Type 2 Fun: Benefits and the Fun Scale

The fun scale is a continuum that you can use to gauge the type of fun you’re having as you perform a specific action. There are three types of fun (ranging from one to three), adding difficulty and stress as you move up the scale.

Type 1 fun applies to activities that you generally enjoy in the moment, such as eating a delicious meal, going for a pleasant hike, and swimming in the ocean. Type 2 fun pursuits (like bouldering or taking a difficult exercise class) are challenging and may not be pleasant at the time, but they become gratifying when you look back on them. Extra-challenging Type 3 fun endeavors—typically marked by extreme weather, injuries, and accidents—are pleasant neither during the event nor after the fact, but they can become a good story for some.

Type 2 fun occurs when a task is difficult at the time, but feels rewarding afterward, often because it challenges the practitioner to test their limits and grow. Examples of Type 2 fun include survival camping, backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountain biking. Type 2 fun doesn’t need to take place in the wilderness, though. Climbing several flights of stairs to catch a view or running an ultramarathon also qualify as Type 2 fun.

Type 2 fun may not mean a good time in the moment, but for many, the sense of satisfaction that comes later is worth it. Here are some of the benefits of experiencing Type 2 fun:

1. 1. Increased self-esteem and pride. Pushing yourself through difficult terrain—both physically and metaphorically—allows you to prove to yourself that you’re stronger and more capable than you think. This leads to increased confidence, as well as a lasting sense of accomplishment.
2. 2. Memories. The challenging nature of Type 2 fun can make it more memorable than Type 1 fun. You’ll remember the sense of pride and may develop deep bonds with people who shared the experience. That’s what keeps rock climbers chasing the rush of deep water soloing and other risky but rewarding adventures. Plus, the experience often makes for a great story.
3. 3. Self-discovery and perspective. When you push yourself beyond your preconceived limits, the opportunity to audit your strengths and weaknesses prompts you to learn more about yourself. Additionally, embracing the difficult parts of a journey is a lesson that you can apply to other areas of life, broadening your perspective. Difficult undertakings may seem more doable in the future, once you’ve faced tougher obstacles.
4. 4. Strengthened resilience. Type 2 fun is difficult and almost always involves getting out of your comfort zone. You may get frustrated and want to give up in the middle of such arduous efforts, but persevering proves your tenacity. Imagine backpacking the Appalachian Trail: Looking back, you’ll remember the moments when completing the task felt impossible, as well as the fulfillment of pushing through those moments. The experience can build your tenacity for new, more challenging ventures.

Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a MasterClass Annual Membership and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).