“If you’re not having fun, you’re not learning. There’s a pleasure in finding things out.” – Richard Feynman
What if fun isn’t a reward for getting everything done—but a skill that helps us live better right now?
Recently as I was driving ten-year-old Miss O to a rehearsal for a musical, she said, “I always have fun at rehearsals.” Six-year-old Mr. D had a similar answer as I was bringing him home from baseball practice the other night. I asked what he liked best – the base running practice, the scrimmage, the throwing contest? His answer was, “I like all of it.“
What kids know and grown-ups seem to forget (speaking for myself) is that fun is a day-to-day practice, not a reward only to be savored when we get everything else done. Fortunately, my guest for The Life of Try podcast this week, Mike Rucker, PhD, reminded me that parents have some agency in this too. We aren’t just Uber drivers getting our kids to the places they need to go. And that prompted me to put on my mitt and take part of the scrimmage at Mr. D’s baseball practice. The ball didn’t come to me but I enjoyed standing in the field and being part of the fun immensely for a couple of innings.
In this episode of Life of Try, I talk with Mike Rucker, PhD author of The Fun Habit, about the science-backed value of fun and why it matters for stress relief, resilience, creativity, relationships, and well-being. We discuss positive psychology, the “sandwich generation,” burnout, parenting, savoring joyful moments, and how to create simple systems that bring more play, rest, and connection into daily life.
Here are some of my favorite takeaways from this great book and fantastic, science-backed conversation about fun:
- Fun is not frivolous — it’s restorative.
Being intentional about fun can help reduce burnout, restore energy, and bring more meaning into everyday life. - Happiness and fun are not the same thing.
As Mike says, “Happiness is a state of mind, but fun is something we can do.” - Agency matters.
When we feel like we have a say in how we spend our time and energy, life becomes more enjoyable and sustainable. - Small “pattern interrupts” can change everything.
Breaking our routines in creative ways can open up more space for joy, connection, and better habits. - Fun looks different for everyone.
It doesn’t have to be loud, social, or high-energy. Fun can be calm, quiet, and personal. - Burnout narrows our thinking.
When we’re depleted, we tend to rely on autopilot. Renewal helps us think more creatively, flexibly, and expansively. - Enjoyment is a powerful predictor of sticking with a habit.
If you want to build sustainable habits, choose approaches you genuinely like—not just ones you think you “should” do. - You don’t need a total life overhaul.
Reclaiming fun can start with just a few intentional hours, a simple list, or one activity that brings you back to yourself. - The “Fun File” is a practical tool.
Keeping a running list of activities that genuinely light you up can make it easier to choose joy on purpose. - Making life better doesn’t always mean adding more.
Sometimes it means removing, reframing, outsourcing, or rethinking routines that quietly drain you.
Here is a clip of one of Mike’s eye-opening points – that having fun is an upward spiral that creates more capacity for challenge and growth:
This conversation is for anyone looking for better work-life balance, more joy, and practical strategies for living with greater intention.
Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this great episode:
- The podcast player embedded below
- Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on joy, burnout and The Fun Habit
- Subscribe to The Life of Try on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
- Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry
How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life; Michael Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout, and The Fun Habit – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.
- How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life; Michael Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout, and The Fun Habit
- Reinvention, Resilience and The Courage to Try| Lindsey Goldstein on Gap Year
- 51: Letting Go of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving
- 50: How to Write the Book You've Been Meaning to Write | Dr. Victoria Atkinson (Slivers)
- 49: Personal Growth Pivot Points: Pause, Quit or Keep Going?
Links for this episode:
How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit transcript
The Fun Habit on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Michael Rucker, Ph.D. on LinkedIn
(featured photo from Pexels)
Surprised By Joy 
I can’t do all the things I do, Wynne, unless I find them fun —- and this includes sleeping 🙂
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This was such a refreshing reminder that joy was never meant to be postponed until life becomes less busy. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is intentionally make room for the simple moments that restore the soul.
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Having a full “fun cup” as a tool for growth…I love that. Thanks for the introduction to Dr. Rucker and his book, Wynne! 💝
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I see that Mike’s wall behind him contains the bus to fun, happiness and joy. No wonder he was able to write the book! I am also impressed that you have a baseball mitt, Wynne. No wonder you were able to jump right into your son’s practice!
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This sounds like just what I need. To more fun! 😊
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Stope and smell the roses…:0) My middle aged kids remember the simple things we did and not all the manic running around I did trying to be a super mom lol
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this is a great message and i so agree about the need for fun in our lives, it has incredible rewards on so many levels – good for you other there with mitt, ready for anything –
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It was a good and helpful talk. The key takeaways for me are to make a list, be intentional, fun is a skill we can develop, good base for growth. Thanks Wynne and Mike.
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