The importance of having fun,seriously...

As we enter the month of august (siiiigh), the vacation feel is still in the air. Though the weather seems to have cooled just a little (the weather obsession and analysis continues), we are still all sporting our brightly colored outfits, riding our shined two wheelers and enjoying one scoop of ice cream...or two. Ok so multiple scoops of ice cream. These are the days where we feel lighter, indulge in summer's best and feel better. Why? Probably because we are having fun. We slip into our sandals, grab our keys and we are out the door! Everything is quicker, easier and less physically demanding. If you count putting up with a two-week heat wave as physically demanding, let's talk again at minus 30 degrees this winter. Regardless of the season however, it is still an imperative to include fun in your every day life. Having fun can range from the little things like a nice stroll on the sunny side of the street to something a bit more intense like riding in a rollercoaster. We all have our own definition of it. In the interest of simplicity, let us stick to the smaller things that generate fun, like treating yourself well and laughter.

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted -John Lennon

Treating yourself well

Think this is obvious right? Well, let me ask you: did you eat your lunch under ten minutes? Or perhaps your ate at your desk? When is the last time you smiled at something insignificant to others but important to you, in public? If you keep avoiding opportunities that allow you to recharge your batteries and stimulate your thought process, you will inevitably miss out on good times and wear yourself out. These moments where we can let go and transition from one emotion to another are powerful. Feeling stressed or wired? Have lunch with a friend and then go for a walk. Pay attention to your surroundings. Or better yet, if you are close enough to an art gallery, why not peek a look at a canvas or two? This usually gets creative juices flowing and shifts our focus away from the daily routine and common patterns; possibly making you also more productive at work and boosting your energy level as well. Once again, this also allows us to share a one on one moment with ourselves and enable us to be in the here and now more often. It's the little things, there's nothing bigger than that. As Ferris Bueller said so well in 1986:

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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

A fabulous movie (in my top 10), I strongly recommend it if you haven't seen it. Point being: humans have a tendency of punishing themselves when they need it least. A classic example: "I missed the gym today, so I  will feel guilty all day and mentally destroy my ego". Ok, so you missed a training session and you're not too proud, fine, agreed. But big deal. Make it a choice and take ownership. Be at the source of not at the mercy of your actions.  An overly active sense of guilt can tarnish your days and throw you in a downward spinning cycle. Break that cycle before it even begins: tomorrow is another day and go to the gym you shall! In the meantime, enjoy what you can do with today.

How many times have you laughed today?

There is nothing I like to hear more than someone's infectious laughter. I can't help but smile even if I have no idea was the person is laughing about. Just knowing that he or she is happy and is expressing it reminds me not to take myself too seriously. Now, let me ask you this: When was the last time you let out a hardy laugh? Now I know some of you just rolled your eyes at my post thinking "who has time for this?" yet, experiencing a happy moment (aka having fun) is important for your mental and physical health. Physically, when we laugh, the muscles in our face stretch and we are using belly muscles as well while our pulse accelerates, sending more oxygen to our tissues (R. Morgan Griffin). We also tend to physically relax afterwards.  On a more psychological level and in my opinion, laughing, either by ourselves or in company, allows us to reconnect with who we are and the best of who we are as well. Additionally, when sharing a good laugh with another person or with a group, this increases a sense of bonding with the other individual(s). I, for that matter, am able to laugh just as much (if not more) at the same joke or same movie parts repeatedly, like in Ferris Bueller. If, unlike me, you need new material continuously to trigger your laugh, then I strongly suggest you seek it on a daily basis - it's a a good investment, abiding by my "no regrets" motto. Go out there and have some fun, it will pay back, seriously.

Cheers!
P.S. I will not be posting in the next two weeks as I will be out of the city ;)
Iva

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