Having Fun at Work
Most of us do not have ‘fun’ at work. And that’s a problem.
For many of us, work is simply exhausting. It’s a daily chore that we dread and seems to sap all our energy. We wake up feeling tired, mourn the loss of another day, and drag ourselves through the motions ticking it out only because we have to. When we are unenthused about our work, it leads to poorer quality and less productivity. This can make us doubt our effectiveness as a professional.
Work does not have to be synonymous with drudgery – in fact, we can make work a more pleasant experience if we put some effort into making it ‘fun.’ All of us have surely experienced that when we tell stories about having fun – the best times of our day or lives – we glow, we feel happy, and while telling those stories, we feel energized. By infusing some fun into our work lives, we can become happier and more motivated individuals. This will benefit us personally and positively impact the company we work for too.
By fun, I do not mean constantly playing pranks or organizing happy hours – though those can be fun too. Fun at work can mean simply enjoying and finding fulfillment in our tasks, whether through implementing new and creative ideas, collaborating with colleagues, or engaging in activities that boost morale.
So how can we make work fun?
We need to prioritize three things – playfulness, human connection, and flow.
Playfulness
Being playful means having fun, not taking things too seriously, and being open to new experiences. It’s about being silly sometimes, enjoying a good laugh, and using your imagination.
Human Connection
Human connection is about maintaining positive relationships with our colleagues, supervisors, and clients. This means practicing good communication skills, being compassionate and empathetic, creating a supportive work environment, and fostering a sense of community in the workplace.
Flow
Flow refers to being fully immersed in an activity that brings us joy and challenges us at the same time. It’s about finding tasks or projects that we are passionate about and truly enjoying the process of doing them.
These three are not at all hard. But one of the main reasons we’re not having enough fun is that we’re not prioritizing it. We must make it a priority. That doesn’t mean that you need to mark a 20 minutes slot for ‘having fun’ in your day but to be aware of your surroundings and open to possibilities. Having fun is important not just for our mental well-being, but some studies have shown that it is also important for our physical well-being.
I bet that making work fun is really fun! Try these three things out and see how they can improve your work experience. Who knows, you might actually start looking forward to Monday mornings!
