If you’re active on social media, you likely have seen the “whimsy” trend going around. Whimsy involves adding joy and color (literally and figuratively) to your everyday life. For example, rather than waiting to burn your favorite candles or wear that new dress you thrifted, you don’t delay your joy. Rather, you romanticize every moment as though it’s your last.
The internet has taken the whimsy trend a step further by coining the term “whimsy-maxxing”—or adding whimsy to your life to the max.
But hey, as silly as it might sound, it’s actually a beneficial practice. Let’s get into it.
What Is Whimsy-Maxxing?
According to Krista Walker, LCSW, J.D., Clinical Director at The Ohana Luxury Addiction Treatment Center, “Whimsy-maxxing refers to the idea of adding or pursuing more whimsy in your daily life.”
Think of whimsy as the small, seemingly trivial joys we cultivate: morning coffee with a splash of cinnamon, fairy lights strung in the living room, oldies music playing while cooking dinner, a flowy skirt and rings adorning your fingers while tending to your garden. These intimate moments can do wonders for our mental health, reminding us that we don’t need to delay delight for special occasions.
“[Whimsy-maxxing] can look like finding opportunities to be silly, playful, or creative,” Walker explains. “It may be being more spontaneous or doing things simply because they bring you joy.”
How to Add More Whimsy to Your Life
Believe it or not, whimsy isn’t hard to come by or to cultivate.
“There are many ways that you can add more whimsy into your life,” Walker says. “You could travel somewhere fun that you’ve never been before. You can buy a fun, colorful coffee mug. You can wear huge colorful earrings.”
How you whimy-maxx is entirely up to you and your preferences.
“The important thing is to find something that you like to do,” Walker adds. “Find something that you find enjoyable.”
For example, I absolutely love writing fiction and poetry. Some days, I’ll “schedule” creative writing sessions for myself to ensure I’m carving time out for this passion. I’ll open the windows, light candles and incense, shuffle my favorite playlist, and get to writing for an hour or two of flow.
Whimsy-Maxxing and Mental Health
Whimsy-maxxing isn’t just some ridiculous buzzword that’s trending on social media right now. In action, it’s actually an incredibly powerful mental health tool.
“It’s not a treatment for mental health conditions, but it can contribute to better well-being overall,” says Walker. “It can help a person relax and feel joy in their life. This is great for mental health.”
After a long, stressful day, some of my favorite ways to unwind can be considered whimsy-maxxing: strolling through nature, going out for ice cream downtown with my boyfriend, watching a rom-com with a mug of tea, reading in my little bookworm nook, etc. These routines ensure I’m enjoying the present moment and not viewing fulfillment as a future goal reserved for weekends and holidays.
“Whimsy is not about avoiding difficult emotions or responsibilities,” Walker adds. “It’s about acknowledging that sometimes we need to do fun things that make us happy. That is part of being human.”
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