Stephanie Heidel, owner of Foundation Mindset, is an author and educator with a passion for mental health and holistic wellness.

As I am getting ready to co-host our first wellness retreat, I am thinking of all the things that make a person well. It is becoming more and more common knowledge that wellness comes from a balance obtained when taking care of one’s mind, body, and soul. The old saying garbage in, garbage out completely applies to our wellness. If we fuel our minds, bodies, and souls with toxicity, toxic waste will be the natural byproduct. At first, that might sound like too much work. We must be so intentional with everything we do, eat, read, watch… where is the fun in that? 

I have great news! Our minds, bodies, and souls need fun! Instead of thinking about wellness as deprivation, think about how you can incorporate more excitement into your life. True story… in the middle of writing this blog, I received a video call from a friend’s three-year-old daughter. She didn’t have much to say. She just wanted to make silly faces, so I made silly faces back with her. Kids just get it. We should stop in the middle of our busy lives to make silly faces just for fun. She had no other agenda than fun. 

If you are reading this blog right now, I would like to encourage you to try something you have never done before just for fun. Can’t think of anything? Here is a list of 10 things you can do right now to bring some joy into your life. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

1. Sign up for one of our upcoming glamping retreats (shameless plug because duh… they will be so much fun!) 
2. Video call any kid in your life and ask them if they would be interested in an impromptu (might have to use a simpler word) silly face making contest. I guarantee they will be stoked at the idea!
3. Hungry for a snack? Make your food look cute just for fun! Cut your sandwich into shapes. Make ants on a log with peanut butter, raisins, and celery. Yep, just play with your food because you can.
4. Get creative with zero agenda. Write a poem, rap, song, or short story. Make it as silly as you want. 
5. Take mindful movement to a new fun level by choreographing your own interpretive dance. Go on – no one is watching! 
6. Go to a park and swing on the swings. If you are really feeling brave, try going down the slides too. 
7. Make a pillow fort, get in it, and read your favorite book.
8. Get artsy by coloring, painting, or fingerpainting if you are really feeling silly.
9. Take a bubble bath and let those bubbles build far higher than an adult should. 
10. Come up with your own list of 10 silly ways to add fun into your life and send it to us at hello@foundationmindset.com to share with others.