The Psychology of Fun, Play & Why We Should Try Something We’re Terrible At

From Y2K fashion and 90s nostalgia to film cameras, scrapbooking, reading, craft nights, and analogue hobbies suddenly becoming “cool” again… it feels like everyone is craving something from the past right now…

But what if this cultural shift is about more than trends?

What if people are actually searching for joy, creativity, presence, community, and permission to feel alive again?

In this week’s episode of Reset, psychologist Rebecca McWilliam joins me for a conversation about play, hobbies, joy, burnout, nervous system regulation, and why fun is far more important to our mental health than most adults realise.

We unpack why so many adults feel emotionally flat even when life looks “good on paper,” why women often turn hobbies into productivity projects, and how modern life may be disconnecting us from the parts of ourselves that once felt most alive.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​ Why so many adults feel emotionally exhausted even when life looks good on paper
• ​ The psychology of play and why hobbies support mental health
• ​ Why women often turn hobbies into productivity or side hustles
• ​ Why nostalgia, Y2K trends, and analogue hobbies are rising again
• ​ What childhood hobbies can reveal about your personality and needs
• ​ Nervous system regulation, burnout, and emotional overwhelm
• ​ Why business owners and high achievers especially need hobbies outside of work
• ​ How social media and optimisation culture affect joy and creativity
• ​ Why so many people feel overstimulated but under-inspired
• ​ Small ways to reconnect with fun, creativity, and aliveness again

If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, emotionally flat, or like life has become all responsibility and no play, this episode is your reminder that joy is not something you have to earn.

Because success means very little if you never feel fully alive while living it.

Find Bec here:

https://rebeccampsychology.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/psychologistbec/

https://msha.ke/rebeccampsychology/