When was the last time you had fun?
Not the “that was a good movie” version of fun. I’m talking about the “smile till your face hurts” kind of fun or as my Mom says “I laughed so hard a tear ran down my leg!”
Fun plays a crucial role in success. If fun isn’t a staple in your work, you are at a significant disadvantage.
Some may disagree with me. They argue work is for work and home is for fun. I don’t buy it. Not today. With the complexities of your job and the demands on your time – you must integrate fun into all aspects of your job (and life).
Consider how many ways fun contributes to success:
Fun increases passion – Passion make things effortless; the easier the work, the more you get done. When you feel passion your output, creativity, energy and initiation are all higher. How can that not create more success?
Fun recharges your battery – All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It is true. Look at your calendar each week and have a “fun” event to pull you through the rough spots. Fun makes it easier to hit the ground running.
Fun creates perspective – at the end of the day – it is just a job. Don’t take it or yourself too seriously. Having fun keeps your grounded in life and prevents the doom and gloom of daily fire fighting.
Fun builds humility – if you can’t laugh at your self something is wrong. Self-deprecation builds positive relations and perceptions. Don’t take your self too seriously. Don’t try to be perfect – be human.
Fun manages fear – it is hard, if not impossible, to experience fun and fear at the same time (unless you are an adrenaline junkie who likes high roller coasters and bungee jumping). Pushing your comfort zone facilitates growth. Train your mind to see discomfort as “fun.” Embrace the trepidation and benefit from new experiences!
Fun keeps you young – “maturity” is over rated. Watch kids play and see their energy and enthusiasm. Watch the joyful abundence in their activities. Conversely, watch “old” people. Look at the propensity toward planning, preparation and security. When was the last time you really let your hair down and got silly?!
Fun is a leadership technique – who do you want to work for – someone who brings levity and enjoyment to the task or someone who is all business, all the time. It’s a no-brainer. What are you doing to bring fun to your office? Do you add a smile to the lips of others? Are you doing anything to help make it different? Get to know your people, understand their definition of “fun.” Be creative in finding ways of integrating it into your leadership.
Fun is a “mindset” – Keeping ‘fun’ as a mindset adds a welcomed does of perspective to your work. It is easy to get caught up in the demands of customers, bosses and colleagues. It is easy to drink the kool-aid and think work is a matter of life and death. Unless you are in the life-saving business, it’s not! Learn to have fun in the most stressful of periods; take time to laugh; train your brian for the positive.
Do the Work:
- Review your calendar for the next two weeks. Identify the activities already on your calendar that should be fun. Review them; look forward to them.
- Look for meetings, interactions and/or events that are ripe for fun. Be aware of the circumstances capable of fun in advance; Be deliberate and introduce some “fun” when the event occurs.
- Start a Fun Journal. Write down everything that sounds “fun” to you. It can be big or small. By actively documenting “fun” activities you create a reference tool for adding fun to each week.
- Track the “fun” you have on a weekly basis. Strive to increase this by 20%.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Avoid approaching work in an overly starched manner.
Fun is all around us. Fun is available for free in most any event or circumstance. Make it a priority. Build your awareness of its’ importance and pursue fun every day.