When was the last time you had real, unscheduled, laugh-out-loud fun?

I’m not talking about a family vacation that took six months to plan or signing up for another packed calendar event. I mean the kind of fun that makes you forget what time it is. The kind that isn’t about being productive or responsible. The kind that reminds you: oh right, I used to feel this way.

If you’re anything like me (or the incredible women I spoke with for this project), fun might feel harder to find than it used to. Not because we don’t want it. But because somewhere between paying bills, caring for everyone else, and “acting like an adult,” fun quietly slipped to the bottom of the list.

The good news? We can bring it back—and it doesn’t require quitting your job or booking a flight.

Below, you’ll find a list of small, doable ways to invite fun back into your everyday life. No pressure. No expectations. Just little reminders that joy is still here, waiting for you.

Why Is Fun So Hard for Adults?

Between work deadlines, family obligations, and endless errands, as adults, we often:

• Prioritize productivity over play
• Associate fun with “wasting time”
• Feel guilty for enjoying themselves
• Wait for “perfect” moments (that never come)

Not to mention, we often think of ‘fun’ as being silly – a personality characteristic that doesn’t come naturally to many of us. But fun doesn’t have to be silly (although that’s great, too).

Here’s what we forget: fun isn’t just nice to have. It’s necessary. It’s how we recharge, reconnect, and remind ourselves that life isn’t just about surviving—it’s about living.

How to Add More Fun to Your Life (Without Overhauling Your Schedule)

Think of fun as tiny sparks you can sprinkle into your existing life, not another task you have to complete. Here’s how you can start:

Categories of Everyday Fun

🌿 1. Novelty | Rediscovering Wonder in the Everyday

You don’t have to travel far to feel something new.
Sometimes, delight is waiting just outside your usual routine.

(Fun through new experiences and exploration)

• Notice five things you’ve never seen before in a place you visit often
• Try a new café and order the thing that sounds a little different
• Visit a local bookstore and browse without a goal
• Read a book in a genre you never pick
• Rearrange one corner of your home—just for you
• Try a recipe you’ve been saving but never made
• Watch a random documentary on something niche
• Drive a new route home, just because
• Order a new-to-you dish from your favorite restaurant
• Browse a local boutique and try on something outside your usual style

🎨 2. Creativity | Making Without Measuring

Fun doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes just because.

(Fun through self-expression and low-stakes projects)

• Doodle with a pen while listening to music
• Make a playlist for a mood (like “Slightly Melancholy but Hopeful”)
• Write a letter to someone you love (or your younger self)
• Decorate your planner—even if you don’t use it much
• Try a “paint with water” book or paint-by-number
• Write a micro-poem (3 lines max)
• Pick a color and take photos of everything that shade for a day
• Try a new recipe for a food that looks delicious
• Make a vision board without pressure—just pictures that feel good
• Try blackout poetry (take an old book page and black out words to make a poem)

🌊 3. Spontaneity | Saying Yes More Often

The world often asks us to be serious, measured, and on time.
But joy can live in the unscripted moments—if we let it.

(Fun through unexpected moments and breaking routine)

• Say yes to a last-minute walk, even if your hair’s frizzy
• Jump in a puddle or dance in the kitchen to one song
• Try on bold lipstick just for home
• Let someone else pick the movie or song
• Text a friend out of the blue just to say “remember that time when…”
• Let your kid (or partner) plan something silly without vetoing it
• Eat dessert before dinner (yes, really)
• Wear something that makes you feel playful, not just “put-together”
• Take a slightly impulsive selfie—and don’t critique it
• Use the “shuffle” button for your music, and actually listen to whatever comes up

💛 4. Self-Tending | Reclaiming Care as Joy

Fun, for many of us, looks like rest. Nourishment. A moment that belongs only to us.
Not earned—just allowed.

(Fun through mindfulness and indulgence in simple pleasures)

• Use the good lotion on a random Tuesday
• Make your own fancy spa water (cucumber, mint, citrus… go wild)
• Take a long, hot shower while listening to your favorite music
• Wear pajamas that make you feel cute, not just covered
• Make your bed in a way that feels intentional, not just tidy
• Use the face mask you keep saving for “a better day”
• Give yourself a foot massage or stretch in bed before sleeping
• Light incense or essential oils—just because scent can shift mood
• Buy yourself flowers and actually put them somewhere you’ll see
• Take a nap and call it sacred, not lazy

🕯️ 5. Presence | Finding Joy Where You Already Are

Sometimes fun is not in doing, but in noticing.
It’s not more energy we need—it’s more attention.

(Fun through mindful attention to the present moment)

• Watch the clouds or the sky at sunset without trying to multitask
• Sip your coffee without a screen in front of you
• Lay on the floor and let your body feel heavy for 5 minutes
• Listen to a whole song—eyes closed
• Notice something beautiful on your commute or walk
• Light a candle and breathe deeply while it burns
• Touch something with texture and really notice it (a leaf, your sweater, a pet’s fur)
• Sit on your porch/deck/stoop and eavesdrop on the sounds around you
• Eat something slowly and fully—without guilt
• Journal one thing that surprised you today

Why Small Moments of Fun Matter

Maybe the real shift isn’t about “adding fun” at all. Maybe it’s about remembering that you deserve to feel light, even when life feels heavy.

You don’t need to be the “fun person.” You don’t need to wait for a free weekend. You don’t need to apologize for wanting moments that aren’t productive, perfect, or planned.

Because when you start letting yourself experience little bursts of joy again— You remember who you are underneath the responsibilities. You reconnect with what actually makes life feel good.

And you realize: Fun isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.

Want a Little More?

If life feels heavy or rushed right now, you’re not alone. The Gratitude Challenge is a gentle, meaningful way to reconnect with small joys you might be overlooking. It’s free, it’s simple, and it just might change the way you see your day. https://livingxo.com/gratitude

And if you’re in a season of life where you’re feeling stuck, serious, or a little lost between who you were and who you’re becoming, you’re not alone.

I offer free coaching calls to help you navigate those in-between spaces with more clarity and compassion. Just reach out at hello@livingxo.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Related Posts:

Reclaiming Time for Yourself (Without the Guilt)

Decision-Making That Is True To You