How to have more fun doing the things that aren’t fun

How would it be if what you have to do, regardless of what is is, seemed like fun?

People have various motivation strategies when it comes to getting things done. Some of us are more motivated by the positive results associated with getting something done, and some of us are more motivated by avoiding the negative consequences of not getting something done. We all, however, have to do things from time to time that are less fun than other things.

The good news is that even unpleasant or mundane tasks can become fun.

Here’s how it works:

1.     Bring to mind something that you really enjoy doing – your most fun activity.

2.     Now pay attention to the qualities of the pictures, sounds and feelings, which are associated with that activity. Are the pictures big, bright and colourful (or otherwise)? How are the sounds? How and where do you feel those fun feelings?

3.     Identify and adjust those qualities so that the experience intensifies. For example: Imagining the picture bigger and brighter may intensify the experience. Imagining the feeling enlarging and speeding up may intensify the experience.

4.     Play with it until you have really intensified your fun experience in the moment, and then while you continue doing so, think about a task that you would like to enjoy more.

It should be easy for you to imagine having more fun with that task now, isn’t it?

You can even use this skill when you catch yourself not enjoying a task, and bring the fun right back into it. And remember not to take yourself too seriously.

Isn’t it nice to know that you can have fun playing with having fun and thereby enjoy what you’re doing more?

Written by Jevon Dangeli – MSc Transpersonal Psychology, Coach & Trainer