow states.
It gives us energy and makes mundane tasks more enjoyable.

In summary, True Fun is a pathway to happiness, flourishing, creativity, empathy, energy, and more. The author recommends we prioritize it.

Here are the key points:

The author initially dismissed “old-fashioned” social activities like sewing circles and lawn bowling as quaint and wasteful. But she came to realize that seeking fun through social connection is vital for well-being, regardless of the specific activity.
Fun activities like relaxed lunches with friends are worthwhile investments in our mental health, not unnecessary luxuries.
Using fun as a guiding principle for decisions can make us more productive. Fun restores mental energy and motivation.
Positive emotions from fun can counteract negative emotions and help us recover from stress faster. Fun builds resilience.
Taking true breaks involving playfulness, connection or flow replenishes mental energy and prevents burnout.
Pursuing fun boosts creativity by reducing stress, providing a surge of energy, triggering dopamine release, and inducing a psychological state of openness.
The author incorporated drumming breaks into her workday. Shifting focus activations a different part of her brain and renews her attention and creativity.

Here are the key steps for conducting a personal “fun audit”:

Learn to recognize what True Fun feels like in your mind and body. Pay attention to the physical sensations of playfulness, connection, and flow.
Take a “fun history” to reflect on past experiences of True Fun.
Start keeping a “fun times journal” to track current moments of playfulness, connection and flow.
Analyze the things you currently do “for fun” - are they actually attracting True Fun or are they Fake Fun?
Identify your personal “fun magnets” - activities, people, and settings that reliably attract True Fun for you.
Analyze your fun magnets to identify your “fun factors” - what characteristics make these magnets work for you?
Identify your “anti-fun factors” - things that block you from having fun. Consider experimenting with these.
Brainstorm new potential fun magnets based on your fun factors.
Schedule time for fun based on your analysis - protect and prioritize it.
Reflect on results and adjust activities over time to maximize True Fun.

True Fun is characterized by feelings of playfulness, connection, and flow. Signs include laughter, losing track of time, feeling free from self-judgment, and increased energy.
To establish a baseline, take the “fun frequency questionnaire” to rate how much fun you currently have in your life. This can be revisited periodically to track progress.
Take a “fun history” by journaling about past experiences of peak True Fun. Analyze what made them so enjoyable to understand your personal fun factors.
Use the SPARK acronym to take action: Make space, pursue passions, attract fun, rebel against anti-fun, and keep at it.
Appreciate both big moments of fun and microdoses of everyday fun. Training yourself to notice smaller fun moments can significantly boost your mood and engagement.
Follow the steps, but don’t view it as homework. Customize activities and back off if it ever starts to feel like work. The process should be playful.
Be patient. The effects might be subtle at first, but actively seeking True Fun will gradually transform your life.
Reflect on 3 past experiences that brought you True Fun - moments of joy, presence, and energy. Note the details like what you were doing, who you were with, where you were, how old you were, etc.
Describe something you’d like to do in the future that could bring that same feeling of True Fun. Consider your passions, times you’ve laughed hard, fun traditions, feeling alive.
Start a “Fun Times Journal” to track daily moments of playfulness, connection, and flow. This will help identify your personal “fun magnets” - activities, people, settings that energize you.
Also track things you do “for fun” to see if they really provide True Fun or just Fake Fun that takes time from more energizing experiences.
Use your memories of past True Fun, your fun times journal, and your idea for a future fun experience to reflect on the elements that make fun experiences stand out as meaningful for you.

Here is a summary of the key points from Chapter 5 “Find Your Fun”:

The main steps:

Know the preconditions for True Fun:

Being engaged and present (no distractions, in a state of flow)
Not feeling judged or self-conscious
Going all-in (being fully invested in the activity or people)
Feeling safe and free to be spontaneous

Identify your personal “fun magnets” - specific activities, situations, people that attract True Fun for you.
Identify your “fun factors” - characteristics of activities/situations that make them magnets for you. Examples: movement, silliness, novelty, physical closeness.
Create an Ideal Fun Day - map out a full day of activities tailored to your fun magnets and fun factors.
Try new potential fun magnets and reflect on whether they attract True Fun for you. Expand your repertoire.
Put your fun knowledge into practice through planned Fun Fridays or Fun Nights.

