Five Tips to Make Work Fun

 

Emily Madill

 

How much time do you spend working each week? More importantly, how much fun are you having while you are there?

 

Work doesn’t have to be monotonous and dull. With a little shift in perspective, we can make work fun.

 

None of us are on autopilot, we choose how we act and react to life on a moment to moment basis. With a little intention and attention, we can choose to adopt an attitude that is cheerful and focused on making the most of our moments at work. Giving ourselves permission to have more fun might even encourage others in our workplace to do the same – our attitudes are contagious.

 

If you work alone, there are still huge benefits in making your work environment conducive to fun. It is always more uplifting to be in our own company when we are focused on what we are grateful for – as opposed to what it feels like when we obsess over what isn’t going well.

 

It is possible to create and inject more fun into your work, whether you are alone or surrounded by a team. Here are some tips I use to add more fun in my work day. Try them on and see how they fit for you.

 

1. Smile more

 

The more we smile, the better we feel. This is a simple, yet powerful trick. If you want to add more pep to your step, start here. According to an article in Psychology Today:

 

“Each time you smile you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness.” 

 

2. Intention goes a long way

 

Don’t wait for fun to come knock on your door. Take control by setting a daily or hourly intention to inject more fun into the project or task you are currently focused on at work. When we decide to have a more playful outlook, it is easier to create opportunities to experience more joy. Productivity and light heartedness can co-exist together quite nicely.

 

3. Ease up and be fun

 

If we want more fun in our work day, sometimes it will require us to stop taking ourselves so seriously. Now this doesn’t mean for a second we stop being professional, productive, or respectful in our work environments. What it does allow for, is more space to actually enjoy our work and enjoy the people we work with. If we want more fun, we need to open up to the idea we can Be Fun. This is actually easier than one might think – just be yourself.

 

4. Set the tone

 

We can be creative and add physical elements of fun in our work environments to set the tone. This of course will look different for everyone and every workplace. You can dress your workspace up with color and reminders of what fun looks like to you. Depending on where you work, you might be able to listen to music and set the tone that way. Or maybe you can get outside and enjoy fresh air and freedom on a break, or during a meeting with a client. There are an infinite number of ways we can enhance our work environments to allow for a greater sense of fun and play in our day.

 

5. Take care of yours truly

 

Taking care of ourselves is one of the best ways to improve our likelihood of enjoyment at work and in life. It is so much easier to feel balanced and open when we take care of our basic needs, like: eating healthy regular meals, exercising consistently, staying hydrated, and getting proper sleep. The same holds true for taking care of our emotional and spiritual health. When we invest time in a regular self-care practice, we strengthen our inner bond and become more resilient in the face of life’s obstacles. Appointing ourselves to be in charge of our personal health, happiness and fun is empowering. When we decide it is up to us to create fulfillment, we are no longer waiting for other people or external circumstances to direct us toward joy at work and at home. We get to decide that part.

 

So what about you, how might you add more fun to your work day today?