Why Fun Should Be at the Center of Everything We Do

By Richa Jindal

Let’s be honest: somewhere between color-coded Notion pages, 8 a.m. lectures and pretending to have a “balanced routine,” most of us forgot what fun even feels like. We treat it like that friend we’ll “totally text back later.” Spoiler: we never do.

But what if fun wasn’t something you earned after grinding through your to-do list? What if it was the secret to actually getting things done (and not crying while doing them)?

1. Fun = flow (and better grades, actually)

You know that feeling when you’re so into something that time basically disappears? That’s “flow.” And fun is the fastest way to get there. We’re more focused, creative and productive when we’re enjoying ourselves. Translation: maybe the problem isn’t that you “lack discipline,” maybe your tasks just lack vibes.

2. Stress can’t survive a laugh

College stress is like a clingy ex: it shows up uninvited and drains your energy. Fun is the ultimate block button. Laughing with friends, dancing in your dorm or even doom-scrolling memes (moderately!) resets your brain’s stress response. It’s not lazy; it’s neuroscience.

3. Fun makes ordinary things bearable

Studying? Add snacks and a playlist. Laundry day? Call a friend and turn it into a gossip session. Working out? Try a dance class where nobody knows the steps. Life doesn’t have to be a punishment, sometimes it just needs a rebrand.

4. Fun isn’t the opposite of serious, it makes serious work possible

Think about it: every genius invention, art movement or startup began with someone having fun experimenting. Fun fuels curiosity, and curiosity fuels progress. So yes, your late-night kitchen “science experiments” might be step one toward greatness.

5. Fun is the real flex

In a world where everyone’s hustling to the point of burnout, being the person who’s genuinely enjoying life is revolutionary. Fun doesn’t mean careless, it means being alive. It means you’re choosing joy over autopilot, presence over pressure and living your life for yourself because each day is a new life.

Here’s the challenge: next time you plan your day, ask, where’s the fun in this? If the answer is “nowhere,” change something. When you center fun — not fear, not grades, not perfection — you realize joy isn’t what distracts you from success. It’s what gets you there.