The key is to become aware of your personal preconditions, magnets and factors, and then purposefully create more opportunities for True Fun in your life.

Here is a summary of the key points about identifying your personal “fun factors”:

Fun factors are the general characteristics that create the magnetic pull of your fun magnet activities, people, and settings.
Identifying your fun factors gives you a powerful tool to find and create new experiences likely to generate true fun.
Look back at your list of fun magnets and moments of playfulness, connection, and flow. Note the fun factors that apply to each experience (e.g. music, mastery, learning, challenges, silliness, etc).
Consider which factors frequently contribute to your ability to feel playful, connected, and in flow. Listen to your gut when reading the list of potential fun factors.
Don’t overthink it - the goal is to get a general sense of what tends to attract fun for you. This will allow you to seek out and prioritize those factors as often as possible.
Analyzing fun in this level of detail may seem counterintuitive, but understanding your personal fun magnets and factors makes it easier to attract more fun.

Here is a summary of the key points about identifying your personal fun factors:

Fun factors are the elements, activities, or contexts that are most likely to generate fun for you personally. They can include things like silliness, creativity, physicality, music, learning, novelty, etc.
The author recommends going through a list of potential fun factors and checking off the ones you relate to. Look for themes in the ones you check to identify your top fun factors.
Consider when you’ve experienced the 3 foundations of fun - playfulness, connection, and flow. Your fun factors likely facilitated those experiences.
Note any factors you don’t relate to at all - these may be “anti-fun” factors for you. Understanding those can help you avoid situations less likely to be fun.
Look at your current life balance across playfulness, connection, and flow. See if any of those elements need to be increased based on your fun factors.
Use your key fun factors to brainstorm new ideas for activities, situations, or contexts where you are likely to experience more fun.
Recognizing your personal fun factors allows you to intentionally incorporate more fun into your life by seeking out compatible activities and situations.

Here is a summary of the key points from the chapter:

The chapter argues that many people fail to intentionally design their lives and schedules to make space for fun. Instead, obligations and responsibilities accrete in a haphazard way, leaving little room for play, passion projects, and connection. To spark more fun, the author recommends taking an inventory of how you spend your time and making purposeful changes to open up space for activities you find energizing. This could involve setting boundaries with work, being more selective with commitments, turning off notifications, putting away devices, and scheduling time for hobbies, creativity, and relationships. The goal is to thoughtfully architect your days, weeks, and environment to align with your values and definition of fun - not just react and consume. With more white space and mental spaciousness, there is room for fun to blossom organically.

To have more fun in our lives, we first need to make space for it by reducing clutter, letting go of responsibilities, and setting boundaries. This creates room for playfulness, connection, and flow.
Give yourself permission to prioritize fun. You can be responsible and care about having fun. Fun rejuvenates us and helps us create a better world.
Resentment is a major fun-killer. In relationships, invisible labor (mental load) often causes resentment. Define and divide up responsibilities fairly to reduce this.
The author felt resentful of her husband despite him taking on parenting tasks. She realized much of her mental load was conceiving, planning and keeping track of things.
After reading the book Fair Play about dividing home tasks, the author tried to discuss it with her husband but grew frustrated when he admitted to just skimming parts. This highlighted their different approaches - she is detail-oriented while he focuses on the big picture.
To make space for fun, it’s important to reduce resentments through open communication, empathy, and fairly dividing responsibilities. This clears away a major obstacle to experiencing more joy.

The author describes an incident where she threw a book in frustration over feeling like she was bearing the brunt of the emotional and mental labor in her household. This stemmed in part from not having enough opportunities for “True Fun” to relieve her stress. After discussing the issue with her husband, they were able to divide responsibilities more evenly, freeing up time and mental space for both of them to seek more fun.

The author argues it’s important to make space for your loved ones to have their own version of True Fun, even if you don’t share the same interests. She also suggests decluttering your physical environment, as clutter can negatively impact your ability to relax and have fun. The author reflects on her experience tidying and donating many possessions after reading Marie Kondo’s book, and how it made her home feel lighter and more spacious. She concludes that clearing physical and mental space in your surroundings can reduce anxiety and distraction, enabling you to more easily achieve the mental state of flow that often precedes True Fun.

