How to Be Fun to Be With

Being Fun

Relax. People like to feel safe and comfortable with their friends, and always ready to have fun. You want to give off the vibe that you’re comfortable with goofing around and also letting others have a good time. So chill out and you'll make everyone else chilled out, too. Give people a quick compliment. This will show them that you care and that you’re paying attention. Laugh a lot. Have open, relaxed, body language. Show people that you’re up for anything. Try to loosen up as much as possible. If you're tense, your friends will be too. Cut loose!

Pay attention to your friends. Make eye contact, put away your phone, and make people around you feel important. If you look distracted and like you have a million other things on your mind, then people won’t be able to let loose and have fun around you. Look at people with approval. Don’t make them think you’re condescending or judging them, or they’ll be much less likely to open up around you.

Crack lots of jokes. If you're unafraid of how silly or ridiculous you look, people will want to hang around you. Here are some ways you can be a total goofball: Do your best (or worst) impression of someone you all know, whether it’s a teacher or a coworker. Dance like a complete fool, pretending like you think you’re the best dancer ever. Sing the words to your favorite embarrassing song. Wear a ridiculous outfit, or a graphic tee with a silly message. Don’t be afraid to tell a corny joke or make a silly pun.

Go on adventures. If you've never done something before, that's a good reason to try it! Be spontaneous and try something new instead of making excuses. If you're the one coming up with the fun ideas to try new things, your friends will think you're fun to be around. Say "yes" more. Instead of saying, “No, because…” try to embrace new challenges and try new things. Check out the last section for some ideas about fun things to do with your friends.

Keep things positive. Though we all have our bad days, you should focus on talking about the good things in your life and the things you have to look forward to instead of the annoying little things that upset you. This sets a positive tone for your social interactions and makes people want to be around you more. If you catch yourself saying something negative, try to counter your comment with two positive comments. If the people around you are bummed out, then you should work on trying to cheer them up instead of sinking down to their level. You don’t have to completely fake it and plaster a fake smile on your face if you had a terrible day. However, you should make an effort to be more positive if you’re just mildly annoyed or if you know that whatever is bothering you isn’t a big deal. If you're having a really bad day, just mention it and move forward with a positive comment. Say, "Today's been rough, but I'm staying positive!"

Bring your friends together. In a group, try to make sure that most people like each other or at least get to know each other. Be a uniter, making the people around you bond and become closer with each other, even if it’s at your expense. Be subtle about it. If you’re with two people who feel like they have nothing in common, bring up a mutual interest that can help them bond. If you have two friends who don’t really get along, mention nice things about one person to the other that will make them more likely to get along. Help people bond by suggesting fun activities that everyone can agree on, such as bowling or playing Red Rover. The more fun the activity, the better.

Saying the Right Thing

Ask people lots of entertaining questions. Get conversations started. You don’t have to pry too much to ask some fun conversation starter questions and to make people feel comfortable and happy about opening up. Here are some things you can ask people about: An embarrassing moment they had as a kid A funny comedy sketch or show they saw recently A time when they really messed up or got in trouble A time when their first impressions were completely wrong The strangest place they ever visited

Don’t complain too much. Unless your rants are funny, it's best to keep things positive. Nobody likes a complainer or a downer. This can make your friends think that you’re no fun at all. If something is really bothering you, then write it down or tell a close friend, but avoid complaining loudly in a group setting if you want to be fun. Don't let other people complain too much, either. If other people around you are complaining too much, try to poke fun at the topic and steer the conversation in a more positive direction that is more likely to make people have fun.

Open up with people. Fun people are comfortable with themselves and are happy to share personal experiences and ideas. If you open up, then the people around you will be more likely to open up, too, and you’ll create an environment that is more fun and welcoming. Here are some things you can open up about: Funny moments in your childhood A time when you made a fool of yourself A botched attempt at romance Your relationship with a friend or relative who always cracks you up A ridiculous summer job you once had A blind date that went poorly

Make fun of yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. If this means you have to open yourself to being the butt of a few jokes or clown around a bit, it can be a good time. Doing this will make other people more likely to loosen up a bit, also leading to a more fun situation. Tell a funny story about something you did earlier that day that could make other people crack up. If you made an awkward comment, spilled coffee all over yourself, or made people stare at you for some reason, share the story all in good fun. If you trip or say something ridiculous by accident, don’t act all flustered, like you’re worried about looking like a weirdo. Instead, laugh at yourself and say something along the lines of, “There I go again!”

Doing Fun Things

Meet new people. Whether you’re introducing yourself to a cute barista or just meeting some new interesting people at a coffee shop, the key to being fun is being up for whatever a new person has to say. This is the only way to open up yourself to new people and experiences and to have even more fun in the process. Even if the person is completely different from you, you should have fun and embrace those differences instead of just staying in your comfort zone. Every person has something to teach you and the more people you know, the more knowledge you can gain. Don’t ever look at a new person as not a worthy investment or a waste of your time. Just say hi, introduce yourself, and ask the person a question or two about himself. You can keep the tone lighthearted as you get to know the person better.

Explore a new part of your city or neighborhood. Be on the lookout for fun new activities in the place where you live, whether it’s a bocce tournament, a folk singing competition, or a vegan food festival. Search for new opportunities in new part of your town you haven’t seen before and invite your friends to join you, seeing it all as a new adventure. If the event makes you feel completely out of your comfort zone, whether it’s a pig roast or a poetry slam, then all the better. Think of all of the new and exciting people you can meet when you try something that feels completely different to you. Encourage your friends to be adventurous with you. Let them know that it’s fun to try something new.

Step out of your comfort zone. Whether you try to learn a new language or run a 5K, trying to push yourself to try new and exciting things will make you a more fun person. The more things you know how to do, the more dynamic of a person you’ll be, which means the more experiences you’ll have to share with the people around you. Try the following: Juggling Ballroom, hip-hop, or belly dancing Making pasta from scratch Taking an improv or theatre class Learn basic gymnastics tricks Learn card tricks Learn to read tarot cards

Dance even if you don’t know how. Whether you’re dancing by yourself like a goofball at a party, hitting the dance floor with your friends to do a coordinated dance you don’t quite know how to do, or moving around the dance floor with your partner, the most important thing is that you put yourself out there and have fun. If you flail your limbs, belt out the lyrics to your favorite song, and toss your hair back, then other people will be having fun around you. Encourage people to come out on the dance floor with you. Drag your wallflower friends out and show them how much fun they can have.

Conquer your fears. Whether you’re afraid of heights, clowns, or tiny dogs, spend some time trying to work through your fear and to step out stronger on the other side. You’ll be surprised by what you’re capable of. Make a habit of accepting more invitations to do new things. Though you may have been turning down your friend who is an avid hiker or avid oil painter because you’ve never tried these activities, you should say yes and see how much you can do the next time. The next time you’re out at a party or social gathering, scan the crowd for the person you think you’ll have the least in common with. Introduce yourself to that person to see how much you’ll learn. If someone at a show asks for a volunteer, don’t be afraid to raise your hand. Get loud and crazy at your favorite concert. Wear a crazy outfit that makes you feel good. Sign up to sing your favorite karaoke song even if you’re tone deaf. Throw a ridiculous themed party. Be fun!