Why Having Fun Is the Best Stress Relief

Why Having Fun Is the Best Stress Relief Stress Management Management Techniques Print Why Having Fun Provides Some of the Best Stress Relief By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on July 23, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Hero Images/Getty Images Many people have stressful responsibilities that they must take care of, to the point that having fun feels like an unnecessary luxury. However, including fun activities in life may be one of the best stress relief tips you can follow. While many responsible adults have adult-sized responsibilities that make it easy to put fun on the low end of the priorities list, letting your inner child come out to play can keep you feeling vital and happy. There are many benefits of having good old fun, so read on and get inspired to play and relax today (even if just for a short time) and see how you feel. Eustress Fun activities provide a source of eustress, the good kind of stress that keeps you feeling vital and alive. Its the sense of excitement you get from completing a project, riding a roller coaster, or meeting an exciting challenge in your life. We need regular eustress in our lives, and fun activities can provide that. Positive Attitude Having regular fun in your life can help you feel less overwhelmed by the stressors you face. This can help you change your attitude toward your lifestyle stressors so that youre less reactive to stress when you experience it. The Best Medicine Laughter carries many health  benefits with it, so the more laughter you have in your life, the better it is for your health. User-Friendliness It might be hard to hit the gym multiple times a week or forgo unhealthy comfort foods when youre stressed, but fitting more fun and laughter into your life is something you can do for yourself thats also easy! Strong Relationships Couples who engage in new activities together and have regular fun together may enjoy a closer bond than they otherwise would if they fell into a rut. And a healthy relationship can be a great source of stress relief in your life. Social Support Likewise with friends, sharing fun activities with friends is a great way to maintain a supportive circle of buddies, keeping your bonds strong and helping everyone in the group keep stress levels low. Having strong friendships in your life, and a sense of community has been linked with longevity, lower stress levels, and more positive states of health. Burnout Buffering Having regular fun activities to spice up your life can also help you stave off burnout. Feelings of burnout can result from having a stressful job with unpredictable, hard-to-meet expectations and little recognition. One of the methods Ive always endorsed for finding relief from this type of job stress is to give yourself small rewards  or start a group of supportive friends to high-five each other when they accomplish goals that would otherwise go unrecognized. Giving yourself a regular dose of fun is a way to do that, and share it with friends.