7 Signs You Need More Fun in Your Life
Did you know that fun is actually a basic human need? It’s true! Here are 7 signs that you could use some more fun in YOUR life.
Have you ever seen a character in a movie or on TV that made you laugh and say, “Oh my gosh, that is ME”? Two characters that totally did that for me were Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. (I have a feeling you might be able to relate!)
These two characters have a lot in common. They’re the smartest girls at their schools. They’re unshakably confident. They’re never afraid to speak their minds. But there’s a not-so-cool thing these characters have in common too. They don’t leave themselves ANY time for fun. And the few times that we do get to see them have fun, they pay for it.
When Paris finally allows herself to have a boyfriend, she gets rejected from Harvard. And when Hermione enjoys a magical evening at the Yuletide Ball (with a guy as ambitious and talented as she is), it leads to a huge fight with her jealous friend.
Honestly, I can’t think of any exceptions to this. Ambitious girls in movies and on TV never get to have fun! So the message we’ve received is that if we lose focus, we’ll lose everything.
Luckily, we don’t have to believe everything we see on TV. Allowing yourself to have fun not only makes you and happier and more pleasant to be around (something that Paris and Hermione admittedly could have used some work on), but it actually makes you even productive when you get back to work. Really!
So, if any of the following signs sound familiar to you, I INSIST you make an effort to have more fun in your life.
1. you need more fun in your life if You’re low key irritable for no reason
If you’re pretty much always stressed out or in a bad mood, it’s time to do something about it! When we’re irritable, it’s because we’re overwhelmed. Doing fun things helps you to live in the moment, which is like hitting the refresh button in your brain. Even if you feel like you don’t have a minute to spare, trying giving yourself 15-30 minutes to do something that actually makes you happy. It will be so worth it!
Related: 5 Essentials to Happiness That Shouldn't Be Missing from Your Life
2. When someone asks what you’ve been up to, you can’t think of anything unrelated to school
If school is the only thing you have going on right now, you DEFINITELY need some more fun in your life! You are so much more than a transcript and a GPA. You also have family, friends, passions, talents, and dreams. Putting too much focus on one area of your life makes you one-dimensional. And that’s BORING! Make sure you’re leaving time for the other things that are important to you too.
Related: How to Balance Your Daily Life
3. Your idea of fun is going on YouTube or watching Netflix
Tell me if this sounds familiar. You do homework until you just can’t anymore. And then all you have energy for is YouTube or Netflix. Right? Watching a funny video or catching up on a favorite show can be fun. But it gets boring after a while. That’s because even though it’s fun to escape for a little bit, videos, movies, and shows don’t really add anything to our lives. So be sure to save some energy for the things that do!
Need some inspiration? Check it!
4. you need more fun in your life if you wonder if you have any friends
If you don’t have people in your life that you connect with right now, it doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you. It just means that you’re neglecting your social life! (Sounds about right, doesn’t it?) Take some time off to be around people and you'll be much happier.
5. You feel accomplished when you actually show up to a social event
It’s important to show up for the big events. But that alone isn’t enough to sustain a friendship. Get some more fun in your life by putting in some face time with your friends outside of school. Make it a study date if you have to, but bonus points if it’s more along the lines of karaoke or a trampoline park.
Related: Conversation Tips to Help You Feel Less Socially Awkward
6. You feel jealous when you look at other people’s Twitter and Instagram feeds
Is everyone having more fun than you? Yes. Yes they are. (I’m just being real!) Now some people are having fun at the expense of school and their future. And I am not suggesting that you go that route. But being a workaholic is making the opposite mistake. Trust me when I say that completely missing out on your life for the sake of your future becomes a habit. (And one that you will probably regret.)
Related: 8 Signs that You Actually Have High Functioning Anxiety
7. You can’t remember the last time you did something risky or scary
I can hear you right now. “Um, isn’t that a good thing?” Not necessarily! Is it a good thing that you’re not hitchhiking to Coachella whilst subsiding on a diet of psychedelic mushrooms? Well sure. Don’t do that!
But there are risks in life that you SHOULD take. The kind of risks that don’t really have negative consequences (other than being outside of your comfort zone). Things like sitting at a new table at lunch or trying out for the school musical. If you haven’t pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone lately, you’re really missing out on some good stuff!
Related: The Ultimate Goals Planner: 10 Practical Tips to Make Your Dreams a Reality
If a lot these signs sounded familiar, you need more fun in your life, friend! Nothing terrible will happen if you let yourself take a break now and then. If you ask me, being a successful person means enjoying your life. So why not start now?
