Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
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I've paradoxically kept my fun on a tight leash and never let it get too far away from me. I've dealt with some mild depression all my life, and fun is usually one of the only cures that works.
The key thing has always been friends. Finding and maintaining friendships has to be a full time priority (and keep a strong preference for IRL friends over virtual friends). Family can count towards this, but they should be a bare minimum. I'm also saying this as an introvert. I get exhausted hanging out with people too often. But friends once a week or every other week is still very important.
The things you do with friends matters less, but it should be something playful. And I mean "playful" in a very specific way. Slightly directed activities, loose goals, new situations. The goal here is to stimulate your brain and your body in new and unexpected ways. Playing a sport rather than going to the gym. Engaging in conversation and banter, rather than watching a show together. Visiting a new place rather than the same old haunts. It is best if these situations make you a little uncomfortable. Afterwards always try and have a story to describe the experience and sell it as something that was fun. You can tell these little stories to your parents and make them happy to still be in your life. Or just tell them to yourself. Either way you it will help you seal the memories as fun things you did. Even if they were not all that fun (those stories can be sold as, "well at least I know to never do that again!"). Over time you will train yourself to look for those fun stories, and to enjoy them even more in the moment.
Having fun in life and being happy in a fulfilled way is a long term project. Quick fixes exist, but those suffer from falling prey to the hedonic treadmill effect. Start finding friends and start making stories now. It might not feel like it is paying off for a while. But this problem you are feeling will not magically go away in a decade, it will only get worse.
If you want to hop on a video game with me and chat I'm available, you know my discord.
I agree with this, largely. The most important thing is activities with an unknown outcome. This is why some of the classic fun activities are things like going out to party to try to meet women, or to get into a fight, or gambling.
Getting drunk or high on a night out is fun to a point because the more fucked up you get the less predictable the outcome of the evening. Drinking and getting high by yourself, of course, has the opposite effect.
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Agree with all of this - especially that hanging out in a not-very-goal-oriented environment is key. I would recommend checking local gaming clubs or hobby shops, and find an IRL weekly tabletop, card game, board game, or D&D group looking for recruits. Then you just have to show up, bring some snacks, and play some low-stakes games.
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This is great advice.
I know this is an age old question. But where do you find friends? If you feel comfortable, can you tell me where you, specifically, found friends? I've got some great friends online, but in real life, not too many pickings; I don't do much other than work and go home and practice a hobby or two, though it helps that I am friends with my boss and my family.
Anywhere and everywhere. If you have an excuse to talk with someone its a potential avenue of friendship.
College, work, rec sports, neighbors, friends of friends, non-profit work, etc.
Some cheat codes:
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