Ep 047: The FUN Habit in Parenting and in Life with Dr. Mike Rucker

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of 2023’s top-rated happiness book, The Fun Habit, which is out now.

Takeaways
  • Toxic positivity and the pursuit of happiness can be detrimental to mental well-being.
  • Acknowledging and processing trauma is essential for healing and personal growth.
  • Positive psychology tools should be tailored to individual contexts and needs.
  • Finding time for fun and adding enjoyable experiences to life can enhance overall well-being. 
  • The fun habit is an invitation to have joy in the present moment, rather than constantly chasing after happiness.
  • Making deliberate choices to incorporate fun into life can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:11 Writing 'The Fun Habit'
04:38 Personal Trauma and Identity Crisis
06:08 Toxic Positivity and Glossing Over Experiences
08:12 Positive Psychology and Processing Trauma
10:02 Tailoring Positive Psychology Tools
11:25 The Importance of Context in Positive Psychology
13:13 Acknowledging Complexity and Individual Differences
15:09 Empathy and Understanding in Parenting
19:38 Connection and Rapport with Children
22:11 The Impact of Internet and Access to Information
25:16 The Changing Dynamics of Parenting
27:11 The Importance of Fun and Connection in Parenting
31:15 Creating Moments of Fun and Connection
36:40 Embracing All Feelings and Adding Fun to Life
38:47 Finding Time for Fun
41:38 The Fun Habit as an Invitation to Have Joy in the Present
43:58 The Impact of Lack of Leisure on Burnout and Productivity
47:57 The Shift in Parenting Paradigms
50:15 Navigating the Challenges of Parenting in the Digital Age
53:04 The Negative Effects of Social Media on Children
55:28 The Importance of Parental Guidance in the Digital World
58:14 Making Deliberate Choices to Incorporate Fun into Life
01:01:08 Overcoming Inertia and Finding Enjoyable Activities
01:04:08 The Power of Environment, People, and Activity in Finding Joy
01:07:29 The Hedonic Flexibility Principle and Seeking Challenges

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Creators and Guests

Mike Rucker
Guest
Mike Rucker
Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of 2023’s top-rated happiness book, The Fun Habit, which is out now.
Ep 047: The FUN Habit in Parenting and in Life with Dr. Mike Rucker
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