Why You Need to Make Fun a Priority

Some of us don’t take time out of our busy schedules to play. We may even feel that it’s a waste of time. Unfortunately, we lose sight of our need to replenish ourselves. A woman’s basic needs are not only food, clothing, and shelter, but also caring, friendship, and FUN. Yes, fun works wonders. Fun lightens our burdens, gives us new perspectives, and frees our minds to face ordinary situations with renewed enthusiasm. Here’s a case in point:

Have you ever come home from work feeling so tired that the only thing you were capable of doing was brushing your teeth and crawling into bed? Take this same scenario and add to it a phone call from your best friend, who loves to joke with you. You hear her laugh and your exhaustion goes away. Instead of wanting to go to sleep, you’d rather meet her and go dancing.

Playing is not just for little children. A few good jokes, drinking a cappuccino with a special friend, roller-skating with your children, swimming, collecting shells on a beach—all of these activities can transform exhaustion into energy. We all have a child inside us that wants to have fun, but do we let her come out and play? You know what she’ll do if you don’t! Throw a tantrum in the form of being bored, exhausted, or uncooperative.

Adapted from Our Power as Women, by Helene Lerner. Conari Press.