To make more room for fun in your life, consider decluttering and simplifying your physical surroundings. A cluttered environment can be mentally distracting. Seek out spaces that feel open and welcoming.
Make mental space for fun by treating your time and attention like a limited resource or budget. Identify your top priorities like relationships and hobbies as the “big rocks” and schedule them first before other less important tasks fill up your time.
Techniques like a daily planner or gratitude journal can help you focus on what’s important and positive. Avoid getting distracted first thing in the morning by your phone.
Make a “not to do” list to limit unproductive time sinks. Say no to extra obligations and commitments that aren’t truly meaningful to you. This frees up time and mental energy.
Be compassionate with yourself if you struggle to stay focused. Creating space and boundaries requires fighting against powerful forces like technology and your own brain. Don’t beat yourself up, just refocus.

Here are the key points:

The most responsible people often end up with the most responsibilities, as others rely on them to get things done. Consider which obligations you have voluntarily taken on and whether you actually enjoy them. Ask yourself what you could say no to in order to make more time for fun.
Use a “fun gut check” when deciding whether to take on new commitments or spend time with certain people - ask yourself if it feels enjoyable, playful, connecting. If not, consider saying no.
According to Dunbar’s research, most people can only maintain about 150 social connections, with inner circles of closer connections tapering down to around 5 closest intimates. Consider pruning your lists to focus on the most rewarding relationships.
Breaking up with your phone doesn’t mean dumping it entirely, just reevaluating your relationship with it. Identify what you want to spend time on instead, so you’ll be drawn to that rather than tempted by your phone.
Think of screen time like food - some is necessary and enjoyable, while other types leave you feeling unsatisfied. Focus on connection, creation and consumption that nourishes you.
Try “phone feng shui” - arrange your digital environment to encourage the flow of energy and enjoyment, while eliminating spots where you tend to get stuck. Set boundaries on when and how you use your phone.

The key is to thoughtfully arrange your time and relationships around what energizes you, while minimizing obligations and connections that drain you. This creates space for more True Fun.

The concept of “stuck energy” can be useful for evaluating your phone habits. If your attention is absorbed by your phone, your energy gets stuck there. If your phone facilitates real world connections, your energy flows through it.
To change habits, you first need self-awareness. Put a rubber band around your phone. When you catch yourself mindlessly reaching for it, do a “WWW” check: What for? Why now? What else could I do?
Once aware of your habits, add “friction” to make bad habits harder and good habits easier. For example, charge your phone outside the bedroom to make bedtime scrolling harder.
Make your phone boring by reducing dopamine-triggering notifications, removing tempting apps from your homescreen, and accessing problematic apps through the browser instead.
Practice mental techniques like embracing boredom, meditation, and separating from your thoughts to quiet your mind. This creates space for you to consciously choose how to spend your time and attention.

In summary, the key is increasing self-awareness, making intentional choices, and shaping your environment to support your goals - taking back control over your attention from your phone.

