Why Having Fun Is the Secret to a Healthier Life | Catherine Price | TED

Summary

The speaker highlights the struggle of feeling truly alive despite our constant busyness. They propose that having fun—defined as moments of playfulness, connection, and flow—is key to feeling alive and joyful. Fun is not just for children or frivolous; it energizes, makes us present, unites us, and even improves our health. To experience more fun, reduce distractions, engage with others in real life, find opportunities for playful rebellion, and prioritize activities and people that bring you joy. Fun, described as 'sunshine,' is essential for a fulfilling life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Feeling truly alive is harder than it seems, as many of us are busy but not necessarily living.
• 📱 We often use 'fun' to describe activities that aren't genuinely enjoyable, leading to a misuse of the term.
• 😊 True fun is more than lighthearted pleasure; it is a vital part of feeling alive and thriving.
• 🎉 Fun is defined by playfulness, connection, and flow, creating moments of deep joy and engagement.
• 🔥 Fun is energizing, making people glow with a contagious warmth and positivity.
• 🧘‍♀️ Fun brings us into the present moment, achieving a state of flow where time seems to disappear.
• 🤝 Fun unites us, helping us connect with others as human beings beyond differences.
• 💪 Fun has significant health benefits, reducing stress and loneliness while promoting relaxation and social connections.
• 😂 Fun is a direct pathway to happiness, providing moments of pure joy and contentment.
• 🎯 To have more fun, prioritize activities that foster playfulness, connection, and flow, and make time for these experiences in your life.

Q & A

What does the speaker suggest is harder than it seems?

The speaker suggests that actually feeling alive is harder than it seems.

Why do people keep themselves busy and distracted, according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, people keep themselves busy and distracted because they feel a little bit dead inside and don't know what to do about it.

What is the speaker's solution to feeling more alive?

The speaker's solution to feeling more alive is to have more fun.

How does the speaker define 'fun' compared to common perceptions?

The speaker defines 'fun' as a feeling that involves playfulness, connection, and flow, rather than just amusement or lighthearted pleasure as commonly perceived.

What three factors does the speaker identify as constituting the new definition of fun?

The three factors are playfulness, connection, and flow.

Why does the speaker believe that fun is important?

The speaker believes that fun is important because it is energizing, makes us present, unites us, makes us healthier, and brings joy, thus contributing to overall well-being and happiness.

How does the speaker suggest we can have more fun?

The speaker suggests we can have more fun by reducing distractions to increase flow, interacting more with people in real life, finding opportunities to be playfully rebellious, and prioritizing fun in our schedules.

What is the significance of 'flow' in having fun?

Flow is significant because it involves being so engaged and focused on an activity that we lose track of time, which is essential for experiencing true fun.

How does fun contribute to our health, according to the speaker?

Fun contributes to our health by reducing stress and loneliness, which decreases the risk of disease and promotes relaxation and social connection.

What example does the speaker give of a playful rebellion?

The speaker gives the example of a group of friends who ditched work and childcare responsibilities, tucked flasks into their purses, and snuck out to a 10:30am showing of the movie 'Bad Moms.'