How much fun is too much fun?
I recently came across an article, one that I have shared in my newsletter, ‘The optimal amount of hassle,’ written by financial journalist Morgan Housel. Other than being a great read, it got me thinking. Are there other areas of life where an optimal amount is to be tolerated? I am not trying to spoil the party, however fun, I thought, while in a good mood resulting from a productive morning.
Over the summer, I decided it was time I treat myself to a holiday, so I did. I went on a month-long trip. I spent the first two weeks in New South Wales, which consisted of sunbaking, surfing, partying, and too many beers. I then hopped on a plane and flew to Tasmania, where I spent my remaining time with my extended family.
It was a beneficial trip for my well-being, as I rekindled with family and laughed in the company of old and new friends. Towards the end, however, I started to become a bit angsty. I had fallen off my routine, and thoughts of body dysmorphia were becoming frequent. This experience motivated me to take action and implement the changes I had been reflecting on in my journal. It was time to return to a productive way of living.
The point is, fun can be had at any given time; however, it is even more fun when it is earnt, and the amount of fun remaining in the tank was almost empty in the days before I returned home. Therefore, the fictional metric measuring the optimal amount varies amongst individuals.
Consider this. Two friends are catching up over a pint at their local pub. They both agree they have a close relationship. They are drinking the same beer, laughing at the same jokes, and eating from the same bowl of chips, although one of them is enjoying the experience much more than the other, resulting from a hard day on the tools. The friend who was having less fun had an unproductive day, dragging his feet around the house, and watching television, waiting for the clock to strike 5. In consequence, the pint would taste better for the hardworking friend, the right to enjoy a pint is his, whereas the opposing friend would probably look upon the beer as a fee required to spend time with a mate rather than a reward. So, although fun can, and should be partaken by everyone, it is even better when it is earnt, not just had.
Furthermore, when pondering the optimal amount of fun, I was reminded of an old nursery rhyme, Goldilocks, and the Three Bears. Particularly the satisfaction Goldilocks received from a bowl of porridge that was “just right.” The porridge was so optimal it put her to sleep in a house occupied by wild animals. I’m sure most are familiar with the old tale, so I won’t rehash the story, although I will do the theory. Despite the moral obvious in plain sight, which is to, never enter someone else’s home without permission, the goldilocks theory suggests society will always seek a particular amount, not too much nor too little. Regularly the theory is associated with business strategies. For example, the platform I used to build this website, Squarespace, offers four pricing strategies. The three most popular include, Personal at $16/mo., business at $25/mo., and Commerce Basic at $34/mo. And as the Goldilocks theory suggests, the business plan is the most common.
So, regarding this theory, when our needs are met, without becoming overwhelmed through access to too many joy-enhancers, nor do we have access to too few joy-enhancers, according to Goldilocks, the porridge would be just right.
To expand, have you ever heard someone say, “I’m just having too much fun,” well, as it turns out, they probably are. The term is generally used to excuse distraction. For example, on your birthday when your parents say, “Don’t have too much fun,” what they mean is, “If you do decide to get off your face, do not let the alcohol encourage a decision you will regret.”
I have a problem I am yet to solve. It is a very privileged problem, however, one nonetheless. Whenever I visit my hometown, I find I generally have a little too much fun. Despite how much I try, there are just too many distractions. For example, it is a lot more difficult to study when I am 10 minutes away from pumping surf, and it is a lot harder to stick to your diet when I have my parents making delicious meals every night. Because of this, I treat going home the same way I do a holiday, a way to clear my head. To counter this, I generally only visit for emergencies or when responsibilities are minimal, and I can afford to be distracted for a week or so.
So, if too much fun could result in ignorance, excessive drug use, weight gain, and a declining bank account, to name a few, too little fun must be the opposite. Right? Well, yes and no.
You do not want to have no fun; no fun isn't good for your well-being or the well-being of those around you. We all either have or know of someone who has rocked a frown in a room full of smiles. It certainly affects the positive demeanour of a group.