When waiting for a friend, instead of grabbing your phone, observe the world around you - watch the elevator lights, look out the window when traveling, practice deep breathing when in line. It may feel weird at first but can become a relaxing minivacation from constant stimulation.
Take longer breaks from screens - go for a walk without your phone, make plans with friends and then just show up without constant updates. Try not using screens for the first and last hour of your day.
Do one thing at a time to rebuild your attention span - put your phone away, set a timer, and read for 10+ minutes. Try mindfulness meditation, observing your thoughts without judgment as they arise.
Creating space may reveal you’ve lost touch with what’s fun or make you feel empty. Some angst can motivate change. Keep going - you can build a life more conducive to fun by figuring out enriching activities to fill your time.
The author wanted to learn how to row at age 40 but found it difficult since rowing is a sport most people start young. Rowing clubs are wary of teaching adults with no experience due to the risk of damaging expensive equipment.
She eventually found a coach willing to teach her. She was motivated by the idea of enjoying nature and getting a fun workout instead of boring exercise at the gym.
Her coach used humor and encouragement to help her learn. She progressed from a stable “bathtub” boat to an unstable racing scull.
On her last lesson before winter, she capsized her scull into the river due to slippery oar handles and choppy wind/rain conditions. Her coach got a photo for her holiday card of her thumbs up while clinging to the overturned boat.
Despite the fall into the dirty river, the author took it in stride. She was proud of the progress she’d made learning to row that summer and gained confidence from trying something new and challenging at age 40.
The author fell into the river while rowing, but her coach made her get back in the boat and finish the session.
Although wet, anxious, and struggling to row, the author found herself laughing and actually having fun. The experience was challenging yet absurdly enjoyable.
This shows the three elements of True Fun were present - a playful connection with her coach, the physical challenge of rowing, and being fully immersed in the experience (flow).
The author uses this example to illustrate that we should pursue passions, interests, and hobbies as ways to invite more True Fun into our lives.
She defines interests as things we enjoy learning about, hobbies as things we like doing, and passions as energizing activities we feel intrinsically pulled toward.
Though passions are most likely to lead to True Fun, interests and hobbies can also create playfulness, connection, and flow. Having a variety of leisure pursuits makes it easier to get into flow and express different parts of ourselves.

Here are the key points:

Interests, hobbies, and passions give us opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow. When we participate in activities we’re passionate about, we’re more likely to experience these elements of True Fun.
They introduce us to new people and help us form lasting friendships. Shared interests are a great way to meet people and bond over mutual enthusiasms.
They provide skills, knowledge, and avenues into flow. The more interests we cultivate, the more we can tap into flow in different contexts. A chessboard is just an object until you learn the game.
Solitary pursuits are valuable too. Having solo hobbies makes it easier to avoid mindless phone use when alone. They can also lead to unexpected social connections.
Interests make us more engaged in our own lives and more interesting to others. We have more to talk about and become more enthusiastic.
Pursuing passions takes effort but is accessible. We can put hobbies on our calendar even if we can’t schedule “fun.”
Identifying interests may be difficult due to lack of time, energy, or changed life circumstances. Passive entertainment has become the default for overburdened people.
The solution isn’t to eliminate passive activities but to avoid making them the default when they don’t serve us. We need more active leisure in our lives.
Technology has eroded the boundaries between work and home life, and getting people to spend leisure time on passive entertainment serves companies’ interests. To take back control of our free time, we need to expand our interests, hobbies, and passions.
Kids have an easy time naming their hobbies and interests. As adults, we need to try new things, even if we previously decided we didn’t enjoy them.
Look at your fun times journal and fun magnets list for current activities that could be interests/hobbies. Brainstorm new ideas, using prompts if needed. Try something new, give it multiple chances, and move on if you don’t enjoy it.
Pursuing solo activities is fine for enjoyment but won’t lead to True Fun. Add social elements by getting others involved or taking classes.
You don’t need to make new commitments - dabble and do bite-sized activities. If you find something requiring more time, revisit making space or get help from others.
Carve out individual hobby time, even if you share most leisure activities with a partner. Personal passions are essential.

Here is a summary of the key points from the passage:

“Unicorn Space” refers to time set aside for each person in a relationship to pursue their individual passions and interests. This makes people more energized, interesting, and connected.
Creating Unicorn Space can be challenging, especially for parents, but it is important for wellbeing. Framing it as oxygen on an airplane can help get a partner’s buy-in.
Trying new passions and achieving flow states can be frustrating at first. Use extrinsic rewards like a dog treat to get over the initial hump until competence makes the activity intrinsically rewarding.
Fear of looking dumb as a beginner prevents many people from trying new things. But being a beginner is expected and freeing. Overcome perfectionism and comparison to bravely try new things.
Jealousy of those pursuing passions confidently is misplaced. Avoid self-criticism and focus on your own developmental path.

The key is being brave enough to try new things as a beginner, using rewards when needed, ignoring fear of judgement, and overcoming perfectionism in order to open up paths to satisfying flow states.

