1. < Just Want to Talk

What's the Recommended Daily Allowance of Fun?

Posted by Scott R L @scottrl, Feb 12 12:50pm

As I've gotten older, I've heard more and more about all these nutritional and even drug recommendations -- take this, eat that, do this, avoid these other things.

It all seems so restrictive.

But I'm not a machine, and neither are you. What about fun? How much fun should we get every day?

If I did all the things I'm supposed to do, and avoided all the things I shouldn't do, that would squeeze out what little fun/enjoyment I still get.

That just wouldn't be worth it to me, to be honest.

What do you say? What's your RDA of fun?

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isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | 5 days ago
In reply to @mikead63 "What has helped me after recently receiving a diagnosis of restless leg syndrome and idiopathic peripheral..." + (show)
@mikead63

What has helped me after recently receiving a diagnosis of restless leg syndrome and idiopathic peripheral neuropathy was to rethink my attitude. First was to get rid of "stinking thinking"! Get back to positive thinking and behavior! I exercise with weights and or cardio exercises just about every day and lately, I had trouble getting started. Having just watched an excellent series on your brain and how to increase dopamine levels. The one lifestyle change that I had not been active with recently is "Engage in activities you enjoy!" Doing the things that make you feel good can stimulate the dopamine release. BINGO - Now before working out I bring my dog Finn (Norfolk Terrier) to my workout room. I turn on my favorite tunes (50's - 70's music that would get you on the dance floor!). I lay on the floor to do my stretches. At that moment my dog and I play and wrestle for about 10 - 15 minutes before I can do my stretches. I laugh and giggle the whole time while he jumps all over me (small dog!). That 15 minutes before working out with the music (I will dance to the tunes in between exercises) gets me into an unbelievable mood! Not only is this fun but I can feel my mood change 180 degrees!!

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@mikead63 That does sound like fun 😂 I had to look in the dictionary to double check the primary meaning of fun: action providing laughter or gaiety. (There are other meanings). Children and young animals are masters of having fun!! I watch my puppies doing their evening zoomies together - such exuberant happiness - and can’t stop laughing at their antics. I can’t remember when I last felt the same emotions they are feeling. I feel joy often. I feel happiness often. I feel enjoyment often. But I cannot remember when I last had a good belly laugh full of fun.

Wow. I’m going to have to think about how to get myself some of that!!!

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2 replies
isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | 5 days ago
In reply to @isadora2021 "@mikead63 That does sound like fun 😂 I had to look in the dictionary to double..." + (show)
@isadora2021

@mikead63 That does sound like fun 😂 I had to look in the dictionary to double check the primary meaning of fun: action providing laughter or gaiety. (There are other meanings). Children and young animals are masters of having fun!! I watch my puppies doing their evening zoomies together - such exuberant happiness - and can’t stop laughing at their antics. I can’t remember when I last felt the same emotions they are feeling. I feel joy often. I feel happiness often. I feel enjoyment often. But I cannot remember when I last had a good belly laugh full of fun.

Wow. I’m going to have to think about how to get myself some of that!!!

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@mikead63 Just searched the internet and maybe I need to find a laughing yoga class near me!!!
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/i-tried-laughing-yoga-what-i-learned-about-myself-surprised-ncna1019436

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isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | 5 days ago
In reply to @scottrl "I have read part of Pepys' diary. A fascinating man! He had some truly insightful ideas,..." + (show)
@scottrl

I have read part of Pepys' diary. A fascinating man! He had some truly insightful ideas, especially about sea power.
I'm a bit of an expert on 19th-century Russian literature, especially Tolstoy. (Never much of a Dostoyevsky fan.) In general, I find 19th-century realism very appealing; if I ever wrote a master's thesis, it would have been on sentimental character types in French vs. Russian literature.
I am so glad that I have recovered enough from the stroke to be able to read complex material again!
(I'm currently reading an iconography about Beethoven; fascinating stuff!)
Fun, fun, fun!

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@scottrl I also love Tolstoy - War and Peace is one of my favourite novels by any author from any century. I’d read a variety of Russian authors (some like Dostoevsky I also didn’t like while others like Pushkin and Chekhov I did!) I thought I’d better give War and Peace a try. Im so glad I did. A massive tome I quickly became entranced with and didn’t want it to end. I must read it again. Thank you!!

