Our emphasis on outcomes and efficiency rather than satisfaction and enjoyment may partially explain some of the high rates of depression and anxiety in teenagers, especially those attending schools that serve as feeders for elite colleges. It certainly hints at why it’s so hard for many adults to prioritize True Fun and to enjoy it when it occurs: we’ve been indoctrinated to believe that there should be a purpose to everything we do, or else it’s a waste of time; as a result, experiences that bring us pure pleasure don’t seem worthy of being treated as priorities, and sometimes even come with
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