Therefore, if your life consists of too little fun, from experience, you will likely become depressed and find productivity hard to achieve. For example, after a hard day of work, we may feel we have the right to sink into our living room couch, polish a 6-pack, and devour a Big Mac while watching some brain-numbing form of TV. However, this type of fun certainty would not lift the spirits. Personally, when I make a decision resembling this, it generally comes from a place of self-pity. We make the poor choice because of minimal fun, when in fact, the burger and the beers are the foundation supporting self-pity in the first place. Although this sounds like a good time, and trust me, it is mid-consumption, this type of behaviour should only be indulged in on occasion. The point is the type of fun most seek when having too little is temporary. It will not nurture productivity, it will likely hinder it, nor will it raise the fun-ohmmeter in the days to follow. It is the equivalent of jumpstarting a car only for it to break down after 5km.
For these reasons, decisions that raise the fun-ohmmeter are those in which advocate long-term happiness, and these are the ones we must make to receive the benefits, making the mundane a little more bearable. You may wish to try some of the following: Going for a swim with a friend to laugh over the obstacle of life, taking an hour to partake in a sport of your choice and receiving the feeling of sweat-educed-euphoria post-session, or calming the mind through creative hobbies, such as drawing or playing music. This category of fun is perfect for nurturing productivity. We enjoy the process and have a positive frame of mind afterward.
To conclude, have a good time, get drunk, eat a Parmi, and have a lazy day. Just avoid making this routine, and incorporate daily productivity-enhancing fun into your life to counter having too much fun too often.
Someone I find inspiring as of late…
Rob McElhenney
A fantasy of mine has always been to write a screenplay. I specifically remember one night, a couple of years back, I created a document with the intention to write a pilot, only to sit down and stare at an empty page for the hour to follow. I was completely stumped, and hopeless of coming up with ideas, and still am.
This only makes McElhenney’s work even more impressive. 'It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' a show created by McElhenney, is the longest-running live-action sitcom with 15 seasons. That is a lot of writing. Although I am sure he has experienced writer's block, he and his team still produce quality content season after season. Maybe it is time I revisit the document I created all those years ago (2 years).
Besides writing, I always found McElhnney’s ambition inspiring. Especially so at the begging of his career.
If you have ever wondered why the pilot of 'It's Always Sunny' is of such poor quality, here's why.
Despite being in the industry for quite a while, it took time for McElhenney to reach a position where writing and acting became his full-time job. It wasn't until he was 27, whilst he was waiting tables, he received his big break. McElhenney wrote and then filmed the pilot for 'Its Always Sunny' on a $200 budget. He realised he had a greater chance at success if he showcased talent on his terms, using the resources he had readily available. That way he also had creative freedom with his storytelling.
Here is a link to The Always Sunny Podcast.
In the podcast, the cast reminisces on the creative process undergone in the creation of each episode.
A song I’ve been listening to…
I don’t wanna know. Willow Kayne.
I had a friend talk about a musician he met while visiting Europe. I started listening to her music, and I just so happend to enjoy it.
I have been listening to this song for quite a while now, and I am yet to grow tired of it.
Check it out! In fact, check out all of her music. In my opinion, her music is too diverse to define to a single genre. Therefore, she should have a song for everyone.
Enjoy.
A quote I have been pondering…
“A TV series is like a pretty big boat that you can run with a couple of people. A movie is a yacht, there are so many people, it is a beautiful thing, there is a lot of money involved, everybody wants it, and everybody thinks it’s the ultimate way to go across the water. And stand-up, for me, is a surfboard, it’s just you. You paddle out, you try and catch the energy, your all on your own, and you can do it and go home and nobody but you really will know what happened. I think the more people you add to the vessel, the faster you are going to struggle to maintain its progress through the water.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld
Here is a link to Seinfeld’s Wikipedia.
I stopped running, came home, and wrote this down as soon as I heard it. What a perfect analogy, I thought.
Although the quote describes forms of comedic entertainment, it applies in multiple industries.
I have worked for large companies, medium-sized companies, and small companies, and I regularly find, in medium to small-sized companies, if you can prove you are valuable, you generally have more freedom than you realise. If you focus on the task at hand, productivity can be achieved on your own terms.
Finally, part of the reason I enjoy writing this blog is the freedom to write whatever I want, with my own tone and style. I do not have the stress of meeting someone else’s vision. Although I find some publications inspiring to read, and would love to write for some of them, such as WIRED, for example, I do enjoy surfing. It’s just me, and that is what makes this so fun.