Positive outlook, sense of humor can help to make work fun

  • Published
  • By Col. Steven Hinten, Commander
  • 88 Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh. --  It has been said that it is OK to have fun at work, but can work really be fun? You might find yourself asking just what does it mean to have work be fun. For some, fun constitutes parties and games. For others it involves contentment and fulfillment with what they are doing.

The idea of fun at work may also be tied to a person's generation. Research has shown that up to 88 percent of Generation Y (loosely defined as people born between the early 1980s and early 2000s) individuals tend to like workplace fun, versus 60 percent of the Baby Boomers.

So how do you have fun at work? The dictionary definition of the word work -- to be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result, especially in one's job -- and its synonyms -- toil, labor, exertion, slave -- do not exactly generate thoughts of fun.

As an individual working for a large organization, being able to conduct activities that allow/ generate fun are not necessarily always within our control. Not everyone has the authority to set aside a part of the work day to engage in a base-wide sports activity, or to take everyone in the Flight to a nearby museum for a historical scavenger hunt as a bonding/morale event. But something I would like to touch on here is an area that each of us can address within ourselves that can contribute to our satisfaction within the workplace and in turn have a positive impact on the people we work with and the unit's overall mission.

Inner reflection and adjusting our mind-set can and will have a lot to do with improving our feelings about work, and even potentially making it fun. To begin with, you have to come to terms with that fact that the words "fun" and "work" can fit in the same sentence. Work shouldn't be a holding cell that keeps you away from the fun of your regular life. It can be a place you come to for laughter and fulfillment.

Being a professional doesn't require being super serious all the time, and accepting this can help the realization of having more fun in the workplace and even increasing your productivity in the process.

One thing you can do is to set real (and realistic) goals for yourself, not just metrics to follow. This sounds pretty simplistic, but studies have shown that the more you have to strive toward, the more motivated you will feel. Also jotting down weekly and even monthly or yearly goals will add meaning and the potential feeling of accomplishment to your work.

Look at creating a positive energy. It is fairly common for folks to complain about work, and some may even think it is "fun," but this habit usually just leads to a downward spiral. It can help to vent sometimes, but try talking about a new innovation or a common interest with co-workers, and see if this doesn't improve your outlook on the workday.

Have a sense of humor. Take a moment to laugh at the funny things that happen at work or share a funny story with a coworker. Learn to laugh at yourself, too. If you take yourself less seriously, you'll be able to relax and have more fun.

Become excited about your job. Look closely into the organization's mission and reflect on how your duties tie into the overall priorities. Focus on the fact that you're helping people and producing something meaningful. Talk to your coworkers about projects or other aspects of your job that give you a sense of purpose. This also has a way of creating teamwork for those projects that have wider impact on the mission. This motivation to succeed can really help heighten the level of satisfaction and even fun in the workplace.

And not to be contradictory, but be careful to not put on a face when things are not going well on a particular day. I don't mean to be confusing because it is important to work on these positive aspects, but some studies show that if you try too hard to have fun, it can backfire and actually make things worse. If you are having a bad day, do not plaster a fake grin on your face. Be honest, but polite, and let your co-workers know what is going on. Sometimes this can even help the situation.

It is important to have balance in our lives. Do not let work overtake the value and responsibilities of family. I am sure many of you know of times when instabilities at home create distractions and have a negative impact on work performance. This can work in the other direction as well. If you are not satisfied and happy at work this can eventually affect our relationships at home. Most everyone already knows that stress can cause health problems. Additionally, there are studies that show work problems can lead to trouble at home as well. Your job and your life are not separate things; you can't bottle up your work emotions and leave them at work as hard as you might try.

How do you define work and fun? Is it a struggle to get through the workday? If so, it might help to take some time to think about why this is the case, and how things can be adjusted to make it better. If this is not an issue for you, then keep on doing what you are doing. This is not only good for you and your family, but is beneficial to the organization.

Your positive approach can and very likely will have an encouraging effect on someone else, which can multiply from there. Also, as leaders we should strive to help our airmen understand this, and look to the optimistic side of things. It can only make work and life better overall.