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1 reply
docb99 | @docb99 | 5 days ago
In reply to @scottrl "And of course, my YouTube channel is hard work, but in a fun way. I am..." + (show)
@scottrl

And of course, my YouTube channel is hard work, but in a fun way. I am glad that people find it helpful.
"From Recovery to Discovery"
https://m.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos

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What a positive thing to share your experience with others. Those of us who find the discussions in Mayo Connect have a reason to seek the support of others for our own medical situations. Thanks for the link to the videos.

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Scott R L | @scottrl | 5 days ago
In reply to @isadora2021 "@scottrl I also love Tolstoy - War and Peace is one of my favourite novels by..." + (show)
@isadora2021

@scottrl I also love Tolstoy - War and Peace is one of my favourite novels by any author from any century. I’d read a variety of Russian authors (some like Dostoevsky I also didn’t like while others like Pushkin and Chekhov I did!) I thought I’d better give War and Peace a try. Im so glad I did. A massive tome I quickly became entranced with and didn’t want it to end. I must read it again. Thank you!!

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"War and Peace" is my all-time favorite book.
I think I've read it fourteen times.
It's a magnificent work. I get totally absorbed in it.
I love Tolstoy's fables and fairy tales, too. Incredible that all this stuff was written by the same man!

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mikead63 | @mikead63 | 5 days ago
In reply to @isadora2021 "@mikead63 That does sound like fun 😂 I had to look in the dictionary to double..." + (show)
@isadora2021

@mikead63 That does sound like fun 😂 I had to look in the dictionary to double check the primary meaning of fun: action providing laughter or gaiety. (There are other meanings). Children and young animals are masters of having fun!! I watch my puppies doing their evening zoomies together - such exuberant happiness - and can’t stop laughing at their antics. I can’t remember when I last felt the same emotions they are feeling. I feel joy often. I feel happiness often. I feel enjoyment often. But I cannot remember when I last had a good belly laugh full of fun.

Wow. I’m going to have to think about how to get myself some of that!!!

Jump to this post

I like your comments "I feel joy often. I feel happiness often. I feel enjoyment often,"! I joke with my wife that so much of my social activity has been visiting doctors for numerous different reasons. It used to be depressing but, at the end of the day, puppy rubs, positivity chats with my wife, playing with my grandkids etc. I stop the negativity! Have a great day Isadora!!

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | 5 days ago

Sticking my head in here and commenting! I don't think we can have too much fun in our life. That's my own personal opinion. So much of the time we get focused on our health conditions or conditions around us. We need to take the time to have fun, in whatever manner fits for us at the moment. And that three letter word "fun" can convey so much, don't you agree?

What are you going to do for fun today? For me I am going to be part of our third annual chili cook-off to benefit our Volunteer Fire Department. I get to be the money person, selling tickets and talking to people as they come in. It's a fun time for all. I am hoping that the young men who I spoke to will bring their guitars and fiddles to liven up the place.
Ginger

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scottbeammeup | @scottbeammeup | 5 days ago

During the week I eat right, exercise every day, don't drink alcohol, etc. I keep a strict log of my diet and activity. On Saturdays I don't. I go to a restaurant with friends for brunch and/or dinner, sometimes have a drink, sometimes eat a THC gummy and watch a movie, etc. Then Sunday comes and my disciplined life starts again.

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Mentor
Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | 5 days ago

Your question itself is...fun! I've been a system for decades. I do 10 things a day. No more, no less. Started when I was single mom freelancer. If "mop floor" wasn't
on list I didn't worry about it! Now I'm long retired, still somewhat professionally active, but quieter life. The list has daily items: Exercise. Mayo Connect. Email. Journal. Then there is social life, and ongoing things like an interfaith group, pick up grand daughter school. These things are what I'd call "ordinary fun." Then I add in "bigger" fun like a museum or concert. And then there is huge fun--like going with my husband on a yearly month-long trip. So, every day should have mild fun, every few weeks bigger fun, and a few times a year huge fun (like a family wedding, beach vacation, or, I'll admit it, going to see Ringo Starr in concert!). my town has a lot of free and inexpensive fun--farmer's market, city sponsored outdoor music, walking trails, and more. Lean into fun! And thanks for the topic.

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