The surprising importance of FUN in productive work

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This episode explores the concept of fun and its importance in adult life, challenging the misperception that fun is frivolous.

What is fun? Catherine Price suggests that it is the confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow.

The discussion also addresses the impact of social media on fake fun and the role of playfulness in work and productivity. The conversation explores the importance of fun in the workplace and the impact it has on productivity, connection, and overall well-being. It delves into the challenges of creating a fun work environment, the role of playfulness in building connections, and the significance of in-person interactions. The discussion also highlights the value of fun in education and its potential to bridge social and cultural divides.

Takeaways

• Fun is a feeling, not an activity, and it involves the confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow.
• The misperception of fun as frivolous leads to the prioritization of fake fun over true fun, impacting mental and physical health.
• Playfulness is undervalued in work settings, but it is essential for creativity, productivity, and building closer relationships.
• Social media and technology addiction are designed to induce fake fun through dopamine triggers, leading to habituation and reduced enjoyment of everyday experiences.
• Creating space for spontaneity and identifying personal 'fun magnets' are essential for experiencing true fun in everyday life. Creating a fun work environment can improve productivity, connection, and employee well-being.
• In-person interactions play a crucial role in building meaningful connections and fostering a sense of community in the workplace.
• Fun and playfulness have the potential to bridge social and cultural divides, creating a more inclusive and connected society.

Chapters

00:00

The Essence of Fun: Playfulness, Connection, and Flow

08:27

The Impact of Fake Fun: Social Media and Technology Addiction

15:27

The Role of Playfulness in Work and Productivity

31:20

Focusing on Inputs and Creating a Fun Work Environment

34:22

The Role of Playfulness in Building Connections

39:02

Fun as a Tool for Bridging Social Divides

Catherine Price is a science and health writer who has written a couple of sensationally timely books.

Firstly How to Break Up With Your Phone

Secondly, and today’s discussion focusses on this, The Power of Fun

I was put on to it by Elle Hunt’s Power of Fun article in The Guardian

Memorise it: fun is playful connected flow

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