Where's the fun?

Something to Try...

Try asking: How can I have fun at work today? 

This could be fun in the work.
Or it could be fun between the work.

Either way, think of fun as a state of mind. A way to be, not a thing to do. 

Of course “fun” comes in all shapes and sizes - and means different things to different people.

For me, fun in work might mean…

• Making sure each week includes a good balance of projects and tasks that I find stimulating or rewarding 
• Choosing to adopt a light and playful energy as I work
• Playing some tunes
• Taking my work outside or to a cafe 
• Bouncing around ideas with a colleague

... and 3 Reasons Why

1. When we’re having fun, we think more freely. The worst way to solve a problem is by staring at it with gritted teeth.   Instead, having fun is about dancing playfully with the problem. When we’re playful, we're more open to trying new things, and less concerned about making mistakes. We’re less worried about the Perfect Answer, and more interested in trying different things on for size. That way creativity lies. 
   
   
2. When we’re having fun, we cope better with setbacks and challenges. Faced with a stressful situation, a playful mindset is less likely to react with fear, and more likely to respond with a 'How fascinating!' attitude*. This is partly down to mindset, but it's also physiological - laughing, or simply engaging in enjoyable activity, can help to balance the hormones that can so easily get out of whack when we’re stressed.
   * "How fascinating!" is the wonderful catch cry of Benjamin Zander, co-author of The Art of Possibility.
     
3. When we’re having fun, we look forward to coming back tomorrow. When the alarm goes off tomorrow morning, I want to look forward to the day ahead. I want the same to be true for everyone in my team. Joy is not something that should wait until work is finished; I want to discover it within my work. That doesn’t mean everything will be fun - work almost always includes stuff that’s boring, or feels like a grind. But finding/creating moments of pleasure builds connection, engagement and energy.    

The big reminder here? To challenge the “good work should feel like hard work” mindset.  

As George Bernard Shaw famously said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”  

What about you? What’s your version of fun in work?

Cheers,
Simon