Press Pause for Play: Why Fun is Important at Any Age

Rediscover the magic of fun—no matter your age or schedule!

What memories of summer fun bring a smile to your face?

For me, it’s blowing bubbles or licking my ice cream cone to stop the ice cream from trickling down my hand. I also remember the cold chill of the Atlantic Ocean waves splashing me in the face, as I shrieked, then giggled, with my dad on the Jersey shore.

As fun as they are for me to remember, those memories may also decrease my stress levels, acting as a natural stress reliever, according to Soulaime Gourani, in her Forbes article “Elevating Leadership Through the Science of Fun”. In her article, Gourani references The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) findings on moments of joy being associated with stress relief and creative thinking.

Why is fun so important?

Turns out plugging along non-stop may not be the best way to proceed.

Our brains need a break to process and reset. Fun, lighthearted moments may help our brains recharge, helping us be more productive.

Fun isn’t just productive—it also fuels creativity, sparks new ideas, and helps us connect with others, and boosts our overall sense of well-being. It’s a vital ingredient in our everyday lives.

As adults, we often don’t make time for fun because it feels indulgent or just impossible to find the time. In 2005, when I first began working from home, I was the only one on our team working remotely, and I worried that if I wasn’t busy all the time, my boss and teammates would think I was slacking off. I never would have considered taking time for a moment for fun.

No age limit on fun

Recently, as I headed to the Walmart check out, I passed a shelf full of bottles of bubbles in all sizes. I paused for a minute, ready to put a small bottle in my basket, then thought, “That’s silly. I don’t have anyone to blow bubbles with” and kept walking to the register.

Looking back, I wish I had stopped and grabbed those bubbles. I’ve come to realize the importance of taking time to blow bubbles, even if my grandsons live over 700 miles away. Bubbles bring me joy and connect me to great childhood memories and the possibility of future bubble moments with my grandsons!

Bubbles, I’ve learned, are what author Catherine Price might consider one of my “fun magnets”. Just thinking about them puts a smile on my face!

Know Your Fun Magnets

In the NPR story, “Here’s why you should make a habit of having more fun”, reporter April Fulton cites Price’s book, “The Power of Fun: How To Feel Alive Again” in which she recommends you ask yourself, “What are my ‘fun magnets’?”

Price recommends coming up with a list of three to four memories of when you had true fun. Look for common threads, like people, activities, places. These can help you identify your “fun magnets”! Capture them, write them down, then schedule time to enjoy them or something related to them, once again!

Schedule Fun for Your Brain!

In Fulton’s NPR story, she suggests we make a point to schedule fun on our calendar and consider it a new habit we’re building (or re-building from our past moments of fun).

While it may seem hard to have spontaneous fun from a scheduled appointment, author Mike Rucker (referenced in Fulton’s NPR story) says: consider scheduling fun as “creating more opportunity for spontaneity to happen.”

Rucker, author of “The Fun Habit: How The Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life”, suggests that when you put fun on your calendar, you open yourself up to moment that can improve your mood.

Why is Fun Especially Important for Those Who are 100% Remote?

While taking time for fun is important for everyone of all ages, it may be even more critical for those who are working fully remote from home—especially if you work alone. Why? If you’re not careful, especially if you’re passionate about your work, you may get caught up and not take a break for long periods of time, let alone make time for fun. Before you know it, dinnertime has passed, and you haven’t moved away from your desk in the last six hours.

Without the usual office interruptions like break room laughs and people heading out at the end of the day, you can easily be drawn into a sense of isolation. If this is you, then it’s even more important to schedule breaks and take time for a bit of fun, along the way.

For me, it’s taking time for a quick check-in with a friend or doing some coloring. If you’re concerned your break may run longer than you’d like, consider setting a timer. I also have a dog who keeps me on (his) schedule, which gives me breaks and a boost of fun throughout the day.

How do you actually press pause for play?

Research shows that making room for fun isn’t selfish. According to experts like Mike Rucker and Catherine Price, fun is fuel for creativity, stress relief and stronger relationships.

Fun looks different for everyone. For some, it’s quiet time with a book;  for others, it’s high-energy games with friends or creative projects. If you have a favorite activity from when you were a kid, maybe now’s the time to revisit it! The key is tapping into what fun is for you.

So, what can you do today?

• Identify three to four of your “fun magnets” and schedule them as part of your routine.

• Block “fun time” on your calendar, even 10 minutes counts.

• Call a friend who makes you laugh.

Remember: Fun is personal. Whether it’s solo, social, active or relaxing, what matters most is that your fun brings you joy! 

Make time to discover (or re-discover) what your fun magnets are and start using them! You’re worth it!

Have a summer fun or travel fav memory you’d like to share?

Enter our Summer Fun & Travel Favs Contest—open from July 14 to July 28, 2025—for your chance to WIN a $75 gift card of your choice! Find details Here!