Pages

Friday, April 6, 2012

F: Fun--the work of play

Why wait for Halloween to be Batman?
Pediatric health care can be a serious business, but kids won’t put up with that for long. They make the best patients because the work of children is play. Their job is to grow and learn how to be semi-normal  somewhat responsible adults.
How do they do it? Through interacting with their world by playing. They want the adults around them to be fun too. You can’t just look at their ears. You have to find dinosaurs or Spiderman. They’re more cooperative when you let them blow on their brother instead of just taking a deep breath. Be careful asking them to blow out birthday candles, unless you have time for the story of their birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese.
            Now I know all this won’t necessarily translate to grown up things—I mean, who wants their gyn looking for SpongeBob, right?—but children remind us that life is fun and even work can be play. They’re resilient, not jaded by life experiences. Even those who go through the worst of times will play when given the chance.
Why spend thousands of dollars and invest a lot of time in something you won’t enjoy? Even if you did, why stay doing it if it makes you miserable? And yet we still think of work as a four letter word. When did we forget the playing part of work?  
Fun isn’t playing around all day, though. It can be overdone, especially in the practical joke realm. There are times when a more serious attitude is called for. I have to say, the best jokes at work came at the unexpected times.  
            How can you be more fun without being unprofessional?
1. Think about the jokes and make them meaningful. If a co-worker has to come in everyday and fix their desk then it stops being funny.

2. Post funny cartoons.

3. Send random notes or cards to people, especially those that fit a situation at work. Send them anonymously and let them figure out who it came from.

4. Laugh when things are funny, especially if it happens to you. Weird stuff happens.

5.  Have an Easter egg hunt--our office has enjoyed it this week!

The number one thing you can do to have fun at work is be passionate about what you do. You won’t always like it and sometimes work is hard, but if you believe in it, you’ll enjoy what you do. On most days, you’ll have fun doing it.

What do you do to have fun at work?

11 comments:

  1. I loved this post! It made me laugh out loud when you said "who wants their gyn looking for Spongebob" :)

    I used to work in a call centre and we used to always be coming up with little ways to make our coworkers smile. Pen moustaches are always a winner :)

    Nikki – inspire nordic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea. I like your post about cozy Fridays.

      Delete
  2. O the irony of posting about work fun when you have to work on a holiday weekend. Wearing my plaid shoes today for fun.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I might want my GYN looking like George Clooney, though.

    Being a school based SWKR my initial fun is limited, but I enjoy each child encounter because they are so precious. And it is always my mission to crack a joke to make them smile before I send them on their way.

    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to admit, mine isn't bad looking, but George would be awesome!

      Delete
  4. Great post! I work in a primary school as a teaching assistant and I have to say that we find ways to have lots of fun! We teaching assistants entertain each other by, maybe, dancing across the hall instead of walking, playing hopscotch at playtime while the kids watch us as though we're bonkers and giving them silly answers to their questions once in a while. Working with kids is great! I can't imagine working solely with adults now - I think my mental age is closer to the kids'! I've heard stories from friends of pranks happening in offices, which i don't think I'd like - not my sort of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this post - I'm a playwright and professional children's performer, so my fun is performing for kids! Love it!

    Texas Playwright Chick

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for all the wonderful posts. Today at work we did the bunny hop. Someone dressed as Clifford and lead the way.
    Even in adult worlds you can think of subtle things that are fun, I just can't think of any right now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post! BAtman made me smile - although if we all dressed like that - there may be some whispers about our sanity going around! I'm not working right now but I always have a laugh with my twins...laughter is the best sound :)
    Stopping by from A to Z challenge #915
    Leigh @oneandoneequalstwinfun.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love to write, and doing this A to Z campaign, I've been having fun. Who would have ever thought w o r k was spelled f u n.

    I just A to Z-ing it. Have a great Easter weekend.

    ReplyDelete