Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Being fun
• Part 2 of 3: Say the right things
• Part 3 of 3: Doing fun things
• Tips
• Warnings

Have people ever called you a cranky, a grumpy ear, or a bummer? Just don't know how to make social situations more entertaining? If this sounds familiar, don't worry - just make sure you're more fun to be around, that you're willing to poke fun at yourself, and be ready to embark on new adventures. If you really do your best, people will stop calling you the grumpy ear. They will refer to you as the sunshine in the house.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Being fun

1. Relax. People like to feel safe and comfortable with their friends, and are always ready to have fun. You too want to give the impression that you enjoy having fun and making sure others are having a good time. So relax, and make sure that the rest can also be relaxed.
   • Give people little compliments. This shows that you care about them and that you are paying attention.
   • Laugh a lot. Have an open, relaxed body language. Show people that you are up for anything.
   • Try to be as relaxed as possible. If you're tense, your friends will become too. Relax!
2. Pay attention to your friends. Make eye contact, put your phone away, and make the people around you feel important. If you seem distracted and give the impression that you have a million better things to do, people won't let go. Then they can't have a good time with you there.
   • View people approvingly. Don't make people feel like you are belittling or judging them. If you do, they will be less likely to open up to you.
3. Joke a lot. If you're not worried about looking stupid or ridiculous, people will love to hang out with you. Here are some ways you can act like a real madman:
   • Do your best (or worst) impression of someone you all know, be it a teacher or a colleague.
   • Dance like an idiot, pretending to be the best dancer in the world.
   • Sing the lyrics to your favorite embarrassing song.
   • Wear a ridiculous outfit or a T-shirt with a silly message.
   • Do not hesitate to make a corny joke or a silly pun.
4. Go on an adventure. If you've never done something, that's a good reason to try it! Be spontaneous and try something new; don't make excuses. If you're the one who keeps coming up with fun ideas, your friends will start to think you're fun to be around.
   • Say "yes" more often. Instead of always saying “No, because…” you can better embrace new challenges and try new things.
   • Check the last part of this article for some suggestions.
5. Keep it positive. We all have bad days, but focus on talking about the good and fun things in life. Talk about the things you look forward to, not the little nasty things you don't like. This sets a positive tone and will make people want to hang out with you.
   • If you hear yourself say something negative, try to combat it by making two positive comments.
   • If the people around you are down, do your best to pull them out of there. Don't jump into the pit too.
   • You don't have to pretend if you've had a bad day, you don't have to put on a fake smile. However, you should do your best to be more positive when something trivial went wrong, or when you are only mildly irritated.
   EXPERT TIP

   Bring your friends together. In a group, make sure that most people (get to) know each other. Bring people together, get them to bond, and get closer to each other. Even if it is at your expense.

   • Be subtle. If you're with two people who seemingly have nothing in common, bring up a common interest so they can bond.
   • If you have two friends who don't really get along, tell one of them about the other's positive aspects and vice versa. Increase the chance that they will like each other.
   • Help people bond by creating fun activities that everyone can agree on. For example, go bowling, paintball, or go karting. The more fun the activity, the better.

Part 2 of 3: Say the right things

1. Ask people all kinds of entertaining questions. Start conversations. You don't have to violate someone's privacy too much to start a nice conversation. Make sure everyone is comfortable and eager to participate in the conversation. Here are some things you can ask people about:
   • An embarrassing moment from childhood.
   • A fun comedy show or sketch they've seen recently.
   • A situation where they really messed up or got into trouble.
   • A time when their first impression was completely wrong.
   • The craziest place they've ever been.
2. Don't complain too much. Unless your lamentations are very funny, it is generally better to keep it positive. Nobody likes complainers and gnarled ears. You don't want to trick your friends into thinking you're no fun. If something is really bothering you, write it down or tell a good friend. However, if you want to be fun, try not to complain too much in a group setting.
   • Don't let others complain too much either. If other people in your area are complaining too much, poke fun at the topic. Try to steer the conversation in a more positive direction so that people will enjoy themselves more quickly.
3. Open yourself up to others. Nice people are comfortable with themselves and enjoy sharing their personal experiences and ideas. If you open yourself up, the people around you will also open up more quickly. This way you create an environment that is more fun and welcoming. Here are some things you can talk about:
   • Nice moments from your childhood.
   • Once when you made a fool of yourself.
   • A vain attempt at romance.
   • Your bond with a friend or family member.
   • A ridiculous side job you ever had.
   EXPERT TIP

   Make fun of yourself. Don't take yourself so seriously. If this means you have to be willing to make fun of yourself a little bit, then that can be fun. If you do, others will probably loosen up as well. This can also contribute to a nicer atmosphere.

