We think of work as, well, work. No doubt you hear the weekly Monday lament, but work doesn’t have to be all bad, in fact it doesn’t need to be bad at all!
Having fun at work has many benefits, including minimizing boredom and fatigue, relieving tension and stress, improving morale, inspiring innovation and creativity, reducing conflict, and improving mental health.
Our life experience is guided by our attitude, and finding ways to have fun at work can turn a bad day into a truly great one! Fun isn’t something that happens to us- it’s something we create. To have more fun you have to be fun.
For this article I turned to the funniest person I know- my husband, Corey. Together we came up with our best ideas for creating fun and enjoyment at work. The great thing is all of these ideas create fun in every aspect of one’s life.
- Pick a Partner
Teaming up is a great way to have more fun in anything you do. Sharing a boring task makes it go by faster, and collaborating on interesting projects maximizes pleasure.
In addition, we humans are not truly solitary creatures, and partnering with someone else satisfies our desire to be social.
- Lighten Up
Don’t take work or life too seriously! Your job is important, and it may even be serious, but it’s more important to keep it in perspective and have a little fun when you can. Very few of us boast jobs that are life or death, and even those that do know you have to find ways to keep it light. You can’t be serious, stressed out and happy, so embrace happiness instead!
- Play Games
Games can add fun to your workday. You can play trivia, guess the song/band games, what would you do if you won the lottery, and so much more. Most of us can add a game to our workday from time-to-time, with co-workers in person or remotely. Get playful!
- Participate
Join a professional organization or be on committee to build relationships with professionals and peers. Being part of a professional group is not only good for your career; it can help you keep perspective when you start to feel stressed. (Here’s a hint, your job is not the be-all end-all of your life.)
Participation in organizations and committees has the added benefit of adding variety to your day. No more excuses – get involved!
- Give Props
When you see someone doing a great job, let him or her know! Better yet, pass the praise on to their supervisor. Sharing positive feedback is sure to improve your mood. Yes, your mood. Plus, the more you recognize others, the more likely you will be recognized.
- Give Compliments
A really fun way to brighten your day is to compliment someone else. You can even do it anonymously by leaving a kind note for someone to find. I dare you to compliment someone else and not feel great!
“I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.” ~Thomas Edison
- Take Breaks
Find more enjoyment in your day by taking regular breaks. Take a fun break to try one of the ideas on this list!
Think you’re too busy to take a break – think again. Taking breaks can improve your productivity.
- Share a Treat
Bringing a snack to share with others is a fun way to break the ice with co-workers you don’t know well, and say thanks to those you do.
You can break from the tradition of brownies in the break room and bring a healthy snack to share. (You can send those brownies my way- I love them!)
- Start a Competition
Starting a competition with your co-workers can be a great way to add a little fun to your day! You can compete for bragging rights, Happy Hour drinks, or a homemade trophy.
Your competition can be based on your work or completely non-work related. Find an interest you share with your peers and have fun with it!
- Learn Something New
Mastering a new skill builds your resume and your confidence. Volunteer for a special project, take a class, or study on your own. Applying your new skills in your day-to-day job can make your work more enjoyable.
- Survey Your Peers
Solicit ideas from your co-workers for ways to enliven your office. Your peers are sure to appreciate sharing ideas and you just might come up with a new idea that will shake things up (in a good way!).
- Be Spontaneous
I’m all for planning and preparation but let’s face it, fun is often spontaneous. Try doing something unexpected and new-to-you to add a little fun to your day.
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” ~Dale Carnegie
- Add Color
Color affects our moods and an easy way to boost your mood is add color to your work environment. Colorful office supplies, toys, and coffee cups can add more fun to your day. Adding color to my office not only helps me stay organized it cheers me up when I walk in every day.
- Celebrate Your Accomplishments
When you do a great job or complete a project, don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishment. Stop for a moment and recognize your achievement! Treat yourself in some small way and enjoy the moment.
- Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Do something nice for someone else, or yourself, and you’ll make your day great! A kind word, a small favor, or unexpected gift can really make your day fun!
- Challenge Yourself
Doing the same thing every day is boring, but you can find ways to challenge yourself to keep it interesting. If your task is measured by time or volume, try challenging yourself to beat your average productivity.
Another way to challenge yourself is to take on another aspect of a job – even if it isn’t in your job description.
- Smile
Smiling is contagious! When you smile you improve your mood, and soon others will be smiling right back at you.
- Enjoy Yourself
Decide to have fun in whatever you do. Think of the most enjoyable part of your workday and write it down every day. Keep the fun times at the top of your mind and you’re certain to have many of them!
“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” ~Dr. Seuss
I love your comments! What other ways do you add fun to your workday?