The Fun Habit supplemental: The Fun File
Follow these three simple steps, and you'll be having more fun in no time
One of the best ways to accomplish any goal is to spend a little time before you get started expanding your understanding of the available choices and options. Since our goal in 2022 is to have more fun, that’s where we’re going to start: making a personal Fun File using three easy steps.
Step One: The Brainstorm
First, determine the most reliable way to document and store your list (e.g., pen and paper, Word file, Google Doc, Evernote, etc.). Then, start brainstorming all the things from your past and present that bring (or have brought) you pleasure and enjoyment—everything from small pleasures (playing with your dog) to elaborate ones (taking your dog on a road trip).
Now, repeat the exercise with your eye toward the future. What things might bring your future-self pleasure and enjoyment? What have you never done but might like to try?
Step Two: Adding Structure
Sure, we are being a bit methodical about fun at first. But a bit of work upfront affords us freedom of choice later. It also increases the likelihood we will actually engage in something fun when the time presents itself. When leisure time becomes available, we have reduced the friction between ideation and taking action. We’ve reduced the cognitive load of having to pull ideas out of thin air.
Furthermore, it will quickly become more fun once we see patterns. Finding new ideas for fun will come easier (e.g., “I clearly like concerts, what are some bands I’m not thinking of that would be really fun to see?”).
Step Three: Creating Your Short List
This final step might be the most difficult: From the long list you generated, pick your favorite eight to fifteen achievable choices as your go-tos. Items that make the short list should be achievable (e.g., it would be fun for me to compete in another Ironman, but that is no longer possible since I now have a hip replacement) but don’t necessarily need to be achieved this year. For instance, one of mine is to get “barreled while surfing,” but just the process of trying is fun for me.
Brainstorming and being expansive regarding our options are an important starting place, but having hundreds of activity ideas at the ready is not a recipe for fun. It’s too much of a good thing, or what academics call overchoice.
I dig into this more, plus get into the science, in an early chapter in my upcoming book The Fun Habit, but for now, let’s get our list ready so we can hit the ground running as the world begins to become a bit safer.
Things are getting exciting, and I’m confident 2022 is going to be a really fun year for most of us.
Yours in fun,
Mike Rucker, Ph.D.