Are you actually having fun?
Not to be confused with free time. I mean the “laugh so hard your stomach hurts, lose track of time, feel like a golden retriever in a field of tennis balls” kind of fun. The kind that makes your soul go, "Yep, this is living."
If your answer is “well, I’ve been scrolling TikTok for three hours and now I feel vaguely nauseous and emotionally hollow,” then—sorry babe—that’s a no.
Doomscrolling isn’t just a buzzkill; it’s a health hazard. According to Harvard Medical School, marinating your brain in an endless feed of upsetting news and hot takes can lead to headaches, tension, insomnia, high blood pressure, and a general sense of ugh. Sound familiar?
But here’s the good news: the antidote to digital despair is good old-fashioned fun. A study from the National Library of Medicine found that fun (yes, fun) can lower your blood pressure, shrink your waistline, reduce stress hormones, and make you feel like a whole new human. Like, actual medical-grade joy.
Problem is, many of us have forgotten what “fun” even looks like. So here’s your challenge: unplug, grab a notebook, and think back—when was the last time you truly felt alive? What were you doing? Who were you with? What made you laugh, smile, vibe so hard you lost track of time? Start carving out space in your week for those things that light you up instead of drain you.
And if trying new things is your idea of fun? Perfect. We’ve got hobby posts galore over on the blog—go poke around and see what sparks something.
This post was inspired by a Ted Talk by Catherine Price. Check it out here:
