You may already know that self-care is important. While it can be difficult to prioritize yourself when you have so many responsibilities, it’s important in the long run — and especially if you’re a parent. Raising kids to be happy and healthy adults is simply much easier when you’re happy and healthy yourself.
Again, you might already appreciate this. What you might be less familiar with is the essential role that having fun plays in self-care.
Don’t assume fun shouldn’t be a priority now that you’re an adult. On the contrary, embracing your inner child is key to your overall wellness and success. The following points illustrate why.
Having Fun Reduces Stress
Limiting stress in your life should be among your major goals. When you’re stressed, your mental, physical, and emotional health suffers.
This is a key reason to spend more time enjoying fun activities. Specifically, focus on the types of activities that make you laugh.
The old adage that “Laughter is the best medicine” isn’t just a popular saying. It’s actually rooted in fact. Research indicates that laughter releases tension, reduces stress, stimulates important organs, boosts your immune system, improves your mood, and can even help alleviate pain. Make sure it’s part of your life on a regular basis.
Fun Activities Are Easier to Commit To
Some self-care activities are not always appealing. Consider the example of working out. Although it’s necessary to stay on top of your fitness, committing to a regular workout routine may seem difficult.
This is another way in which having fun is valuable. Researchers have found that when you “gamify” activities, like working out, by structuring them so that you earn “points” for different achievements, they become much more fun. This, in turn, makes people more likely to participate in them consistently. It’s a simple way to make important self-care activities more enjoyable. So, next time you hit the gym, consider creating a reward system with points for running faster miles or doing more sit-ups.
Fun Can Apply to Other Life Experiences
Having fun doesn’t need to be something you only do when you’re focusing on self-care. If you consistently prioritize fun, you’ll eventually realize it can help you succeed and make improvements in other areas of life.
For instance, some business experts have pointed out that having fun is often key to performing better in your career. When you think of a work problem as a fun activity (such as a puzzle or game), rather than a challenge, you’ll be more motivated to find a creative solution.
Remember these points if you occasionally fall prey to the belief that fun is only important when you’re a child. Truthfully, fun is incredibly valuable no matter your age. These are merely a few reasons why.
