Overview of Are You Taking Fun Seriously Enough?
In this live Happiness Lab conversation from the Aspen Ideas Festival, Laurie Santos talks with journalist and author Catherine Price and psychology professor Liz Dunn about why fun is not frivolous—it’s a serious ingredient in health, happiness, and social connection. The episode argues that fun is a blend of playfulness, connection, and flow, and that making room for it can improve mood, reduce loneliness, strengthen relationships, and even help people tackle big problems more effectively.
What Fun Actually Is
Catherine Price defines fun as a feeling, not a specific activity, and says it usually includes three elements:
- Playfulness: letting your guard down and not taking yourself too seriously
- Connection: a shared experience with another person, sometimes even a pet
- Flow: being fully absorbed and present, often losing track of time
She stresses that “real” fun is not the same as passive distraction, like binge-watching or doomscrolling.
Why Fun Matters
Catherine makes the case that fun is not a luxury:
- It boosts energy in an exhausting, overworked world
- It builds social connection in a polarized society
- It can help counteract loneliness and isolation
- It makes people better equipped to show up for work, family, and broader social challenges
Her point: if life is draining, fun is part of what restores the capacity to handle it.
What Research Says About a Good Day
Liz Dunn shares findings from studies tracking how people spend their time and whether they report having a “good day”:
- Socializing is one of the strongest predictors of a good day
- About 1–2 hours of social time seems enough to maximize the benefit
- Time with friends keeps improving mood as it increases
- Sports and exercise are linked with better days
- Passive leisure like TV/Netflix often does not improve day quality much
- Work is not inherently bad, but more than about six hours of work a day starts to reduce the chance of having an especially good day
Barriers to Fun
1. “I Don’t Have Time”
Liz explains time affluence as having enough time to do what matters most. People who prioritize time over money often end up happier later, because they create room for enjoyable and meaningful activities.
Catherine recommends identifying your “fun magnets”—the people, places, and activities that reliably create fun for you—and making them more intentional priorities.
2. Phones and Distraction
Both speakers argue that smartphones are “kryptonite” to fun because they interrupt presence and flow.
Liz describes a restaurant study where:
- People with phones out felt more distracted
- They rated the meal as less enjoyable
- They even reported being more bored
- Phone use proved contagious across the table
Catherine’s advice: make attention a conscious choice instead of letting apps decide for you.
3. “The World Is on Fire, So I Shouldn’t Be Having Fun”
The episode rejects the idea that fun is inappropriate during hard times. Instead, the guests argue that joy is often more important during crises because it creates energy, creativity, resilience, and motivation for action.
Practical Strategies for More Fun
Catherine’s Tips
- Ask: What do I want to pay attention to?
- Use the WWW check:
- What for? Why am I picking up my phone?
- Why now? What feeling is driving this?
- What else? What else could give me the same reward?
- Notice and say out loud “delights” when something joyful catches your attention
- Create tiny rituals, like a 30-second dance party, to break tension and add levity
Liz’s Tips
- Buy time when possible, especially to get out of dreaded tasks
- Link that saved time directly to something fun, so it doesn’t disappear into more chores
- Use money to support experiences that create more time, joy, or connection
- Take advantage of small openings for spontaneity, not just big planned events
Fun, Climate, and Social Change
Liz’s newer work connects joy to climate action and broader collective problems. Her argument:
- Social change needs energy
- People are more likely to stick with habits that feel good, not just morally correct
- Fun can make pro-social and climate-friendly behavior more sustainable
Examples include:
- Hometown tourism instead of carbon-heavy travel
- Maximizing the joy per carbon emitted when traveling
- Using more joyful, social formats for get-out-the-vote efforts, which can be more effective than dry outreach
Key Takeaways
- Fun is not childish or optional; it’s a core part of well-being.
- The best fun usually combines playfulness, connection, and flow.
- Social time matters more than most people realize.
- Phones often undermine fun by fragmenting attention.
- Even in serious times, joy can be a tool for resilience, connection, and action.
- Small changes—like a dance break, a phone-free meal, or a “fun magnet” list—can make a meaningful difference.