Fun people radiate warmth, playfulness, and self-confidence. They make others feel appreciated, included, and comfortable.
Many fun qualities like appreciation of small things, open-mindedness, and considerateness aren’t dependent on genetics or extroversion. They can be cultivated.
Adopting a “Fun Mindset” means deliberately seeking out opportunities for humor, absurdity, playfulness, connection and flow.
Being “easy to laugh” and noticing humor in everyday life is a great way to cultivate a Fun Mindset. Responding “yes, and” instead of “no, but” fosters playfulness.
Recognizing potential “playgrounds” - everyday places and situations rife with possibility for humor and connection - is another Fun Mindset skill. Turn grocery stores, doctor’s offices, airports into playgrounds.
Fun people attract fun by making conscious choices to react playfully and foster connection. Focus on enjoying the experience, not judging it. Go with the flow.
Fun Mindsets appreciate imperfection. They focus on process not product, and value experimentation and beginner’s mind.
Making fun a priority, rather than a luxury, is key. Seek it out, make time for it, surround yourself with fun magnets.

The main point is that being fun is a skill we can all develop, regardless of personality, by adopting the right attitudes and habits. It’s about choices, not genetics.

Improvisational comedy relies on the principle of “Yes, and” - agreeing with your scene partner’s ideas and building on them. This teaches the value of being open and adaptive.
Saying “Yes, and” helps build connections, momentum, and opportunities for spontaneity and flow. This mindset attracts fun.
Seeking absurdity is another way to develop a Fun Mindset. Absurdity provides an escape from the usual goal-driven approaches to life.
Intentionally seek out absurd situations and appreciate absurdity. This leads to laughter and fun.
Regularly ask yourself how you could add playfulness, connection, or flow to everyday activities. Even small injections of these elements can improve your mood and make tasks more enjoyable.
Adopting a Fun Mindset helps make even un-fun activities, like chores, more tolerable by focusing on the elements of fun within them.
Having a “Fun Mindset” where you approach everyday activities with a playful, positive attitude can make life feel lighter and more enjoyable.
You can strengthen your Fun Mindset through exercises like writing down 3 playful moments from your day, using your strengths in playful new ways, and counting your playful experiences. Studies show these boost playfulness.
Send out “play signals” through eye contact, smiles, and inviting conversation to connect with others and invite more fun interactions. Phones distract us from these signals.
Practice being fully present on your own and with others. This helps you get into flow for more fun, engage in improv-like collaboration, and makes you more attentive and attractive to be around.
Make a point to put down your phone, make eye contact, smile, and give people your full attention. This makes them feel noticed and lifts moods.
Overall, actively cultivating a Fun Mindset and using techniques to be more playful, connected, and present can bring more lightness, joy, and fun into everyday life.
Undivided attention is a powerful gift that allows the recipient to feel truly seen and heard. Notice how giving someone your full presence transforms an interaction.
Seeking out and labeling moments of delight can reawaken your sense of playfulness and lightheartedness. The more you notice delight, the more delight will reveal itself to you.
Savoring positive experiences by paying close attention to them and expressing appreciation is a research-backed way to boost happiness. Tell others about delights to further amplify the benefits.
Put yourself in fun’s way by noticing and taking advantage of opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow already surrounding you. The capacity for fun is always there if you cultivate the ability to recognize it.
A “fun mindset” involves being open, curious, playful, spontaneous, and able to find meaning and enjoyment in uncertainty. Look for ways to exercise these qualities.
Fun attracts more fun. The more you immerse yourself in playfulness and delight, the more you’ll attract these experiences to you.

Here are some key ideas for building fun “playgrounds” that foster playfulness, connection, and flow:

Recognize that playgrounds already exist all around us - games, rituals, gatherings with implicit “rules” that give people permission to be silly and playful. Look for opportunities to participate in existing playgrounds.
Create your own playgrounds by establishing a structure that invites playfulness. This could be an elaborate tournament like Pie Madness, or something simpler like a themed game night. Having clear “rules” paradoxically creates more room for creativity and spontaneity.
Repel “fun vampires” by making participation voluntary and fostering an environment where people feel safe being vulnerable and letting loose. Spoilsports and judgment sap the fun.
Add absurdity and humor to give people permission to be ridiculous. The sillier the premise, the more it signals this is a space for play.
Provide just enough structure to spark spontaneity, but not so much that things feel overly planned or stagnant. Leave room for things to unfold organically.
Bring together people with playful mindsets who will “yes, and” each other’s ideas and build on the fun. Seek out fellow fun-lovers.
Establish clear boundaries between the “play world” and real world so people feel free to immerse themselves completely while inside the playground.

