When Fun Feels Hard: Reclaiming Joy in a Life That Feels Too Full

Lately, many of my clients have been telling me the same thing: fun feels almost impossible.

“I feel like I’m always behind.”
“I can’t relax, even when I finally get a minute to myself.”
“I used to enjoy things like reading or going for a walk, but now those feel like luxuries I don’t have time for.”

This is often what it looks like when anxiety and the pressures of daily life start to take over. There’s a constant sense of urgency, a low-level hum of pressure to do more, be more, and stay productive at all costs. And in that mindset, joy becomes something we feel we have to earn - only allowed once every box is checked. But joy isn’t a reward for getting everything done. It’s part of what makes life feel worth living in the first place.

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we work with that anxious voice rather than against it. The one that whispers: You don’t have time for this. There’s more to do. Instead of trying to push it away, we learn to notice it, then gently shift our attention back to what really matters. That might look like giving yourself just five minutes to do something you love. It might mean allowing a laugh to bubble up, even when the to-do list is still looming. These moments are not distractions. They are reminders that you still exist underneath the pressure.

The truth is, life will probably always be full. But when we reconnect with our values, including joy, creativity, and play, we begin to feel more grounded, more present, and more like ourselves.

If any part of this resonates with you, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep living on autopilot. If you’re ready to begin making space for joy in your life again, I’d love to support you. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Together, we can explore how therapy might help you reconnect with what matters most, even in the middle of a full life.