Write down your weekly work goals before you get to work on Monday, and work on setting monthly or even yearly goals. The more you have to strive toward, the more motivated you will feel. Believe it or not, setting goals and meeting them actually will make your work week much more fun!
Work on genuinely complimenting at least one of your coworkers each day. This can help set a positive tone to your day. If you catch yourself making a negative comment, try to compensate with at least two positive comments. When your coworkers complain about work, you don’t have to tell them to stop, but you can try to naturally change the subject to something more positive. Spend time with positive coworkers so you don’t have to deal with any negativity. [1] X Expert Source Meredith Walters, MBACertified Career Coach Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.
If your office environment is pretty fun and open, you can even play harmless pranks on your co-workers, like placing a rubber spider on their desks, once in a while. Just make sure you know them well enough for this to not send the wrong message. Learn to laugh at yourself, too. If you take yourself less seriously, you’ll be able to relax and have more fun.
Being motivated may be easier than staying motivated. One way to stay motivated is to write a to-do list at the beginning of your work day or work week and to take satisfaction in crossing each item off the list. Talk to your coworkers about projects you’re really excited about. This will help you be motivated and to get excited about your work. You can even share your results with your coworkers, which will also make your job more fun.
Your job should help you make the most of your skills and interests. If you feel like you’re not using your interests or your best talents in the workplace, then it may be harder to have fun at work. Your sense of purpose can lie in helping people. Whether you’re a lifestyle blogger or a grief counsellor, you can have a sense of purpose in the fact that you’re making a person’s life better and that this couldn’t happen without you.
If you’re having a really bad day and just want to be left alone, then don’t force yourself to plaster a fake grin on your face. Be kind but quiet to your co-workers and do your own thing until you feel better. Forcing it too much can actually make you feel worse. Also, you shouldn’t try too hard to make everyone in the office have fun. Not everyone in the office will get wrapped up in the spirit of having fun, and you have to respect that, too.
Stick some magnetic poetry on the fridge and have fun creating unique phrases with your coworkers. As corny as it sounds, a little basketball and basketball hoop can lead to some fun activity and conversation during breaks, as would a little Koosh ball that you and your coworkers can bring around. If you just came back from vacation, bring back some trinkets as gifts for your coworkers or some photographs to show what you’ve been up to. Bring board games that you can play during your lunch break.
Of course, you should talk to your boss first to make sure this is okay. You can argue that it’ll lead to higher happiness and productivity.
You can even ask if you can spruce up the common area in your workplace. Adding some funny posters, some gorgeous paintings, or some potted plants can make the workplace seem more homey and fun. Bring in activities that can make your office feel more communal. Bake cookies or bring in a partially-completed crossword puzzle and ask for help with it.
Another fun thing you can do with your coworkers is to join a volunteering organization together. This can help you contribute toward a good cause while bonding. If people in your office seem to like each other but are hesitant to start anything, then you can take the initiative to organize some social events. You’ll be the center of the fun and your co-workers will be grateful.
When someone passes by, make a habit of looking up and saying hello and even having a quick conversation some of the time. This will make your work day more fun and exciting for sure. If you start looking up from your computer more, then other co-workers will follow suit. You can start a trend of more fun and sociability in the workplace.
If one of your co-workers hears that you’ve been praising him or her, then he’ll like you even more for it. Everybody wins. If you’re in a conversation that is filled with gossip, you don’t have to castigate people for it, but you can try to kindly excuse yourself, even if you just say you have to make a phone call real quick. Alternately, you can try to change the subject to something more positive.
The more you talk to people, the more you’ll look forward to seeing friendly faces, and the more fun you’ll have in the workplace. You don’t have to be best friends with your co-workers to laugh and joke around with them a bit. Instead of sending an email or a Skype message to a co-worker who is working just a few feet away from you, make an effort to get up and talk to him or her in person. These small daily interactions will make for a more fun work day.
Don’t make excuses for why you can’t be friends with your co-workers; if you think that one person is too old, too young, or too wrapped up in family to be your friend, then you’ll be missing out on some great friendships. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should try to date your co-workers; romantic relationships in the office may lead to some fun initially, but will definitely lead to discomfort and awkwardness down the line. Make an extra effort to be friendly. Your co-workers may be wishing for a more friendly relationship but they be afraid to take the first step.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator Walk to a co-worker’s desk to have a conversation instead of sending an email Do five minutes of basic stretching or exercising at your desk Take breaks to walk outside, even if it’s just to get lunch or coffee
If you’re driving, listen to a book on tape, make a phone date with your best friend (as long as you have a headpiece), or even listen to a lecture about the fall of the Roman empire. If you’re on a train, read a magazine, set up fun plans for your weekend, or write in a journal.
Try to relax during lunch and to enjoy talking to your co-workers instead of rushing through your food to get back to your work. This social time is important for regaining your energy and it will actually allow you to have more fun when you get back to work, not to mention to have more fun while you eat. Another way to have fun during lunch is to mix it up. If you’re in the habit of grabbing lunch with your coworkers a few times a week, try having Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Thai food throughout the week so you don’t get bored with the same old food.
Breaks also give you something to look forward to and keep you motivated. If you tell yourself, “Once I finish this report, I’ll check if Josh and Andi from the bachelorette are still together,” you’ll be much more motivated than if you think, “Once I finish this report. . . I’ll start the next report. ” Even a short break to rest your eyes to meditate, rake your Zen garden, or just to stare outside the window for a few minutes can have a big impact on your productivity as well as how much fun you’re having.