The key is designing experiences that spark playfulness, connection and flow. This attracts fun-loving people and repels fun-killers. With the right playground, fun can’t help but emerge.

Here’s a summary of the key points:

To attract fun, seek out or create “playgrounds” - structured activities/gatherings that provide a scaffolding for playfulness. Classes, group activities, competitions, games, and traditions can all serve as playgrounds.
When designing a playground, think about the factors that attract you to fun - movement, music, intellectual stimulation, etc. - and build those elements in. Conversations can also be playgrounds if you bring a playful structure.
Pay attention to your physical surroundings, as certain settings and objects inherently spark joy and fun for many people - things like water, campfires, treehouses, musical instruments, and throwable/catchable objects.
Protect your playgrounds once created by keeping the focus on fun and not slipping into complacency. Defend them against joykillers who drain the fun out of activities.
Traditions can spawn additional playgrounds over time and create bonded “play communities.” But not every game or event needs to become a tradition - the feeling of “being apart together” is what’s key.

Here is a summary of the key points about rebellion from the chapter:

The author noticed that many examples of True Fun involved people engaging in minor acts of rebellion or deviance that broke rules or norms.
These rebellious acts often involved doing something unexpected, unusual, or mildly taboo.
Examples include kids leaving school to play in the park, young adults spontaneously having fun in a closed kiddie pool at night, and pranking or startling people.
The author argues that carefully chosen, harmless rebellious acts can create an atmosphere conducive to fun by:

Fostering a sense of solidarity and connection between participants.
Providing a feeling of agency, control, and freedom.
Introducing an element of excitement, unpredictability and delight.

However, the author notes that harmful, dangerous, or truly antisocial rebellious acts should be avoided, as they can damage relationships and community.
Overall, the chapter suggests that mild, playful rebellion that provides a sense of liberation can be an ingredient for injecting more fun into life. But it should be used judiciously and with care not to cause real harm.
The author describes enjoyable acts of harmless rebellion from their own life, like hosting an ice cream breakfast party in winter or taking spontaneous trips over holidays.
They argue that rebellion can be a form of play and escape from normal routines. Play theorists like Stuart Brown note that play involves breaking rules and patterns.
The author encourages finding ways to rebel that are fun for you, not scary. Possible ideas are rebelling against habits and routines to be more present and create distinct memories, or rebelling against social norms and expectations.
Rebellion triggers dopamine, which helps form memories and makes experiences feel meaningful. So acts of rebellion can slow down the perception of time and create more varied memories.
The goal is to indulge in playful rule-breaking that provides a sense of liberation, makes you feel more alive, and brings you joy. The author advocates finding forms of rebellion that match your personal values and preferences.

In summary, the author recommends harmless, playful rebellion as a way to escape routines, feel present, form memories, slow down time, and experience joy. Matching the type of rebellion to your values and preferences is key.

Embracing novelty and rebelling against habit and routine can produce dopamine, creating positive memories and motivating us to continue seeking new experiences. However, too much novelty-seeking can be destructive.
To rebel against habit, commit to a “Fun Mindset”, identify areas of autopilot, and ask yourself “Why?”, “What if?”, and “What’s the worst that could happen?” to spur new ideas. Also, be flexible and open to spontaneous invitations.
Rebel against convention by not blindly following trends and using surprises to delight others.
Rebel against traditions by consciously choosing which to follow, creating new ones, and celebrating outside of normal contexts.
Rebel against beliefs by questioning their validity. This can shift mindsets and reveal new opportunities.
Overall, calculated, moderate rebellion against the familiar introduces novelty, allows us to see things differently, and brings more lightness and fun into life.

