“A joyful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

According to Sandhya Pruth, MD, laughter can work to significantly reduce stress, depression, and anxiety. Though most of us know this to be true, we have a tendency to allow the pressures of life and the demands of our schedule to marginalize our opportunities for fun. Sometimes it takes intentionally scheduling fun in our calendars and treating it as an essential appointment we can’t afford to miss. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Host a game night with family or friends
• Go to a local park to shoot hoops, play pickleball, or toss a baseball
• Plan an outing to an amusement park, the bowling alley, or miniature golf
• Watch a comedy movie or visit a comedy club
• Set aside a few hours this weekend to spend time with a hobby you’ve neglected

What are some of your favorite go-to activities for fun? Share them in the comments below.