Lex Get Together #1 | Make Fun a Habit

Connection starts with how we show up—for ourselves and for others. What if the secret to building stronger relationships was to first build a habit of joy and playfulness in your own life?

When we cultivate habits that make us feel alive, present, and playful, we show up differently in our communities. We bring more energy and a deeper sense of authenticity to our relationships.

Why Playfulness Feels Harder in Adulthood

As we get older, play tends to slip out of reach. Our days are built around efficiency, productivity, and responsibility. We leave little room for spontaneity or silliness. And because of that, play no longer comes naturally. It becomes something we have to intentionally cultivate and choose to return to.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry—building fun into your life might take a little trial and error (and that’s okay!). When you give yourself permission to play, you’ll find it becomes easier to show up with joy and openness—for yourself and for the people around you.

In her article “Choose a Partner You Can Be Playful With“, author and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Hannah Eaton, shares her experience embracing playfulness in her relationship.

Make Fun & Connection a Habit

“What would this look like if it were fun?”

Catherine Price, author of The Power of Fun, explains that fun isn’t just about fleeting happiness—it’s about “connecting with people, and getting lost in the moment.” Play helps us lower our defenses, feel safe, and open ourselves to others.

Want to reach out to someone you love more often? Write the names of your connections on notes, toss them into a jar, and pick one person to call each week.

Want to strengthen your local community? Try hosting a themed potluck where everyone gets to bring a dish that tells a story about them.

By making these habits more enjoyable, we make them sustainable. They move from something you feel like you should do to something you want to do.

Habit Stacking for Connection

Habit stacking is when you attach a new habit to something you already do daily.

This could look like Morning Coffee and Connection. While waiting for your coffee to brew, send a quick check in text to a friend or family member.

I love a little walk. And one of my absolute favorite parts of my walks is catching up with friends and family.

I don’t have a set schedule for these walks—the spontaneity is actually part of the fun. But over time, I’ve started to connect my walking habit with phone calls. Now, whenever I head out for a walk, I use it as a chance to check in with the people I care about.

I’ve learned that friendship can sometimes feel very “out of sight, out of mind” for me. I don’t mean to lose track of people—these relationships are deeply important to me. But with everything my brain processes on a daily basis, it’s easy to get caught up in the immediate stimuli in front of me and forget to reach out. (This is especially true for my fellow ADHDers out there!)

Pairing something as simple as a walk with a quick call is an easy way to stay connected to my loved ones, even when life feels busy.

These small, intentional habits create space for connection. And when you start small, it becomes easier to integrate them into your life for the long term.

By making fun part of your day-to-day rhythm, you create the energy and openness needed to foster connections.

A challenge for you: What’s one habit you could make more enjoyable? Or one playful habit you’d love to build to deepen your connection with yourself or others? 

Add a Little Whimsy to Your Life

Not every habit needs to be serious or goal-driven. Sometimes, the most meaningful are the ones that spark joy for no reason at all.

This year, one of my favorite artists decided to pet 100 cats as part of their New Year’s Resolution. That’s it. No pressure, no guilt—just pure, playful connection.

This kind of playful goal reminds us that we don’t need to “fix” ourselves to grow. Sometimes, it’s just about making space for curiosity and joy. And when you find easy ways to integrate that kind of joy into your life, it spills out into your relationships.

If you want more of my musings on playfulness, I wrote about ways to bring more fun and lightness into your life in ‘The Case for a Whimsical New Year’s Resolution’ this week. 

Until next time,