The passage discusses ways to rebel against various norms and expectations in order to have more fun and authenticity in life. Some examples given include:

Rebelling against your own assumptions and beliefs, questioning what you’ve automatically accepted to gain new insights. The example is given of someone realizing activities she thought were fun were actually more about personal growth.
Rebelling against formality and perfectionism by showing more of your true, vulnerable self to connect with others. An example is given of the author introducing herself in an informal, silly way before a big corporate presentation.
Rebelling against adulthood by re-engaging your childlike spirit through play and nostalgic activities.
Rebelling against expectations of your persona by indulging in out-of-character interests. An example is a professor who enjoys reading romance novels.
Rebelling against always meeting your responsibilities by making time for purely selfish, self-care activities.

The key points are that rebelling in these harmless ways can increase fun, authenticity, self-awareness and stronger connections. The passage argues we deserve to indulge our true selves.

Making fun a priority in your life is like exercise - you can’t just do it once, you have to keep at it.
You have to actively work to create fun in your life, protect time for it, and resist busyness that interferes with it.
Spend time with your existing “fun squads” - people you tend to have fun with. Join new groups or create a new “fun squad” focused on finding new ways to have fun together.
A “fun squad” can meet regularly to discuss fun or actually do fun activities together. Either way, the purpose is to hold each other accountable for making fun a priority.
Set ground rules to keep the focus on fun. Rotate leadership and responsibilities. Commit to at least 6 months together.
Schedule regular fun excursions and activities. Let the group democratically pick the activities. Take turns organizing and leading.
Set aside time for unstructured fun and see where the moment takes you. Not everything needs to be planned.
If you fall off track, get back to it. Fun takes continual effort and commitment. Make it a lifelong journey of discovering new ways to play.
Recruit a “fun squad” - a group of people to regularly do enjoyable activities with. Brainstorm activities, establish ground rules and a schedule.
Prioritize your “fun magnets” - the activities, settings and people you find most conducive to having fun. Don’t let your limited leisure time go to waste.
Plan for fun - schedule microdoses (small, daily pleasures like hobbies or rituals) and booster shots (bigger experiences like vacations that replenish you). Always have something to look forward to.
Invest in fun - creating opportunities for fun may require some financial investment, but focus on spending money on experiences rather than possessions.
Use technology for good - take advantage of technology that facilitates playfulness, connection and flow. Make sure it engages you.
The key is to take concrete steps to regularly incorporate more lightheartedness, connection and flow into your life. Make fun a priority.
The author cut back on constant digital communication like texting and emailing, and started making old-fashioned phone calls to friends instead. This felt awkward and intrusive at first, but eventually led to more spontaneous, relaxed interactions.
Regularly taking breaks from technology, like a “technology shabbat” or “digital sabbath”, creates space for more nourishing activities. This leads to feeling refreshed and grateful for technology’s positives.
Keeping a “fun times journal” to record playful, connecting experiences helps make pursuing fun a priority. Periodically retaking the fun frequency questionnaire also helps track progress.
Creating a physical “fun toolkit” with ideas, prompts, and memories of fun times provides inspiration whenever you need a boost. Add to it regularly.
Fun sometimes requires work to create opportunities and emotional effort to convince others to participate. But this work is important to avoid just sinking into passive technology use.
Maintaining fun relationships requires ongoing care and feeding. Don’t let busyness or laziness deprive you of the human moments that make life worth living.

The key is balancing technology’s benefits with intentionally creating space for playfulness, connection and flow away from screens. This takes effort but leads to a more engaged, fulfilled life.

Here is a summary of the main points:

Life is more fun and rewarding when you make time for playfulness, connection with others, and activities that produce flow. But most people get bogged down by obligations and anxiety, losing touch with sources of fun.
You can cultivate more fun in your life by being curious about and open to new experiences, noticing small delights throughout your day, scheduling time for play, and reducing anxiety through self-care and positive self-talk.
Don’t let the pursuit of fun itself become a chore. Be kind to yourself and remember that creating a fun life takes time. Even small, fleeting moments of fun have value and contribute to a joyful life.
Fun deserves more attention. Paying attention to positive experiences, rather than constantly focusing on problems and duties, can profoundly improve your life and make you feel more alive.

The key is to actively focus your limited time and attention on creating opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow. This builds a life filled with meaning, happiness, satisfaction, and joy.

