Life can be boring. Life can be serious. Life can be heavy.
Sometimes you need something fun. Something light. Something whimsical.
Adulting can leave you stuck in autopilot—you wake up, go to work or school, eat, sleep, repeat. Something might feel missing. Like all the color leeched out of your world.
It’s time to add some whimsy.
Living a whimsical life doesn’t mean being childish or silly. It means allowing yourself more lightheartedness, joy, creativity, and fun magic in your day-to-day.
Whimsy is finding beauty or fun in your life in little unexpected ways. Smiling for no reason. Being curious. Feeling inspired. Letting that liven up your boring routine.
Whimsy reminds you that life is more than boss-imposed deadlines and commitments. Life is fantasy. It’s humor. Surprise. Delight. And beautiful absurdity.
WHY MORE WHIMSY WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE
Whimsical living isn’t silly. It’s good for you.
When you allow yourself to be more playful and wonder-filled, you feel less stressed. You smile (and laugh) more. You feel more present.
Research compiled by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center found that positive emotions like awe, joy, and wonder help people connect to others and feel more fulfilled with life.
A whimsical mindset will also help you be more creative and better at problem solving. Letting go of rigid, serious thinking allows you to better appreciate life’s small moments and tackle challenges with an open mind.
15 FUN WAYS TO LIVE A MORE WHIMSICAL LIFE
1. Carve out “Daydream” time.
The grown-ups trick you out of using your imagination. But it’s still there. Allow yourself time to just sit and daydream. Get lost in your own head. Your imagination can be just as playful as the world around you—if you give it room to breathe.
Read:34 Fun Ways to Spend Time with Friends
2. Wear Something Unexpected
What you wear affects how you feel. Wear something fun. Bright. Vintage. Cool. Don’t save the cute clothes for date night or evenings out. Dressing fun or expressively can make your whole day better.
3. Take a Walk With No Destination
Ever notice how you take the same walking route every time? Try going a different way. Or wherever you feel like going. Explore your town. You might find a new favorite spot. Or you’ll see little things you never noticed before. Walks can be adventures—if you let yourself wander.
Read: 16 Fun Ways to Take a Mental Break from Life
4. Listen to Happy Music.
Music can change your mood in minutes. Put on songs that make you feel happy. Weird. Floaty. Create a playlist for when you’re feeling down. Music takes you places—without leaving your bedroom.
5. Decorate With Art.
You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy art. Decorate your home or room with random happy bursts of color. Handwritten notes. Doodles. Cut out images from magazines. Positive sayings on your bathroom mirror. When your space feels playful, you will too.
6. Write Handwritten Letters.
In a text-message world, nothing feels quite as nice as receiving a letter or handwritten note. Write to a friend. A loved one. Even yourself! Leave tiny happy notes for others to find. Bonus: No one has to know you wrote them—they don’t have to be perfect.
Read: 41 Fun Activities You Can Do All Alone
7. Get Childish About the Little Things
Kids are naturally awe-inspired by the little things. Rocks. Clouds. Bugs. Flowers. You can be too! Next time you’re outside, really look at the clouds. Or the birds. Find patterns in the leaves or sidewalks. Allow yourself to feel awe. Wonder is everywhere—if you look for it.
8. Have Fun With Chores
Who says chores have to be serious? Listen to music. Dance around. Pretend you’re on a TV show. Sing at the top of your lungs. There’s nothing wrong with letting loose during “mundane” tasks. Life’s too short to take everything seriously.
9. Hang Out With Funny Friends.
Laughter is the best medicine—and it’s also contagious. Hang out with friends who make you laugh. People who aren’t afraid to be a little silly and live in the moment. Being around silly people will remind you not to be such a stick-up.
10. Read Magical Stories
Read things that make your imagination wander. Fantasy books. Mystery novels. Magical stories with happy endings. Reading for pleasure reminds you that the world is much bigger than what you see every day.
11. Make Art Just for Fun
You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy the process. Draw. Paint. Write. Cook. Build. Make stuff just because you feel like it! Letting your playful mind make things can reconnect you to the kid who loved coloring for fun.
12. Collect “Found” Items.
Wonder can be found in the smallest places. Pick up an interesting rock. A funky leaf. Or a unique-looking twig while you’re walking. Collect them in a jar. Or on a shelf. Simple things can make your space feel magical.
13. Break Up the Routine
Doing things the same way all the time is boring. Make little changes to your routine. Take a new way to work. Eat lunch outside. Change your seating position when you’re watching TV. Your brain loves newness. So surprise it!
14. Add More Candlelight.
It’s true: lighting can seriously affect your mood. Try replacing some of your light bulbs with candles. Or grab string lights to bring some whimsy to your nights indoors. Small things can make an ordinary night feel relaxing, cozy, and magical.
15. Allow Yourself to Be Surprised
Whimsy means making room for magic. You don’t need to plan your life out every minute. Leave some things open to surprise. Say yes to that silly idea. Play around. Make jokes. Be silly. Color is fun—that’s why it will lighten up your life.
THE SCIENCE OF WHY IT’S FUN TO LIVE PLAYFULLY
Whimsical living isn’t cliché; it’s scientific. According to research published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, “highly playful” people handle stress better and are more engaged with their everyday lives. Plus, humor promotes learning, increases creativity, and can help you build better relationships.
Whimsical living helps you find balance in the chaos of everyday life. Living with more whimsy isn’t ignoring the serious parts of life. It’s making space for joy so you can be stronger when bad things come.
FAQ
What does it mean to live a whimsical life?
Living a whimsical life means allowing yourself more lightheartedness, joy, creativity, and fun magic in your day-to-day.
Is whimsical living childish?
No. Living a whimsical life doesn’t mean being childish or silly—it means making room for wonder and playfulness.
Do I need money to add more whimsy to my life?
No. Many whimsical choices are simple (and often free), and are mostly about shifting your perspective.
What’s one small way to start being more whimsical today?
Ask yourself: “What is one little thing I can do to bring more joy to this moment?”
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