{"id":27791,"date":"2024-12-17T02:31:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/?p=27791"},"modified":"2024-12-17T02:31:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:31:27","slug":"make-work-more-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/make-work-more-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips to Make Work More Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know that when you\u2019re at work, the most important thing to do is to get your job done. After all, it\u2019s what you were hired to do! However, getting through your daily workload doesn\u2019t have to be a drag; if you work towards creating a positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>, finding <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> is as easy as pie!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re prone to watching the clock during long shifts or you find yourself dreading every workday, this is the article for you. Simply read on and find all the answers to questions like \u2018<\/span>How to have fun at work<\/span> (while staying productive),\u2019 or \u2018What is a happy work environment.\u2019 By the time you\u2019ve reached the end, you\u2019ll be an expert on all things <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>-related!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why It\u2019s Important to Have Fun at Work<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When people think of \u2018fun at work,\u2019 the idea often seems far-fetched or problematic<\/span>, but this really isn\u2019t the case. This is because having fun releases dopamine (otherwise known as that feel-good neurotransmitter that\u2019s closely linked with motivation and learning)! What\u2019s more, the process of <\/span>releasing dopamine<\/span><\/a> is also said to improve our ability to solve problems, be creative, and learn new things.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If those facts aren\u2019t enough for you, we have even more studies to back ourselves up. The <\/span>University of Warwick<\/span><\/a> found that happy employees are, on average, 12% more productive than unhappy workers. Positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>s that promote fun<\/span><\/a> also <\/span>reduce stress levels<\/span><\/a>, improve teamwork and reduce the number of days off employees take. In short, there are tonnes of reasons to prioritise <\/span>happiness at work<\/span><\/a> and positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>; you just need to know how to start!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Demystifying <\/span>Workplace Culture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before delving into what makes for a positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span> (and one that allows for <\/span>happiness at work<\/span>), we need to define what <\/span>workplace culture<\/span> actually<\/span><\/i> is. In the simplest of terms, <\/span>workplace culture<\/span> can be defined<\/span><\/a> as the \u2018shared values, norms, and behaviours that define the work environment and how employees interact.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are tonnes of different ways that companies build their <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>; some prioritise teamwork, some prioritise creativity, and others value goal attainment above all else. Finding the perfect environment for you may take a little trial and error but stick with it! Trust us, if you find your perfect fit, finding <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> will be much, much easier.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a Happy Work Environment?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

So, the next step in fostering <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> is to figure out if you\u2019re working in a happy work environment and, if not, what you need to do to improve it. Some of the key indicators of a happy work environment are:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Autonomy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s face it; nobody likes to have their manager <\/span>constantly <\/span><\/i>looking over their shoulder. Once you\u2019ve proven yourself as capable in your role, it definitely helps happiness levels when you\u2019re given a little bit of freedom.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workplace Relationships<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

We all know that having <\/span>friends at work<\/span><\/a> could mean the difference between a good shift and a bad shift. If everyone in the workplace is putting in the effort to bond with each other and get to know each other a little better, that\u2019s a huge green flag for a great <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Work-Life Balance<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

While we all want to excel at work, success shouldn\u2019t come at the cost of our personal lives. For a truly positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>, there needs to be an emphasis on balancing professional and personal matters; if the balance doesn\u2019t exist, employees are at risk of burnout!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is an Unhappy Work Environment?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Micromanaging<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s pretty hard to prioritise <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> when every little action is being overseen by a controlling manager. <\/span>Workplace culture<\/span>s that allow for micromanaging aren\u2019t indicative of a very happy work environment; while some guidance is super helpful, you should have at least a bit of autonomy at work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unreasonable Workload<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Look, we get it. We all want to show our boss just how much we can get done and how helpful we can really be. However, by doing too much too fast, you\u2019re setting yourself up for burnout! Make sure you take things steady so that you can <\/span>feel better in your role<\/span><\/a> for longer.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lack of Appreciation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re giving it your all in the workplace, it\u2019s reasonable to want a little bit of recognition for all the effort you\u2019re putting in. However, if you\u2019re constantly excelling and your coworkers refuse to acknowledge you, it can be a sign of negative <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to Have Fun at Work<\/span> While Staying Productive<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Listen to Music<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you feel like you can be equally productive with your favourite tunes blasting (through your headphones, not out loud, of course), why not try it? Listening to music can be a great way to find some <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> and turn a mundane task into a fun one!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrate Achievements<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no better way to boost office morale and create a positive <\/span>workplace culture<\/span> than by taking the time to celebrate your coworkers’ achievements. Whether you\u2019re going out for a team dinner or grabbing a celebratory coffee, you\u2019re bound to have a good time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Host Friendly Competitions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here at Explore Careers, we host frequent general knowledge quizzes to give our team a nice break and get everyone laughing! By planning something similar for your workplace, you\u2019ll be sure to increase <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> for the whole office.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organise an Office Sports Team<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Looking for an excuse to bond with your coworkers <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> get some exercise in? Putting together an office sports team is a fantastic option! It doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re into frisbee golf, pickleball, soccer or anything in between, the options are endless!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Create a Fun Committee<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Building <\/span>happiness at work<\/span> is an ongoing project, so why not enlist the help of your coworkers? By creating a \u2018fun committee,\u2019 you\u2019ll have a team of fun-advocates planning exciting adventures for the whole office (and subsequently, improving your <\/span>workplace culture<\/span>)!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Can Work Make you Happy?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, work can definitely make you happy! However, you might need to put a little effort in to make sure your <\/span>workplace culture<\/span> is a positive one. After all, it takes effort from everyone to create a happy and welcoming environment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re not loving your job at the moment, just remember that things can get better. Put in the effort to create more fun at work and your coworkers are very likely to follow your lead. After all, we all want more <\/span>happiness at work<\/span>; sometimes we just need someone to lead the way!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re looking for more early career advice, you\u2019ve come to the right place! Simply head over to our <\/span>Get Career Ready blog<\/span><\/a> and learn how to kickstart your career today!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know that when you\u2019re at work, the most important thing to do is to get your job done. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":27792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[635],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27791"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27791"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27800,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27791\/revisions\/27800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}