Here are the key points from the passages:

Fun is difficult to define precisely, but involves experiences that are playful, connected, and promote flow.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines fun as “enjoyment, amusement, lighthearted pleasure.”
Fun invigorates us, brings us together, and reminds us of who we want to be. It is vital for our well-being.
The author argues we should not see fun as frivolous, but rather as an essential component of happiness and health.
She encourages prioritizing opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow. These lead to engagement with the world and human flourishing.
The author thanks all those who have contributed to experiences of fun in her life. She argues that fun is not just a result of thriving, but a cause of it.

In summary, the passages argue that fun is a complex but vital concept, involving enjoyment, relationships, and optimal experiences. The author makes a case for taking fun seriously and purposefully incorporating it into our lives.

Social media and technology are designed to be addictive and steal our attention. Platforms use algorithms and surveillance to keep us hooked.
This constant distraction is hurting our ability to focus, think deeply, and be present. It leads to “polluted time” and “time confetti.”
Loneliness and depression have reached epidemic levels, especially among young people. Heavy social media use is linked to greater unhappiness and feelings of isolation.
Face-to-face interactions are critical for wellbeing. But participation in community groups has declined as technology consumes more of our time.
We need to be more intentional about how we spend our time and attention. This may involve reevaluating our relationship with technology.
Tristan Harris describes how technology is designed to be addictive through tactics like “variable rewards” that hook our brains.
Former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya has condemned social media as “ripping apart the social fabric of how society works.”
Studies show that constant distractions from technology impair memory formation and increase stress hormones.
We feel most alive when engaged in play, which is purposeless, voluntary, and immersive activity done for its own sake.
Play enhances creativity, problem-solving, brain plasticity, and emotional resilience.
Lack of play is linked to feelings of anxiety, stress, loneliness, and lack of meaning and purpose.
Social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors for illness and early death, on par with smoking and obesity. Technology use can contribute to feelings of loneliness.
We need to rediscover true play, real-world social connections, and activities that give our brains a break from constant digital stimulation.

Here is a summary of the key points from the Institute on Aging tute:

Loneliness can be worsened by things like focusing too much on social threats. High-quality social relationships are vital for wellbeing.
Joy comes from human connection. The Harvard Grant Study found close relationships have a big impact on health and happiness.
Laughter reduces stress hormones, boosts the immune system, and provides pain relief. It makes us more satisfied with our relationships. Anticipating laughter reduces stress.
Positive experiences broaden our thinking and build resources we can draw on during hard times. The more positive emotions we feel, the more we flourish.
Idleness allows us to focus on what really matters. Rest restores and renews us. Laughter triggers dopamine. Improvising music lights up creative parts of the brain.
We need to make time for fun and play to balance busy lives. If we don’t prioritize our lives, other people will. The search for our own path to joy is an essential part of the human experience.

Research shows that fun is more enjoyable when shared with others. Laughter and play build social bonds.
Making time for leisure and relationships is important for wellbeing. Scheduling “free time” helps achieve work-life balance.
Pursuing passions outside of work is rewarding. It’s never too late to explore new hobbies and skills. Perfectionism can inhibit playfulness.
Playfulness can be cultivated through humor, lightheartedness, and “savoring” positive experiences. Simple pleasures and traditions can create opportunities for fun.
Maintaining a sense of youthful rebelliousness allows us to challenge conventions. Play subverts social norms and liberates the spirit.
Rest and reflection are necessary to recharge. Planning ahead for leisure activities increases anticipation and joy.
Sustaining a playful mindset requires continuous effort. But integrating fun into everyday life is worth the commitment.

Ashley Whillans is the author of Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life.
In this book, Whillans argues that people can reclaim their time and live happier lives by being more intentional about how they spend their time.
One of her main suggestions is to spend money to buy back time. This could involve paying to outsource disliked tasks or paying for time-saving services.
Whillans provides evidence that spending money in this way can increase happiness by freeing up time for more meaningful and enjoyable activities.
Overall, the book makes the case that being strategic with time use is key to happiness, and buying back time can be an effective strategy.

#book-summary

The Power of Fun How to Feel Alive Again - Catherine Price