My daughter told me she hated her job. She had been hired at a popular restaurant/lounge with swanky decor, and she was beaming with happiness to have been selected for the position.
A few weeks passed, and she discovered the environment was less than friendly; the position had too much downtime and not nearly as many hours as promised. She rhetorically asked how often she could spray and wipe down the menu during a 6-hour shift. I rhetorically replied, “That must be a pretty clean menu!”
Her swanky restaurant job as a hostess wasn’t what she thought it would be. She dreaded going in.
“It’s important to love your job.”
“One should never stay in a job they hate.” More wisdom.
I work in a hospital emergency department with various odours and wounds, vomit, etc., and often dreadfully long hours. We see people receiving devastating news; we see grumpy patients throw urinals at their nurses; I watched a male nurse, a friend of mine, get punched in the face. The job can be soul-crushing… sometimes, but I love it.
Not everyone loves their job, so I have a roster full of fun little mental games and oddities that get me through my workday that anyone can adopt. Full permission granted.
Leave for work extra early
I like to arrive at work 30 to 45 minutes early. I’ll step into a coffee shop, relax, and slowly prep myself for the day. This way, I doubly enjoy my double shot espresso, and the day has started on a good note.
Alternatively, I’ll find a nice space outside and absorb the sun and nature, thoroughly appreciating the moment. Finding joy in the small things can have big, positive effects on my mental wellbeing.
Beautify your workspace
Just today, someone mentioned how cute my workspace was. I don’t even have a desk, as I work in a hospital, but I have a table hiding in a corner, set up with a little pink fan for absolute comfort, and my delightful coffee mug. I happened to have a sunflower bookmarker on the table, which made it extra special.
Adorn your desk with funky toys, cute miniature succulents, and amusing trinkets. Turning your space into a small Instagram-type abode will add a touch of your personality and make your day more enjoyable.
I find when my ‘workspace’ is perfectly suited to me it makes for a better day, it feels like home. Add a coffee in an extra special mug, and you’re set.
Add colour and liveliness to where you’ll spend the next 8 hours. It makes a difference. Be crazy with it, even!
Nicknames because why not?
I’m not sure when I started this, but having good colleagues with a sense of humour can greatly improve your day. I have nicknames for a few work-friends and they have names for me. A real-life example would be ‘Lisa-Lisa-Bo-Bisa’. Of course, I’m ‘Lily-Lily-Bo-Billy’; it’s just that extra something that makes a big difference to break the monotony. Another fellow calls me Special K, and I call him Mister H.
Solo Breaks
As much as I like my colleagues, I also need time for myself. I avoid the crowded, stuffy lunchroom and find a corner outside or elsewhere in the building. I’ll watch YouTube or Netflix on my laptop, plug in, and tune out completely. I remember my days in the office and how so many people had their lunch breaks at their desks. Find a corner instead and make it your routine corner that belongs solely to you. Get away from your workspace, literally.
Watching the clock
It’s the worst, right? I have a solution for that. I look forward to one hour before my break by acknowledging my one-hour countdown to my first break, second break, lunch, and home time.
To break this up further, I’ll set a specific time every day to sneak out and make tea. I’ll also perform my countdown ritual for that! Therefore, it seems that you are constantly only one hour away from a better moment. The one-hour countdown has been my saving grace for years.
Theme day Fridays
I once worked as a receptionist at a posh corporate law firm, and believe it or not, they knew how to have fun! We had theme days and prizes.
A good example could be a favourite ugly sweater day or blue and red day with your colleagues. Getting little prizes, such as an inexpensive coffee shop gift card for the best-dressed person, would add so much morale to the work environment.
Celebrate birthdays
Get the cake, make a quick speech, and watch the youthful excitement of your colleagues. This breaks up the day beautifully, and everyone looks forward to treats at work!
Here’s a short clip to brighten your day. You can use humor to brighten your workplace, too. Don’t worry too much about Milton. Spoiler: he ends up doing very well at the end of the movie.
Milton Cake Scene from Office Space, courtesy of YouTube
Organize outside events
I don’t participate in this very often myself, but I know a lot of my co-workers love softball nights, pub nights, and game nights. These events build great rapport, give everyone something to look forward to, and provide a fun topic around the water cooler.
These tips can break the mundane in your day and foster team camaraderie. A little fun at work always helps my day go by swifter and never fails to bring a positive and fun experience to my work environment!
Which tip will you use to make your workplace a little happier?
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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