The Science of Fun

Self-Control

Why Grit and Willpower Fail and What to Do Instead

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on November 4, 2024

What if getting healthy could be as fun as it is good for you? Discover why finding pleasure in wellness is the key to lasting success.

What if getting healthy could be as fun as it is good for you? Discover why finding pleasure in wellness is the key to lasting success.

Moral Injury

Motherhood's Hidden Burden: Moral Injury

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on August 8, 2024

Discover why busy moms struggle with fun and self-care due to moral injury, and learn practical strategies to mitigate moral injury's harm while reclaiming the joy you deserve.

Discover why busy moms struggle with fun and self-care due to moral injury, and learn practical strategies to mitigate moral injury's harm while reclaiming the joy you deserve.

Motivation

Type II Fun: Embracing Hard Fun for Personal Growth

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on April 30, 2024

Discover how challenges that are not fun in the moment—but rewarding in retrospect—can grow resilience, deepen life satisfaction, and lead to transformative personal growth.

Discover how challenges that are not fun in the moment—but rewarding in retrospect—can grow resilience, deepen life satisfaction, and lead to transformative personal growth.

Happiness

The Role of Adventure in Personal Growth

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on December 6, 2023

Adventure is not exclusive to having fun and thrill-seeking; it's vital for building resilience, personal development, and, more generally, living joyfully.

Adventure is not exclusive to having fun and thrill-seeking; it's vital for building resilience, personal development, and, more generally, living joyfully.

Dopamine

The Delicate Dance of High-Arousal Enjoyment

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on July 6, 2023

Learn how balancing high- and low-arousal fun can enrich your life and boost overall well-being by discovering the key to avoiding dopamine downregulation.

Learn how balancing high- and low-arousal fun can enrich your life and boost overall well-being by discovering the key to avoiding dopamine downregulation.

Sleep

The Enemies of Fun

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on April 1, 2023

Dive into the external and internal forces that make fun an elusive privilege for some, and overcome these challenges for a more balanced and joyful life.

Dive into the external and internal forces that make fun an elusive privilege for some, and overcome these challenges for a more balanced and joyful life.

Memory

The Art and Science of Reminiscing

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on November 26, 2022

Reminiscing is an often untapped yet powerful method in helping us amplify the benefit of our fun experiences.

Reminiscing is an often untapped yet powerful method in helping us amplify the benefit of our fun experiences.

Happiness

It's Time to Rethink the Hedonic Treadmill

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on July 17, 2022

We’re now beginning to have a more nuanced understanding of the "hedonic treadmill," and I propose it’s time to ditch this tired term in favor of something more empowering.

We’re now beginning to have a more nuanced understanding of the "hedonic treadmill," and I propose it’s time to ditch this tired term in favor of something more empowering.