If you’re a parent, you’ll probably have said to your children, a million times things like “when I was a child…”, “we played outside until dark…”, “our parents never saw us…” etc etc. Am I right? What happened? As an adult or grown up, we’ve lost that ability to have fun or incorporate more play into our adult lives. Here’s a few ways how to have fun as an adult and the benefits for your health and your home.
We’ve taken life too serious
I can remember as a teenager, I couldn’t wait until I grew up. Getting into bars, driving, doing my own grocery shop, living on my own. All those things that make us think what a grown up life looks like.
We neglect to think about or even know about the responsibilities of working for a living, new and broken relationships, money stress, moving house stress, marriage, kids of our own etc etc. Life has become way more serious than we would’ve ever expected as a teen.
When life gets real
Is it any wonder we’ve forgotten how to have fun. Sure, my early 20’s were fun, partying hard, looking for love and my career but there should’ve been more play to protect my mental health for what was to come.
There was the passing of my father in my late 20’s, depression, failed relationships etc in my early 30’s and then marriage, children and a divorce plus the passing of my mother in my 40’s. A lot for anyone to go through. I wonder if I’d incorporated a bit more fun into my life some of those life events might’ve been a bit easier to bare?
The benefits of play for adults for your health
Just like for children, play should be an important part of our lives. Here are some of the benefits.
Relieves stress
Play can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Improves brain function
Playing games, completing puzzles, or other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.
Stimulates the mind and boosts creativity
Children learn through play and this principle can apply to adults, as well. You’ll learn new tasks better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.
It will help you with your energy levels and make you want to get stuck into those household chores and decluttering jobs with vigour especially if you’ve got the music blaring and you’re dancing while you’re doing it.
Improves relationships and interpersonal connections
Having fun with other adults can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to include a specific activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships.
It helps with keeping calm if you’re driving, dealing with a difficult colleage or boss or going through tough times with your own family members.
Keep you feeling young and energetic
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
George Bernard Shaw
Play can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you function at your best.
Since meeting my new husband back in 2014, we do nothing but. Life is fun. We goof around. He still skateboards and surfs in his 40’s. We love going to the beach, kicking water at each other. There’s no better way to cool down after a hard day at work on a hot summer’s day than a water fight, which we do regularly and we dance and joke around all the time.
My children, now teenagers, might look at us a bit strangely but hopefully they’ll take away the importance of having fun well into their adult years.
Ways to have fun as an adult
There are so many ways to have fun as an adult and you don’t have to look far than your own children to learn from them. Here’s a few other things to try.
- play a team sport
- join a games group at your local library or club
- play your favourite sport in the backyard or at your local park
- play hide and seek with your partner and children (we do this all the time)
- say silly things in a silly voice
- make up your own language of silly words (we do this and laugh about it all the time)
- host a themed party like fancy dress or come as your favourite super hero
- invest in a table tennis table or other table game
- play board games or card games
- colour in
- do jigsaw puzzles or play with Lego (everyone’s doing it)
- buy a $2 bubble blower and blow bubbles
- dance
- take dance classes
- learn a musical instrument
- start a band for fun
- join a drama or theatre group
- volunteer at the school and get dressed up on theme days (yes, I went dressed as Darth Vader when on duty at the school canteen one day and my young son was not impressed at all but I had fun)
- play charades
- play Twister
- run a bubble bath and have a good soak
- sing out loud to your favourite songs with your headphones in
- take up a long forgotten or never tried craft
- learn a new sport and take classes
- get on the floor and play with your children, taking their lead (they have the best imaginations)
- introduce fun at work by playing cards or going to the nearest park in your break to shoot a few hoops (talk to your employer about introducing other fun activities to do on your break)
- get a pet and interact with them
- try your kid’s video games (they’ll love it)
- learn magic tricks
- try out crazy Snapchat filters on your phone
- download a Word game app or similar on your phone
- take goofy selfies instead of trying to look 100% perfect
- keep telling stories of your childhood to your children to keep the memories alive
- have a tickle fight
- tell each other jokes
- have a comedy night
- watch a crazy funny movie or stand up comedian DVD
- watch those funniest home video type shows
- watch funny videos on YouTube
- have a crazy hair day
- take a bike ride
- go roller skating ice skating
- try ten pin bowling
- go trampolining
- learn to ride a skateboard or try surfing
Whatever it is that gives you a good belly laugh until it hurts or brings a smile to your face, do it and do it regularly. You are never too old to have fun. Incorporate it regularly into your day and week. You’ll feel so much better for it.
How to have fun as an adult & the benefits
