We’re excited to present another installment of the Flowly Book Review Series! This week, join Flowly team member Christine as she delves into The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD.
What’s it about?
The Fun Habit presents compelling scientific evidence on how incorporating fun as a regular practice can significantly enhance both physical and psychological well-being. It addresses the modern-day absence of fun despite its profound benefits, offering practical insights for anyone striving to achieve a better work-life balance or seeking relief from life's challenges. Drawing on science and personal experience, "The Fun Habit" provides actionable strategies to effortlessly make fun a habitual part of your life, promoting health, joy, and productivity.
Why did you choose to read The Fun Habit?
It's been such a long time since I read this book so I can't remember the exact reason why, but I think it might have to do with the idea of me wanting to bring in more FUN into my life.
What are the main takeaways?
- How Much Time Should Be Spent on Fun?
- TL;DR Recommendation: Aim for two hours a day.
- For those who want more details: "For those of you who are inevitably asking themselves, Okay, but how much time should I be seeking to spend on fun? Here’s a starting place: two hours a day. This recommendation is grounded from two empirical sources: first, research from Dr. Marissa Sharif, Dr. Cassie Mogilner Homes, and Dr. Hal Hershfield that suggests the 'Goldilocks' sweet spot for leisure time is between two to five hours a day (more than five hours and the weight of being overly nonproductive might have a negative psychological impact), and second, data around Americans and leisure time that indicate what’s average in the United States, suggesting that two hours is at least an attainable baseline for most of us." (p. 26)
- Incorporate Fun by Achieving a Flow State
- Finding ways to enter a flow state can help bring more fun into your life. This state of deep engagement and immersion in activities is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for your overall well-being.
- Slow Down Time with Novel Activities
- From the book: "The reason doing anything novel forces our brain to slow down is that it hasn’t developed mental shortcuts (sometimes referred to as heuristics) for processing the new incoming information." (p. 64)
- To make time feel like it's passing more slowly, incorporate new and novel activities into your daily routine. This can help you experience time more mindfully and increase the sense of fun and enjoyment in your life.
How did The Fun Habit affect you?
I almost forgot about trying to set aside 2 hours a day for fun, but redoing this book review has reminded me to get back into the routine of incorporating more fun into my life.
Who should read The Fun Habit?
Anyone pressed for time but eager to infuse more fun and spontaneity into their lives should pick up this book. It's packed with scientific research and practical exercises, making it feel more like a workbook designed to help you build a "fun toolbox."
Chronic pain often limits the ability to engage in enjoyable activities, making it crucial to discover new ways to have fun. Our Heroes have shown that fun not only improves mental well-being but also supports physical health. This book offers practical advice and exercises to help you incorporate more fun into your life.
Quick Tips from the Book:
Health Benefits of Fun:
- "The laughter and good humor that often accompany fun reduce anxiety, decrease stress, enhance self-esteem, and increase self-motivation. Fun improves respiration and circulation, lowers your pulse and blood pressure, and helps release endorphins into the bloodstream. Fun relieves loneliness and boredom. Fun is one of the keys to vitality as we age." (p. 3)
Importance of Sleep:
- "Life is no fun when you don’t get enough sleep. (...) We should have eleven consecutive hours of non-work-related activity for any given twenty-four-hour cycle. Additionally, we should have at least one completely work-free day each week—ideally two consecutive days—to avoid poor sleep hygiene and sleep deficits." (p. 45)
Gratitude and Reminiscing:
- "Establishing a reminiscing routine that acknowledges gratitude for past experiences helps you stay mindful of the abundance of fun." (p. 71)
Social Connections:
- "Human beings can only nurture five close personal relationships at a time. Identifying your close relationships, especially if you’re feeling lonely, and evaluating how well you’ve maintained them can be beneficial." (p. 129)
This book is a treasure trove of practical advice and exercises designed to help anyone integrate more fun into their lives, promoting both mental and physical health.
Have a book you would like to review and share with the Flowly community? Send us an email at contact@flowly.world.