Make Way For Play In Your Day – 3 Fun Ways To Break Up The Workday

You’re a busy professional, we get it. But that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have fun throughout the day. In fact, incorporating some lighter, fun activities into your work day can help to reduce stress, increase your creativity, and help you engage and connect better with your workmates. The proof is in the science: When you’re having fun, you release dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, all of which helps you to feel more rewarded and positive.  

So, what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present to enhance your work experience – especially if things feel a little overwhelming or out of your control. Below, we’ve outlined 3 very simple ways to add some lightness to your day, you can spend 30 seconds on them, or 30 minutes. The day ahead is yours! 

1. Incorporate icebreakers into your meetings to get to know each other better – even if you think you already know each other well 

Some people might dismiss icebreakers as cringe-worthy or trivial, but in actual fact, icebreaker activities can play a crucial role in bringing a team closer together, helping them work more effectively. My colleague Tom Brind puts it perfectly in his deep dive on icebreakers here: "Breaking the ice takes on various meanings. But in its essence, breaking the ice means moving beyond superficialities and delving deeper.”  

So, the next time you’re in a meeting, don’t be afraid to instigate an icebreaker question – it could be something like, ‘What are 3 of your gifts or strengths?’ Or something more trivial like, ‘What is the story of your name?’ Who knows, you might just come away with a new perspective.  

2. Add some gamification components to your meeting so you can have some friendly competition 

Whether you’re in the office together or chatting over a video call, there are so many ways to add a little spice to your daily, weekly, or monthly meetings. Splitting into teams, you and your workmates could go head-to-head in a Murder Mystery or even an Escape Room (confirming it is possible to do these virtually!), or why not try Two Truths and a Lie? Like icebreakers, these games can serve as both a fun activity to break up your day, while also allowing you to learn more about your colleagues and better connect with them as a result. 

3. Maximise your lunch break!  

Sitting at the desk scoffing down a sandwich in tandem with answering email after email has happened to the best of us, but it’s so important to remember that your lunch break is designed to be exactly that – a break! Instead of getting into a habit of eating and working concurrenly, make yourself disengage by going for a walk, or trying a new hobby like drawing. Or, if you’re game, have a dance party! Moving your body does wonders for your brain (again, it’s science), and a little groove can reset your mind and freshen you up to be even more productive after your lunch break - bonus points if you do it in the office!   

Whether it’s one of the above, or anything else – if you have the opportunity to add some fun to your day, take it! What do you have to lose?