By Andrea Chavez, LMFT Associate and clinically reviewed by Teri Schroeder, LCSW
As a therapist, I learn just as much from my clients as they do from me. Recently, I noticed a pattern among several of my clients: a desire for more novelty in their lives. As I reflected on their experiences, I took a closer look at my own habits. I had found a good rhythm of working and resting, but I wasn’t making room for whimsy.
That got me thinking about how I could intentionally make more room for fun, play, and enjoyment in my own life. When we are children, we often have fewer responsibilities and are more likely to act on our genuine interests when choosing how to spend our time. We are less concerned with what is expected of us or what is considered popular, and more likely to simply gravitate toward what brings us joy.
So I thought back to what I genuinely enjoyed as a child.
I loved to sing out loud. I was not particularly good at singing, but it was something that made me happy. I also loved to bake. My parents got me an Easy-Bake Oven, and I would make countless “desserts” with it. As I got older, I graduated to the full-sized oven and loved baking brownies and cheesecakes whenever I had the opportunity.
The next question was: how could I bring these activities into my life now?
Singing was something I could easily work into my daily routine. My favorite place to listen to music and sing along is in the car. I try not to think too much about whether other people can hear or see me, because this isn’t for them. It’s for me.
Baking has been a little more spontaneous and whimsical. At first, I set a goal to make something new every week. I would share the leftovers with my family, neighbors, and coworkers. But after the first couple of weeks, I started to feel pressure and stress about meeting this goal. I had unintentionally turned something I was doing for fun into another item on my to-do list.
So I slowed myself down and reminded myself that the whole point of baking was to have fun, not to meet a goal. With that in mind, I’ve tried to lean into spontaneity. I bake recipes that sound fun to me, and I look for those moments when I feel a spark of excitement or curiosity about trying something new.
How to start making room for whimsy
If you want more novelty in your life and you’re interested in being more intentional about making room for whimsy, here are a few things I’d recommend.
1. Examine your current routine
We don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel. Start by reflecting on what is already working well in your routine. What are its strengths? What are you currently doing well? The answers to these questions can help you identify what you want to preserve and where you might have room to make changes.
Then ask yourself: where are the pockets of opportunity?
For me, it was my commute and Sunday evenings. These were already parts of my routine where I could make room for whimsy without rearranging anything else.
2. Connect with your “inner child”
Inner child exercises for adults can sound like a lot, but this one is simple. “Inner child” is a term that has become common in pop psychology, and you don’t have to connect with the concept in any particular way for this exercise to be useful. Instead, think about a younger version of yourself, perhaps an age when you felt particularly happy, curious, or free.
What did that version of you enjoy doing? What was enjoyable about those experiences? Was it the activity itself, the freedom it provided, the creativity involved, or the way you felt while doing it?
3. Adapt it to your current life
You don’t necessarily need to recreate your childhood experiences exactly as they were. I could have bought myself an Easy-Bake Oven and tried to recreate what I did as a child, but that probably wouldn’t have been as satisfying or sustainable.
Instead, I thought about what I loved about baking and how I could bring those same qualities into my life today. Consider what made an activity enjoyable to you and how you might bring that experience into your current life in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.
4. Give yourself permission to experiment
Try the activity at least a few times before deciding whether it works for you. Sometimes it takes a little experimentation to figure out what actually feels enjoyable and what feels like another obligation.
And remember: adding whimsy to your life isn’t about becoming good at something, productive with your time, or consistent with a new hobby. The goal is to notice what brings you a sense of curiosity, playfulness, or joy, and to make a little more room for it.
Making room for whimsy is usually smaller than you think
Making room for whimsy doesn’t require a major life change. It might be singing loudly in the car, trying a new recipe, taking a different route home, picking up an old hobby, or simply following a moment of curiosity.
You don’t have to justify the activity by making it productive. Sometimes, it can simply be fun.
