“If you are not having fun, do something different.”

Larry James

Have you ever felt you’ve lost the ability to have fun? Maybe it was a brief funk you entered and for a few hours or even a day you felt like having fun was nearly impossible. Or perhaps you’ve experienced something worse, like an extended funk. Totally the pits.

There’s no need to fret. Fun is always peeking out from around the corner. Sometimes it even comes out and smacks you in the face! When we’re in the funk we must find a way to break through whatever is preventing us from experiencing fun. It’s critical. Our lives depend on it.

Figure Out The Funk

What is it that’s preventing you from experiencing fun? It’s probably best to start by engaging with this question. Meditate on it. Make a list of possible reasons why fun is eluding you. Whatever you discover through this exercise will be helpful, even if it isn’t crystal clear why you’re in a funk. 

The main thing here is to avoid getting more depressed because you feel your situation is hopeless. Do not rack your brain trying to figure out your funk and send yourself into a deeper funk. Be objective with this process and avoid judgement. Make your list of potential barriers to fun and move on.

Know What Gets You Going

Now for an activity that’s inherently more fun. Think of all the things that you have fun doing and write those down. Don’t get hung up on logistics here. If you know that taking a vacation isn’t in the cards at the moment, but vacations really get you going, by all means put it on the list. Maybe you can figure out specifically what it is about a vacation that you find fun and work to recreate that despite not actually going on a trip. Or, maybe it’s a smaller day trip that you take.

The point here is to create a solid list of things you find fun. You should find yourself getting excited just by making the list. Obviously the next step would be to engage with some of these ideas. Make some plans, even if you don’t feel like it. Force yourself to do some of the things on your list. The fun may not begin to show up until after you’ve pushed yourself into something. There’s little harm in trying.

Get Help

If you’re in a real deep funk and nothing you try on your own is working then maybe it’s time to seek some help. This could mean talking to your family or friends, or getting help from a counselor. Anyone you choose will be able to offer up a new perspective on your issue, and maybe some useful ideas as well. 

Meeting up with someone could help you break through, especially if you choose a fun activity or place. You could meet a friend and discuss your troubles while bowling, or having dinner. Maybe you don’t even need to discuss your issues, you just need to choose a fun person. Call a friend that you always have fun with and schedule a fun outing. That might be all the help you need, but if you think it’s necessary to chat about your funk, by all means go for it!

Change It Up

Sometimes the only option to rediscover fun is to change things up. On a large scale this could mean changing jobs or ending a relationship. On a small scale this could mean trying a new hobby or daily routine. Go back to the list of possible things causing your funk and simply avoid doing any of those things, if possible. Do something totally different. 

Changing things up may force you out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing. Sometimes a funk can be caused by a strict, over-controlled lifestyle, and the best thing you can do is step out into the unknown. Let go. Challenge yourself. Find something you’ve never done and engage. 

Fun is Waiting For You

There is no limit to the amount of fun one can have, and no funk is able to keep you down forever. When you do find fun again, make sure to take note of what helped you. Life might try to take you down again and you’ll want to be armed with some effective, fun-producing methods. Now, enough of this serious reading, go have some fun!