Is It Possible To Actually Have Fun At Work?
The idea of having fun at work seems like an oxymoron, right? I mean, the words fun and work don’t even look good together in a sentence.
Work is seen as something that you have to do, rather than something that you want to do. The reality is that work takes up a huge amount of our time, so it makes sense to find ways to be happy in the workplace. In fact, it's the one place in our lives where we actually need to have some fun because it causes us the most stress.
In this post, we will explore the idea of having fun at work and look at some tips on how to make it more enjoyable.
Why It’s Important To Have Fun At Work
Your job is the place you go to earn a living. This is where you have to be professional, do your job and collect a salary. If you’re someone that spends most of their time at work, then it’s important to find a way to enjoy that time as much as you can.
If work is fun, then it seems less like a chore, and can actually be a source of fulfilment. Having fun at work boosts morale, prevents burnout, fosters creativity and increases collaboration. Your company will actually benefit from you having fun because a happy employee is a productive employee.
Is It Possible To Have Fun At Work?
The answer to that question is, YES!
It is possible to have fun at work and there is no excuse not to. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, there are many ways to make it more pleasant to be at work. I’m not saying go crazy and turn your workplace into a circus. But, there are little things you can do to create a relaxed environment that won’t upset management.
Keep in mind, there are limits to what you can do in different work environments. For example, you can’t have loud dance parties if you work in a call centre, or run an underground casino in - well - anywhere. As long as you keep your fun within reasonable and legal bounds, you should be fine.
Things You Can Do To Have Fun At Work
Here are a few ideas to combat stress and boredom in the workplace.
Organize an office sports team.
If there's space in or around your workplace, you can play sports like basketball, futsal, miniature golf or bocce. Start a mini league amongst your coworkers and put up a small prize for the winner.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on the equipment. You can even make your own or start a fund in the office. The possibilities are endless.
Build a playroom.
Set up a designated area where you can play foosball, table tennis, card games or board games. You can use this area to relax and enjoy yourself during your break or after work. You can even get supervisors and managers involved. Dice games are perfect for levelling the playing field, as there’s very little skill involved.
Celebrate birthdays and milestones.
Just because you have to work on your birthday, doesn’t mean you can’t have a little bit of joy on your special day. Organise small parties for employees' birthdays, or other occasions they might be celebrating.
Create happy hours and celebrate employee milestones. This can be events like “one year with the team”, or “10 days without someone farting in the office". Celebrate colleagues’ accomplishments by letting them know how proud you are. Get creative and brainstorm ideas in the lunch room.
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Start an office band.
Show off your musical talents and jam with colleagues who share your passion for music. You don’t have to be the next Metallica, just set aside some time to get together and pump out some funky tunes. Who knows, you might even be good enough to play local gigs and take it on the road.
Decorate your workspace.
And finally, add a personal touch to your workspace. Put pictures, plants and other decorations around your workstation, office or workshop. Anything that puts a smile on your face.
This helps create a positive work environment that can reduce the stress you have to deal with during the day. You can even take it a step further and create art projects. Come up with weekly themes and compete with your colleagues for the best artwork. The winner can receive cupcakes from the rest of the team, or something similar.
Final Thoughts
Remember that it doesn't have to cost you money or time to enjoy your work. Having fun at work can be as simple as sharing a joke or a quick chat with a colleague. It also helps forge meaningful friendships. The key is finding ways to make work fun and rewarding.
You can have a great time at work if you find the right balance. By incorporating some of the tips in this post, you can make your workplace a fun environment for yourself and your colleagues. So go on, be silly and enjoy yourself.
Related:
3 Ways To Determine If An Employer Supports Mental Health At Work
The Therapeutic Benefits Of Art Journaling For Career Professionals
Meet The Writer!
Greetings. My name is Edwin Kannemeyer (or just Ed or Edi). I’m a freelance writer, living the write-life to the fullest. Currently, I lay my pen down in the self-improvement niche, with a focus on working parents. Helping people work from home and live happy, fulfilling lives is my goal as a writer. I would love to hear from you, so get in touch with me on LinkedIn or edikannemeyer@gmail.com
