20 Feb Fun is Fundamental

It’s carnival time where I live. That means parades are rolling, beads are flying, and parties are happening.

Don’t you wish you were here? Of course you do.

That’s because we have so much fun this time of year in New Orleans. Carnival traditions mostly come from our French tradition, some by way of Haiti. We missed out on the Puritan traditions so common in the rest of the US. And I’m not sorry.

Puritans taught the value of hard work and delayed gratification–good things of course. But they seem to have neglected the importance of fun. Fun has benefits. Fun is worth it.

Fun has health benefits

When you relax and have fun, you’re lowering your cortisol levels. That’s the stress hormone. When you feel anxious, busy, or under stress, cortisol pumps out to get your through. That’s a good thing, except, and there’s always that big BUT, it gets you through at the expense of the rest of your functions, like digestion and clear thinking. Cortisol promotes weight gain. I’ve said enough.

Having fun will help you activate your parasympathetic nervous system. So, why should you care about that? Because that’s the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and digest. That means, your body digests food and repairs itself when you are relaxed. When you are in parasympathetic mode, your body HEALS. That doesn’t happen when you’re running around crossing things off your lengthy to-do list.

Taking a break to have a good time allows you to recharge so you can refocus when you get back to your necessary tasks. A lot of us stay up late to “get things done” only to find we are less productive than if we had gone to bed early and tackled our tasks refreshed. Having fun is like pressing the reset button.

We’ve all been told it’s important to exercise, and sitting is the new smoking. Many times fun involves movement. Going to parades requires walking, standing, and reaching for beads. Or think of how fun sports are–that’s quite a lot of movement. Like tennis, golf, or even a walk in the park.

Fun often gets you outdoors and in the sun. Like that walk in the park. Or having a picnic or a barbecue (when the weather is nice). The Japanese call it forest bathing, and research supports the health benefits of getting out in nature.

Many times fun is social. Going to a restaurant, getting up a card game, or meeting for coffee are fun ways to socialize. Socializing builds social connections. Social support is associated with good health and longevity. Here in New Orleans, we meet our friends at parades or we join parading groups. I’m a member of an adult women’s dancing group. (See me on the right, clapping my hands.) I’ve made many good friends there and I really enjoy the dancing.

I even saw a study that said that women who dance tend to have a healthier old age. Yes! As if I needed a reason to dance. It’s just so fun and liberating.

Having fun can be a way to challenge your mind. For example, crossword puzzles make you think, and people do them because they enjoy them. Many sports and games involve strategy and mental engagement. That will help stave off cognitive decline.

Coaching for fun

As a coaching student, I was taught a coaching tool called PERMA. It’s a way to help people to get the most out of life. Each letter stands for a characteristic that can contribute to mental and physical health. P is for Positive emotions, which means emotions like joy, amusement, interest, and love. These lead to a fulfilled and resilient life. E is for Engagement, as in becoming fully absorbed in an activity, sport, or hobby. That increases our skills and betters our emotional capabilities. R is for Relationships, strengthened by fun group activities, and an important means of satisfaction and support.

M is for Meaning, as in finding meaning in your life and your work. You’re more likely to find meaning if you do what you enjoy doing. A is for Achievement and the pride you get from a job well done. And having fun can be a part of honing the skills needed for achievement. Some people add a V, which is for Vitality, which is what we feel when we take care of our bodies and minds. And having fun can do just that. It’s a part of taking care of ourselves.

Our carnival season culminates on Tuesday, which is Mardi Gras day, the day before Ash Wednesday. When we are in the midst of our celebrations, we like to say to each other that everywhere else it’s just Tuesday. Well, it doesn’t have to be. Consider adding a little fun to your life this day and any day.

Let me help you achieve that work/fun balance. I’m a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach as well as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. Contact me. Let’s see if we can have some fun together.

Comments: How do you have fun? Please share.

Dr. Hyman: Stubborn Weight Loss

Parsley Health: Lower Cortisol

Bulletproof: Hack Stress

NPR: Forest Bathing

Positive Psychology: PERMA Model

This article is for information purposes only. See Disclaimer below.