what is type 1 fun and type 2 fun

Type 1 fun is enjoyable while it’s happening. Type 2 fun is not enjoyable in the moment, but it feels good afterward when you look back on it.

Type 1 fun

This is the easy, obvious kind of fun: relaxing, laughing, eating great food, watching a movie, or doing an activity you genuinely enjoy as you do it.

Type 2 fun

This is the “that was awful, but worth it” kind of fun: a hard hike, marathon, or tough trip where the experience feels miserable while it’s happening, but becomes satisfying in hindsight.

Simple way to remember it

• Type 1 fun: fun now, fun later.

• Type 2 fun: not fun now, fun later.

A common joke is that Type 2 fun is often what makes the best stories, even if it did not feel fun in the moment.

TL;DR

Type 1 fun = enjoyable in the moment. Type 2 fun = miserable in the moment, rewarding afterward.