G15 — FUN, PLAY & DOING THINGS JUST BECAUSE YOU ENJOY THEM
Not everything has to be productive to be worthwhile.
When did having fun become something we had to justify?
Remember when you were a child?
You did things because they were fun.
You rode your bike, climbed trees, made things, played games, danced around your bedroom or spent hours doing something completely pointless.
You didn't stop to ask whether it was improving your cardiovascular fitness, developing a transferable skill or contributing to your five-year plan.
You just enjoyed yourself.
And then somewhere along the way, adulthood happened.
Suddenly everything seemed to need a purpose.
Exercise became about fitness.
Walking became about steps.
Reading became about learning.
Hobbies became potential side hustles.
Even relaxing sometimes comes with the nagging feeling that we really ought to be doing something more useful.
But since when did enjoyment stop being a good enough reason to do something?
1. The pressure to be productive
We live in a world that places enormous value on achievement.
We're encouraged to improve ourselves, maximise our time, develop new skills and make the most of every opportunity.
And there's nothing wrong with ambition or personal growth.
But when every activity has to produce a result, something gets lost.
We can become so focused on what we're achieving that we forget to notice what we're enjoying.
Perhaps you love painting but aren't particularly good at it.
Perhaps you enjoy singing but couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.
Perhaps you want to learn to dance, even though you have absolutely no intention of performing in public.
Wonderful.
You don't have to be good at something to enjoy doing it.
And you certainly don't have to turn it into an achievement.
2. Play isn't just for children
When we hear the word play, we often think of children.
But adults need opportunities for playfulness too.
Play might involve:
Playing a game or trying a new sport.
Dancing around the kitchen.
Being silly with friends.
Making something with your hands.
Dressing up for absolutely no reason.
Singing, gardening, painting or playing music.
Trying something new without worrying whether you'll be any good at it.
Play often involves curiosity, imagination, spontaneity and a willingness to let go of the outcome.
It can give us a break from responsibilities and allow us to experience a different side of ourselves.
And sometimes it's simply a chance to laugh.
Not every moment of your life needs to be terribly serious.
3. What happened to your hobbies?
Think back to things you used to enjoy.
Perhaps you played an instrument.
Loved photography.
Enjoyed tennis, sewing, dancing, drawing, cooking or going to live music.
And then life got busy.
Work.
Children.
Relationships.
Household responsibilities.
Endless things that needed doing.
Gradually, the activities you did purely for pleasure disappeared.
Not necessarily because you stopped enjoying them.
But because they stopped feeling important enough to make time for.
And sometimes, after years of prioritising everyone and everything else, we forget what we actually enjoy.
Just because something isn't essential doesn't mean it isn't valuable.
4. Fun doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate
When we think about enjoying life, we sometimes imagine holidays, expensive experiences or grand adventures.
But pleasure can be wonderfully ordinary.
A favourite song turned up loud.
A ridiculous conversation with a friend.
A game of cards.
An afternoon spent gardening.
A good book.
A walk somewhere new.
A spontaneous picnic.
Trying a recipe simply because you fancy it.
And sometimes the best moments are the ones we didn't plan.
You don't need a huge budget, a special occasion or an entire free weekend.
A little enjoyment sprinkled through everyday life can matter just as much as the big events.
5. What if you're not very good at it?
Here's a thought.
What if you deliberately did something you weren't particularly good at?
Not to improve.
Not to master it.
Not to prove anything.
Just because you fancied having a go.
As adults, we can become reluctant beginners.
We worry about looking foolish.
We compare ourselves with people who've been doing something for years.
We give up when we're not immediately competent.
But children don't usually approach play like that.
They experiment.
They make mistakes.
They laugh.
They try again.
Perhaps we could borrow a little of that attitude.
You are allowed to be spectacularly average at something and still have an absolutely marvellous time.
6. Fun can bring people together
Some of our happiest memories involve other people.
Laughing with friends.
Playing games with family.
Joining a club.
Trying something new together.
Sharing an experience that becomes a story you'll tell for years.
Enjoyable activities can create opportunities for connection, particularly when we participate regularly.
But fun doesn't always have to be social.
Some people recharge through quiet, solitary activities.
Reading, painting, walking, making things or simply pottering about.
Neither is better.
The important thing is recognising what brings you enjoyment.
7. You don't have to earn your enjoyment
This is something I think we could all remember.
You don't have to finish every household job before you're allowed to have fun.
You don't have to reach your target weight before buying yourself a lovely outfit.
You don't have to be productive all week to justify an afternoon doing something you enjoy.
Of course, responsibilities don't disappear.
But if enjoyment is always postponed until everything else is finished, it may never happen.
There will almost always be another email, another load of washing or another thing that needs sorting.
Pleasure doesn't have to be a reward for productivity. It can simply be part of living.
8. Where does fun fit into your Wellness Wheel?
Fun and play sit naturally within Personal Growth & Fulfilment, but their influence can reach much further.
Enjoyable movement may support Movement & Strength.
Shared activities can strengthen Relationships & Connection.
Having something to look forward to may support Emotional Wellbeing.
And making time for hobbies may require changes to your Lifestyle & Environment.
But here's the important bit.
We don't need to justify fun by listing all its possible benefits.
It's perfectly reasonable to do something simply because it makes life more enjoyable.
Never just one thing. Everything is connected. But not everything needs a measurable outcome.
A few questions worth asking yourself
When did I last do something purely because I enjoyed it?
What did I love doing when I was younger?
Have I abandoned any hobbies that I'd genuinely like to return to?
Do I feel guilty when I'm doing something that isn't productive?
Am I reluctant to try things because I might not be good at them?
What makes me laugh?
Do I have enough opportunities for fun, spontaneity and playfulness?
Is there something I've always fancied trying?
Who do I particularly enjoy spending time with?
What could I do this week for absolutely no reason other than the pleasure of doing it?
Something to take away
Life comes with responsibilities.
There are bills to pay, people to look after, jobs to do and problems to solve.
And yes, there are things we need to work towards.
But life isn't supposed to be one enormous to-do list.
Some experiences are worth having simply because they're enjoyable.
You don't have to become an expert.
You don't have to make money from your hobby.
You don't have to track your progress.
And you don't have to explain why you enjoy something.
Perhaps it's time to make a little more room for laughter, curiosity, silliness and those wonderfully unproductive moments that make life feel good.
Because surely one of the points of living well is actually enjoying being alive?
Something to think about, don't you think?
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