THE FUN HABIT: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker, PhD (on sale January 3, 2023; Atria Books; Hardcover; $27.99; ISBN: 9781982159054) is a science-backed, actionable case for the importance of seeking fun, rather than happiness, in our daily lives. Fun, he argues, is a resource available to anyone, at almost any time, yet most people are not having nearly enough of it. This insightful new book reveals how intentionally increasing your joyful moments can improve your health, relationships, and productivity, while also providing specific guidance to help you make the most of your time and create more space for having fun. Combining extensive psychological research with practical recommendations, THE FUN HABIT is an inspiring and motivational guidebook that you’ll want to share with everyone you know.

THE FUN HABIT is anti-toxic positivity and happiness striving. The approach is very much about embracing all your feelings and mindfully adding more fun in your life, rather than chasing after happiness. He shows you how to find the time and how to find the kind of fun that’s right for you.

In an interview, Mike can discuss:

• Why prioritizing fun, rather than happiness, might be a more productive use of our energy and ultimately make us feel better
• His own experiences that led him to start building a “fun habit”
• The four quadrants of the PLAY Model and how it can help you assess your daily activities so you can incorporate more fun
• How fun and productivity are not at odds, but rather amplify each other
• Strategies and tactics for having more fun
• The tangible, science-backed benefits of having fun

Whether you’re a frustrated high-achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or someone who is seeking relief from life’s overwhelming challenges, it is time you gain access to one of the best remedies available. Dr. Rucker offers accessible evidence and advice for building fun into a habit and revitalizing your physical and psychological well-being.

Through science, storytelling, and self-help, THE FUN HABIT gives you the tools to stop chasing an unattainable idea of happiness and start prioritizing everyday acts of fun—a meaningful change that just might shift your entire outlook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, The Telegraph, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, he currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Learn more at MichaelRucker.com and follow him at:  https://twitter.com/performbetter; https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrucker/;

https://www.facebook.com/mike.rucker.phd/.

THE FUN HABIT

How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

by Mike Rucker, PhD

Atria Books; Hardcover

On Sale: January 3, 2023

Price: $27.99

ISBN: 9781982159054

Prais for The Fun Habit

"A well-crafted guide to the who, what, when, where, why, and how of fun. Mike has woven a joyful mixture of story and research in the making of The Fun Habit. You will walk away with ideas you can start using today to invite in more delight and make the good times last." - Gary Ware, founder of Breakthrough Play; author of Playful Rebellion

"A masterful distillation of science and personal experience, The Fun Habit uncovers the amazing power we have to improve our present state and shows how fun is the key to an enjoyable and fulfilling life. Readers looking for actionable science-based strategies, rather than pie-in-the-sky promises, will love this book." - Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable

"A breath of fresh air for those who want more joy and wonder in their lives! Michael artfully bridges science and storytelling to reveal best practices for enhancing our quality of life. The Fun Habit is foundational for anyone who wants to improve performance, enhance relationships, and have greater social impact." - Dr. Michael Gervais, high performance psychologist; founder of Finding Mastery, Inc.

"The Fun Habit sounds like an oxymoron. Isn’t fun spontaneous? Often. But we can also put ourselves in places and positions that are conducive to having fun. We can be intentional about fun—and we should be. Mike Rucker distills decades of life experience and academic research into practical tips, tools, and tactics for bringing fun into our lives starting now." - Dr. Olav Sorenson, Joseph Jacobs Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies, Professor of Strategy and of Sociology, and Faculty Director of the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA

"This cheerful debut trumpeting the importance of joy…is a fittingly entertaining guide." - Publishers Weekly

“Far from being just a feel-good exhortation or collection of fun activities to embark upon, this title brings an in-depth, science-backed exploration of happiness, through the lens of having fun.” - Library Journal

"Psychologist and fun lover Mike Rucker has written an enjoyable treatise on the art of bringing more play and joy to life." — Shelf Awareness