10 Fun Things to Do in The Office for 2024

Let’s be real here for a second; even if you love your job, things can get slow and monotonous pretty quickly. You could enjoy every aspect of what you do, have fantastic relationships with your co-workers, and smile every time you step in the office door, and you can still have days where time seems to slog on. That’s when you need fun things to do in the office!

Fun and work might not seem like they go together on the surface, and you certainly don’t always picture fun during an office setting. However, with people starting to come back into the office for 2022, it’s only fair that we look at some of the fun things to do in the office.

There are a lot more fun activities at work that you can do at work than you might think, and rather than decreasing workplace productivity, they can certainly increase it. The only requirement is that you let your inner child out and don’t be afraid to act like a kid for a bit.

If you implement a few fun moments into your week like fun things to do at work for employees or workplace fun ideas, you can have a plan for those slow days and can bring some cheer back into your workweek.

Why Should Work Be Fun?

Some bosses and CEO’s out there might ask that question because shouldn’t employees having fun cut the productivity down, and therefore hurt your bottom line? Well, not necessarily. Various studies (and common sense) have shown that whenever your employees are happy and free from the stress, they can do more and become more productive.

Heading into a workday filled with anxiety and stress isn’t fun at all, and the increased nerves can even cause more mistakes and rushed sloppy work. Which, of course, causes more stress and anxiety as you struggle to fix it, and errors pile up along with the workload!

Various companies such as Apple and Google encourage fun activities at work and relaxation, giving their employees regular breaks and spaces to unwind and forget about work for a while. Plus, being able to have fun with fellow employees promotes a sense of camaraderie for everyone involved. It’s a lot better than standard team exercises!

Some Ways To Have Fun At The Office

Having fun things to do at work for employees doesn’t mean scheduling a massive day trip or a long corporate retreat. There are plenty of ways to be a productive person and still let your hair down, every once in a while, for some real fun activities at work - all without spending too much money or dealing with conflicting schedules.

1. Have A Pub/Margarita Day

One of the easiest ways to have some fun things to do in the office is to focus on having a gathering that everyone can focus on and look forward to. You can set up a pub Friday at the end of every week or month, where your employees can go to a restaurant and just talk about things other than work.

It can be difficult to prevent these from turning into business lunches, so make it a rule not to talk about work during these times. You can write down questions, make notes about your co-workers’ hobbies, and let your employees lead the conversation. Just enjoy a meal, conversation, and enjoy talking about non-work-related items for a change. You can become a more productive person after Margarita Day, when all your stress is relieved.

A margarita or happy hour day can also be an excellent idea for you to host. It’s even more fun if your co-workers get to bring their own drinks to add to the party, or maybe you have a few people in your office who know how to mix drinks. Maybe set up a competition or just allow them to make their own drinks and have a little fun.

2. Have Recess or Outdoor Activities

While it might seem like a product of elementary school, giving your employees some outside time can revitalize energy, improve mood, and also combat the dreaded ‘post-lunch slump.’ You can hang up a basketball hoop, toss around a football, form a company softball team, or even allow your employees to just go for a walk.

Just being outdoors and being allowed to play some catch or converse freely while walking can do wonders for your employees. Then they can come back into the office refreshed and ready to do some more work.

The fun activities at work are going to depend on your outdoor surroundings and the sports items you might have available. However, even a short outdoor walk to get some sun on your skin and refocus the eyes can be very beneficial.

3. Build (and Add To) a Wall of Fame

Sometimes it can seem like you are working away for nothing. It certainly seems that way when you get into a cycle and see that you’ve finished one stack of paperwork or a project, only for a second project or pile of work to be scheduled for the next day. In order to stop this from getting you down, focus on all the good your job has done.

You need a way to remind yourself that your work isn’t about pushing papers or coding for hours on end but rather about producing a service or product that can help people. The best way to do that is with a wall of fame.

This is where you can place client reviews, company records, successful sales, thank you notes, client testimonials, and more. You want this wall to be a place that your employees can see easily and one that your company keeps adding to.

If everyone can see the genuine and continually growing impact that their work has on their customers' lives, it is an excellent motivator. Plus, during times of crisis, you can look at the number of people that your work has helped. There’s something about reading old reviews and looking at the people whose lives you have changed that can really help a team rally.

4. Misuse Office Furniture

Whenever you sit down in your wheeled office chair, have you ever spun around for a moment before hopping into serious mode and getting stuff done? What if you didn’t? The office is filled with lots of smart office furniture that is supposed to be used for serious and productive purposes. If the furniture is smart, then why not make it dumb?

It might require some coordination and a little safety, but there’s no reason you can race office chairs down a large hallway like they do in the sitcoms. You could also play a little ping pong on the office table, have a nerf fight using cubicles as bases, or connect a laptop to the giant office projector and have a movie night!

The only limit is your imagination, so let it rip and just have some real fun things to do in the office for a change! After all, how many times have you really been allowed to let your inner child come out to play? 

5. Reward Everyone For Goals

Every single office has goals, as do the employees inside of the office. Whenever someone or the entire team meets a goal, make it a point to celebrate the victory. Some companies have a victory bell that they ring whenever a goal is met. Others give rewards, such as a gift card or time off due to all the hard work.

It can be enjoyable to see that what you are doing as an employee is recognized, and getting a reward and social recognition for it can be even more workplace fun ideas. It can also help your employees have a more productive day when they know they are going to get rewarded for their hard work at the end!

