Why Having Fun is the Secret to a Healthier Life

This TED Talk by Catherine Price really resonated with me, personally and for the work I do with organizations and teams.

I think often about wellness in the workplace, and one thing I know is that fun matters. In my trainings or group facilitations, I build in opportunities for laughter and connection because it helps people feel more present, connected, energize

d, and engaged.

"Fun is not a result of human thriving, but a cause." Wow. Fun is not for after the important work is one but may help us to do the important work better. Fun makes people glow, be present, unites us and makes us healthier.

She identifies 3 elements of true fun.

Playfulness - Doing something simply for the sake of doing it with not worry of productivity or outcome. Let go of perfectionism

Connection - Enjoying a special shared connection with someone else.

Flow - Becoming so engaged in something that you lose track of time and get completely "in the zone". I love it when participants in a training or facilitation say, "That went by really quickly!" That means we found some flow-- people were engaged, participating and in the zone.

Make an effort for moments of every day fun and not just a reward but as a part of how we create healthy workplaces. This doesn't mean forcing games in every meeting or pretending tasks are fun when they are not. It means making room for joy, playfulness, connection and genuine engagement.

Price encourages us to intentionally look for and create small moments of fun in our daily lives. Listen to her TED Talk for tips on doing this.

Let's make it happen!