We could all use a little fun, right? The Guardian asked staffers how they infuse fun into their lives, and the answers ran the gamut from simple activities like doing a cartwheel and making pancakes to bigger undertakings like going skydiving in a wind tunnel and learning a new language. Read through 49 ways to have fun right now.
Must Reads
The definition of civilization is ever-evolving — and one author argues it should include animal societies
Michael Is the Most Popular First Name in the US, New Census Data Shows
Melissa Ross—Moment Open/Getty Images
Liam and Olivia may be dominating the most popular baby name lists as of late (spoiler: the new 2025 list is no different) — but when it comes to people of all ages in the U.S., Michael is the clear frontrunner.
For the first time since the 1990 census, the federal government has released stats on the most common first names in the country. Based on data collected during the 2020 census, the top five were Michael, John, James, David, and Robert. Catching a theme? Well, the reason male names lead the rankings (even though women slightly outnumber men) is because there’s less variety in male names compared to female ones, Census Bureau senior geographer Joshua Comenetz noted in a report.
Mary and Maria were the top names for women, coming in at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. As for gender-neutral names, Harley, Emerson, Quinn, and Kerry seem to have roughly the same number of boys and men as girls and women.
The report also looked at last names, finding that eight of the top 15 surnames in 2020 (including Smith, Brown, and Johnson) have been among the most common since the first U.S. Census in 1790. See how the most popular names have changed over time — and check if yours made the list.
Together With Honeycomb
This New Toilet Paper Just Might Save the World
Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make toilet paper. We think that’s far too many, and Honeycomb agrees, which is why they created luxury three-ply made from bamboo. It feels just like regular high-end toilet paper, but doesn’t harm trees.
Why bamboo? It grows insanely fast — almost 100 times faster than the average tree — making it a sustainable option to save forests. Bamboo also has uniquely short fibers, which are perfect for creating soft toilet tissue you can feel good about. It’s biodegradable, 100% plastic-free, and Honeycomb delivers straight to you.
The best part? Code NICE35 will give 35% off your first shipment for the next 24 hours.
Some people are taking their well-being to a deeper level (literally). A new therapeutic protocol aims to help improve anxiety, depression, and overall mental health through meditative scuba dives.
French divemaster Vincent Meurice developed the unique approach, called Bathysmed, after finding that the hobby helped relieve his severe panic attacks. “Each time I’m underwater, I’m able to concentrate and stay where I am in the present moment,” Meurice told USA Today, crediting the combination of breathing techniques, body sensations, and visualizations involved in diving.
Kristin Valette-Wirth, the chief brand and membership officer for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, explained that scuba diving is “like underwater yoga in a way,” as the practice requires divers to slow down and take deep breaths. Plus, it’s an opportunity to tune out the rest of the world, as Meurice added: “There’s no stimuli in the water. You don’t have any phone notifications, and beeps, and alarms, and stuff like this. It’s just you and your breathing.”
So far, Meurice has trained about 150 instructors in Bathysmed across France, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and Malaysia, and has also set up retreats to introduce more people to the protocol. But if scuba diving isn’t your thing, keep in mind that research shows that just being near bodies of water can benefit psychological well-being.
Humanity
Dad Climbs UK’s 3 Highest Mountains While Carrying Weight of Late Toddler
Nathan Norris / SWNS
A grieving dad ascended the tallest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales wearing a vest the weight of his late daughter, so he could carry her with him every step of the way.
Nathan Norris, 44, completed the Three Peaks Challenge on April 17 in honor of Zoë, who died from cancer in 2017 just three months shy of her 2nd birthday. She’d been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 4 months old.
Accompanied by four of his friends, Norris tackled the mammoth challenge wearing a 22-pound vest, the same weight Zoë was when she died. He accomplished his goal of climbing all three peaks — Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales — in under a day, clocking in at 23 hours and 37 minutes.
“The idea was I’m carrying her through the whole challenge,” Norris told SWNS, noting that the added weight was tough, and his friends offered to take it for him at certain points. “For me it was part of the significance of doing it and digging in and showing the significance of the resilience my daughter showed through treatment. Grief is something that you carry every day and bereavement is something that you carry every day — it was also an expression of that.” Read more about the impressive feat and how much it’s raised for cancer research.
In Other News
What’s a World Cup without Shakira? The FIFA tournament’s 2026 anthem drops this week — watch the teaser (read more)
New York is testing an air conditioner battery program to help relieve grid pressure and keep residents cool (read more)
Daily doses of vitamin D may lower diabetes risk for those with certain genetic variations, a study found (read more)
Banksy’s newly restored “Migrant Child”mural was unveiled last week in Venice and will now tour the city (read more)
An elusive giant squid was detected in Western Australian waters for the the first time in over 25 years (read more)
Something We Love
Lifemoment/iStock
Dress My Run
Dress My Run ensures I’m almost always appropriately dressed for runs, even in unpredictable Midwestern weather. The free site uses local weather data to let you know how you should be layering up for a jog. You can adjust the preferences based on whether you typically run hot or cold, and it even lets you know when the UV index is such that you should lather up on the SPF. It doesn’t have an app, but you can bookmark the site on your phone’s home screen for easy access.
– Ally Mauch, Associate Editor
On a pear tree in Waunakee, Wisconsin, the branches are adorned with handwritten notes calling for peace, health, new dogs, and good grades. The Wishing Tree, nurtured by Deb Nies (fittingly pronounced “nice”), is an open invitation for passersby to hang their hopes, dreams, and prayers, so “they can put it out there into the world,” she said.
Photo of the Day
Don Arnold/WireImage
In a unanimous decision, Richard Lewer won Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize for his vibrant portrait of Iluwanti Ken, a Pitjantjatjara elder, traditional healer, and fellow artist. “In person, Iluwanti is a small woman but she carries immense, quiet authority,” Lewer said in a statement. “I painted her life‑size, so her presence meets the viewer directly. The yellow ochre background holds the intensity of the heat and light we were working in. She loves bright clothing, which feels inseparable from her spirit, and the traces of paint on her arm acknowledge her as a working artist, as if she has just stepped out of the studio.”
See the other pieces that made the shortlist.
These Are the Rolls-Royce of Hearing Aids (and They’re Under $100)
The internet is buzzing over these revolutionary, low-cost hearing aids. They are incredibly small — nearly invisible — and designed for all-day comfort. The affordable, high-quality device is improving lives every day by restoring confidence and making crystal-clear sound accessible to all. Why wait? Start hearing clearly for under $100.
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