Finding Joy on Two Wheels: Why Fun is Essential for Mental and Physical Health

A beautiful mountain trail inviting adventure.

Finding Joy on Two Wheels: Why Fun is Essential for Mental and Physical Health

This year, I did something a little unexpected: I joined a middle school mountain biking team. Actually, my daughter joined and I piggybacked onto the team as a coach. We’ve been riding together two or three times a week ever since and learning all sorts of things about ourselves on the way.

I’ll be honest—when I first signed up, I figured it would be a cool way to spend more time with my kiddo, get some exercise, and maybe have some talking points with my bike obsessed husband and son. What I didn’t expect was how much it would completely change my perspective on fun, health, and the balance we try so hard to strike in our daily lives.

It turns out, having fun—real, genuine, let-your-hair-down fun—isn’t just a luxury or something for weekends. It’s essential. And mountain biking reminded me just how powerful fun can be for both mental and physical health.

The Joy Factor: Why Fun Matters

Somewhere along the trajectory from childhood to adulthood, most of us started to treat “fun” like an afterthought, if we even think of it at all. I mean, adulting is a serious and exhausting business — jobs, responsibilities, kids, bills, meetings — it’s easy to deprioritize the things that make us laugh, light us up, and leave us grinning like kids again. Especially when your brain and body are so tired that all you want to do at the end of the day is curl up on the couch and binge watch your favorite shows.

But I believe fun should be bumped way up the priority list.

When we’re having fun, we’re fully present. We’re not doomscrolling, worrying about tomorrow’s schedule, or dissecting that stupid thing we said to a friend. We’re in it—engaged, alive, and connected. That kind of presence does wonders for our minds. It gives us a break from the mental hamster wheel and lets our brains rest, reset, and even heal.

And when you combine fun with movement—like biking through trees, dodging rocks, and shouting encouragement to a group of middle schoolers—you get a two-for-one deal: a mental recharge and physical fitness. Talk about efficiency!

Nature + Movement + Community = Magic

There’s something extra special about being outdoors. Nature has a calming effect that no screen, app, or even spa day can replicate. Studies show that time in nature lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), reduces anxiety, and boosts mood. Add physical activity to the mix, and your body starts releasing endorphins and dopamine—natural mood-lifters that help combat depression and increase your overall sense of well-being.

But the secret sauce? Community.

When I’m out on the trail with the team—laughing, learning, occasionally embarrasing myself—I’m not just exercising or coaching. I’m connecting. With my daughter, with the other riders, with the coaches, and with the world around us. We cheer each other on. We push each other up tough climbs. We share snacks and stories and personal mind tricks for pushing through when you don't think you can pedal any further.

That sense of connection, of shared experience, is deeply healing. It’s the antidote to loneliness and isolation, which so many of us have felt—especially in recent years. It turns out that laughing with others, struggling with others, celebrating with others… that’s where a lot of the magic happens.

The Unexpected Benefits of Play

When adults hear the word “play,” we often think of kids. But play isn’t just for children—it’s a basic human need. It’s how we process the world, how we stay flexible and resilient, and how we stay connected to ourselves and each other.

Since starting this mountain biking adventure, I’ve noticed some real changes in myself. I’m stronger, sure, and my endurance is better. But more importantly, I’m lighter. Not in a physical sense, but emotionally and mentally. Post-ride there's a delicious feeling of tired muscles, mental calm and being in the moment that stays with me even through the rest of the weeknight evening responsibilities.

I'm laughing more. Stress rolls off a little easier. I'm more patient—on the bike and at home. I sleep better. I’m more focused. I feel alive in a way that’s hard to put into words but impossible to ignore. And best of all - maybe the greatest gift an adult can get - is that I'm continuously surprising myself with what I can do.

That’s the power of play. Of fun. Of getting out of your comfort zone and doing something that reminds you of who you are beyond your to-do list.

Fun Is Not Frivolous—It’s Foundational

One of the best parts of this whole experience has been sharing it with my daughter. We’re not just spending time together—we’re building memories. We’re pushing each other. I'm watching her confidence in herself grow as she, too, surprises herself with what she can do. And I get to model what it looks like to live fully—to prioritize joy, movement, and connection, to try something new that you're not very good at and stick with it until you are.

That’s a legacy I’m proud to pass on.

So, if you’ve been feeling a little stuck, a little tired, or a little like life has become all business and no play—consider this your permission slip. Go do something fun. Not because you’ve earned it, or because it’s the weekend, or because you checked enough boxes on your to-do list.

Do it because you’re human. Because fun is healing. Because joy is powerful. Because life is short and way more beautiful when you’re smiling through the mud, wind in your face, surrounded by people who are just as excited as you are to be out there living.