TedTalk Tuesday #236: Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life

TED continues to spread ideas and help us all be better critical thinkers. Watching, listening and talking about TED Talks is a popular pastime for many in the CN&CO community. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh, learn or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations and business opportunities. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” sounds. It’s also a way that the CN&CO team play their part in spreading ideas and helping to make the world a better place. This TedTalk was selected by Stella Carter.

With the holidays approaching, most of us find ourselves with some free time on hand and an urge to let loose and have a little fun. But do we really “have fun” in the true sense of the word? According to Catherine Price, we might think we are already having plenty of fun, purely because we are using the word “fun” to describe anything we do in our leisure time – even when it’s not actually enjoyable…

So how do we bring real fun into our lives?

According to Catherine, fun is a feeling, NOT an activity, and there are 3 key fundamentals to experiencing true fun:

Playfulness – a light-hearted attitude, free of perfection

Connection – a special, shared experience

Flow – a state where we are so focused and present we can lose track of time

This seems easier said than done, not so? Here are some tips on how to really have fun, which I, for one, will be focusing on in during the holidays and beyond.