Are work and fun opposites? I think not. I have had some of my greatest experiences of having fun while working. But how many people get up on Monday morning and think, “ Oh boy, I can’t wait to get to work and start having fun.” Yet the potential for having fun at work is endless. I am reminded of the words of the Greek philosopher Epictetus who said, “It is not the situation which matters, but the view we take of it.”
After all, working in your garden may be hard work, but it is (or can be) fun. I recall having fun digging out from a 33-inch snowstorm when all my neighbors were also outside and we were all shoveling together.
So why do we often not find our work to be fun? Well, let’s start with an analysis of what constitutes fun. For that I direct you to Catherine Price, author of “The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again” and “How to Break Up with your Phone”. Her TED Talk “Why Fun is the Secret to a Healthier Life” is worth 12 minutes of your time:
One of my favorite lessons in fun at work comes from the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. They produced books and a video called “Fish!” which explains how they created fun and engagement with their customers through a simple change of attitude. Have a look:
Inspired by Fish!, amazing things are happening in workplaces, which increase productivity and make employees and customers want to be a part of what is going on.
So, I urge you to have more fun at whatever you are doing, at work and in your private time.
- Herb