When was the last time you did something just because it was fun?
Not because it was good for you. Not because everywhere else is doing it. Not because it could become a side hustle. Not because your kids needed an activity. Not because you were “supposed” to be relaxing.
Just because you wanted to.
For a lot of us, that question is surprisingly hard to answer.
Somewhere along the way, adulthood became an exercise in optimization. We optimize our mornings, our workouts, our meals, our calendars, our finances, our sleep, our parenting, our careers—even our downtime. We have apps that tell us how well we rested and watches that tell us how hard we worked out. We can turn almost any interest into a business, a goal, a streak, or a measurable accomplishment.
And somewhere in all that optimizing, we may have forgotten how to play. Let’s remember how! Luckily we have many wise podcasters who are eager to remind you that fun doesn’t stop at adulthood and give you some inspiration on how to go out and find that fun:
1. Our 2026 Goals (and Where We Completely Failed Last Year) | Happy & Healthy Podcast
This episode actually gets into side hustles and hobbies alongside goals, habits, fitness, and avoiding burnout. Jeanine and Kaleb talk about their plans for the year and, importantly, their desire for intentionality rather than hustle.
2. Annie and Eddie Keep Talking About the Winter Olympics, Ski Stories, and a Good Biscuit — Episode 1040 | That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs
Listen to two friends talking about things they enjoy just because they enjoy them. Sometimes fun is simply being interested in things. Following a sport. Learning about something weird. Watching a movie because you want to. Going skiing. Having a friend who will happily go down a rabbit hole with you.
3. A Roadmap to Technology (and Fun) for Families with Catherine Price — Episode 359 | Raising Boy and Girls
Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun, talks about how technology is crowding out the things that actually make life feel full: friendship, freedom, curiosity, awe, and playfulness. The conversation specifically challenges families to build fuller lives rather than simply trying to reduce screen time.
4. Glamping Fails & ‘Taxpayer Funded’ Camps: A Dadville Summer Update | Dadville
Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin talk about summer camp, a glamping trip to Yellowstone, childhood adventures, and what it means to find contentment and fun as you get older.
5. When Did You Last Have Fun? Finding Little Pockets of Joy | Neurodivergent Conversations
Greer and Annie talk about why we’ve been taught to think of fun as something we have to earn, how to rediscover what actually fills us up, small ways to bring joy into an ordinary Tuesday, and why scrolling isn’t a substitute for a hobby. One of their suggestions is even to think back to what you loved doing at age eight.
Share with us how you are finding your fun! We are cheering you on!