   • Tell a funny story about what you did earlier in the day and make everyone laugh. If you've made an unfortunate comment, spilled coffee on your pants, or whatever, share it.
   • If you stumble or accidentally say something ridiculous, don't worry about looking like a loser. Rather laugh at yourself. Say something like, "Here I go again!"

Part 3 of 3: Doing fun things

1. Get to know new people. You can introduce yourself to that nice guy behind the bar, or meet new, interesting people in the library. The key to being really fun is being open to what new people have to say. This is the only way to open yourself up to get to know new people and experiences. And you'll have an even better time while doing that!
   • Even if someone is completely different from you, you can have fun. Embrace the differences, don't get stuck in your comfort zone.
   • Anyone can teach you something. The more people you get to know, the more knowledge you can acquire. Ever think of people as inferior or a waste of time.
   • Just say "hello", introduce yourself, and ask him / her about themselves. Keep the tone light-hearted as you get to know someone better.
2. Explore a new neighborhood or neighborhood. Always be on the lookout for new fun activities in your hometown, whether that's a pétanque tournament, a folk festival, or a vegetarian food festival. Look for new opportunities in a part of the city, go somewhere you have never been before. Invite your friends to join, see it as a new adventure.
   • If the adventure takes you completely out of your comfort zone, be it a cat contest or a dog contest, all the better. Think about all the new and fun people you can meet when you do something that is completely unknown to you.
   • Encourage your friends to be adventurous with you. Let them know it's fun trying new things.
3. Leave your comfort zone. Whether you're learning a new language or training for the half marathon, try trying new, exciting things. That will make you a nicer person. The more you can do, the more dynamic you will be. That means that you can share more experiences with the people around you. For example, try:
   • Juggling
   • To dance
   • Making ravioli
   • Make your own candles
   • Do card tricks
   • Watching stars
4. Dance even if you don't know how. Whether you're dancing like an idiot at a party, putting on a choreography with your friends you've never practiced, or hitting the dance floor with your partner, it's all about showing yourself and having fun.
   • If you yell the lyrics to your favorite song, throw your hair back, and wave your arms, other people will see that you are fun.
   • Encourage others to hit the dance floor too. Bring your wallflowers and show them how much fun it can be.
5. Overcome your fears. If you have a fear of heights, are afraid of clowns or small dogs, try to overcome that fear. Try to be stronger than ever. You will be amazed at what you can do.
   • Accept invitations to try new things more often. Maybe you kept saying no to that friend who likes to paint or run because you've never tried it yourself. Better say yes, and see where the ship runs aground. Challenge yourself.
   • The next time you're at a social gathering, take a look at the other people. Find the one you seem to have the least in common with. Introduce yourself to him / her and see how much you can learn from him / her.
   • If a volunteer is being sought somewhere, do not hesitate to raise your hand. Go crazy with your favorite band. Wear a silly outfit that makes you feel great. Sign up to start singing your favorite song in the karaoke bar, even if you can't distinguish any pitch. Organize a ridiculous themed party. Be fun!

Tips

• Be honest and keep your promises. People care about being reliable. If they know you can be trusted, they will feel a lot more comfortable with you.
• Treat others as you would like to be treated.
• If you're one of those people who keeps dealing with awkward silences, make a list of possible topics to talk about. Bring one up if an awkward silence looms. Always try to see the fun, positive sides of things (unless it's not the right time, of course).
• Always try to gain knowledge. Knowing a lot makes your mind sharper, provides you with conversation material, and makes your life a lot more interesting.
• Do not spread rumors or gossip. Nobody benefits from this, and it can seriously damage your reputation. It's hard to have fun when you think someone behind your back is spreading gossip about you.
• Laugh with, don't bother, your friends and others.
• Set boundaries. Set aside some time to replenish your mind and energy without anyone around. Also let other people know that you have certain boundaries that should not be crossed.
• Smile a lot, and try to like everyone. Don't judge others, you never know what troubles they are all dealing with.

Warnings

• Don't rule out your current friends, they are the best friends you have. Keep involving them in your life. If you don't, they will take offense.
• Don't laugh at people. Laugh with them. It's good to be able to laugh at yourself. You even have to do that to be able to stay happy and not dwell too long on mistakes and failures.
• Don't just pay attention to the fun. You also have to have a serious side, and show it at appropriate times. If a friend of yours needs your support when he's down, take responsibility.Show him that you are a valuable friend. The same goes for your parents. Show them that you are worthy of having so much freedom. Believe what your parents tell you and try to be as responsible as possible.
• If you're really close to someone, it doesn't hurt at all to flirtatiously tease someone. But if you're just getting to know someone, start off politely.
• Make sure that the fun you are doing is healthy, not punishable, and that it does not harm anyone. Not you, and neither are others.
• Don't try to force people to like you. That comes across as fake and intrusive.