6. Pump Up The Music

One of the best ways to get everyone in a great mood and one of fun things to do at work for employees, or at least on the same page, is to play some songs over the speakers. You might play a piece of music during the last five minutes of the workday or a song after lunch break. The song can be motivational, catchy, or an earworm that can stay with your employees for the remainder of the day.  Alright, the earworm song might be a bit cruel, but it does get results as long as it doesn’t drive your workers nuts first!

Whenever a specific song comes on at the same time every day, everyone might react differently. Employees might tap their feet, sing or hum along, move their heads, or even get up and dance. It can break people out of the serious ‘work mode’ that they’ve been in for the last few hours and can let them get back into fun mode for a bit.

You might even choose to get up an office playlist where your employees can submit their favorite songs. That way, there’s a chance for different music varieties to come on at any given day. It keeps people’s ears pricked and their energy levels high!

7. Support Deep Work, and Reward It

Deep work is a state of uninterrupted flow where an employee can work on certain items of business that require a lot of focus. These include writing posts, coding work, and creating graphics and visuals. Basically, if you can get in the zone doing the work, it has the potential for deep work.

Having a set block of time where you don’t answer emails, call clients, have virtual meetings, or get bombarded by the unlimited number of distractions that the office provides can be very helpful. Deep work allows you to get into the flow state, where you can get a ton done in a minimal amount of time.

You should be encouraging deep work for everyone in the office, as it truly is beneficial. But once you get all your deep work done, what do you do with all that extra time? Rewarding deep work not only promotes productivity and the increased use of deep work, but it also can be an excellent motivation for fun.

If you get your work done early, maybe you can take a long lunch break, have the day off, or work on your own personal projects. If a bunch of employees get done at around the same time, maybe you can all do something fun to celebrate the win.

9. Break Out A Board Game

A board game afternoon or night might be a bit difficult if you have a huge company, but if you have a small tight knit team, this can be perfect as fun things to do in the office. Board or card games can be a perfect way to blow off some steam with your employees and it also builds team culture, and most games either support larger numbers of players or can be modified to be fun for larger groups. It can bring people together whenever they play around a table and might even help with team building.

Another great game to play are Tabletop RPGs, such as Dungeons and Dragons, StarFinder, and other games. Elect one person to be the gamemaster, and then you can let the fun commence. It can be a great way to slip out of the corporate mask and try something new for a change, and you might even learn a few things about your co-workers while at it!

10. Making Time For Fun

While most people think that having fun should be spontaneous, whenever you try to introduce fun into your office, it can seem like you are scheduling it in just like everything else. That’s okay because, as odd as it sounds, most adults need to relearn how to have some serious fun in their lives.

Once everyone gets used to the types of fun being introduced into the workplace, the downtime can soon become funtime! It should start to happen organically, and everyone should begin to look forward to the fun.

After everyone gets used to the fun, then you should see a large uptick in employee happiness and excitement to get into the work and do their jobs. You really can get more done by doing less, and all while having some fun too!

Building Good Habits at Work: A Path to Productivity and Success

In today's fast-paced work environment, cultivating good habits is a crucial factor that sets the stage for success. Whether you're striving for personal growth, professional development, or simply a more organized and efficient work routine, building good habits can significantly impact your productivity and overall satisfaction. In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of building good habits at work and provide actionable insights on how to kickstart and maintain these habits for long-term success.

The Power of Habits

Habits are the building blocks of our daily lives, shaping our actions and decisions often without us even realizing it. At work, cultivating positive habits can have a profound impact on our efficiency, quality of work, and even our mental well-being. When we establish habits, we reduce the cognitive load required to make decisions, allowing us to channel our mental energy into tasks that truly matter.

Identify Your Goals

The first step to building good habits is to identify your goals. Are you aiming to be more organized, meet deadlines consistently, or enhance your creativity? Having clear objectives in mind will help you choose the right habits to develop. For instance, if your goal is to enhance your time management skills, consider adopting habits like setting daily priorities, using the Pomodoro technique, or minimizing multitasking.

Start Small and Be Consistent

The key to building lasting habits is to start small and be consistent. Begin by focusing on one habit at a time. Trying to overhaul your entire work routine in one go can lead to burnout and make it harder to stick to your new habits. For instance, if you want to improve your communication skills, start by practicing active listening during meetings. As you consistently engage in this behavior, it will become second nature over time.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in habit formation. Rewarding yourself for successfully practicing a new habit can create a positive feedback loop that reinforces the behavior. This doesn't have to be extravagant; it could be as simple as treating yourself to your favorite snack or taking a short break to relax. Over time, your brain associates the habit with the reward, making it more likely to stick.

Create a Supportive Environment

Your work environment plays a crucial role in shaping your habits. To build good habits effectively, create an environment that supports your goals. For instance, if you're aiming to reduce distractions and improve focus, organize your workspace to minimize clutter and noise. Inform your colleagues about your habit-building journey, as their encouragement and understanding can make a significant difference.

Track Your Progress

Tracking your progress is essential to stay motivated and accountable. Keep a journal or use digital tools to record your efforts and milestones. Seeing how far you've come can boost your confidence and drive to continue building good habits. Additionally, if you encounter setbacks, reviewing your progress can remind you of your successes and motivate you to get back on track.

Stay Adaptable

Flexibility is key to successfully building and maintaining good habits. Work demands and priorities may change, requiring you to adjust your habits accordingly. Be open to evaluating and adapting your habits as needed. For instance, if a new project requires more of your time, find ways to modify your habits without completely abandoning them.