16 Ways To Bring Back Joy Into Work

Is your Monday morning dread turning into a full-blown case of the Sunday Scaries?

You’re not alone.?

We live in an environment that is often demanding, it’s easy to lose sight of what once brought us joy in our careers. But fear not! Joy is not a relic of the past; it's a resource waiting to be tapped.?

Rediscover the spark that ignited your professional passion.

Here are 16 actionable tips to infuse your workday with joy.?

“Not Today, Napoleon!” Jar - Keep a jar on your desk. Every time your plans or designs fail, write them down on a piece of paper along with a triumph and add it to the jar. It shows the work you have put in even though the results weren’t ideal.?

Do you feel like you are in a low creative mode? Schedule “unproductive hours” or “mental power down” sessions on your calendar. A colleague or a friend may come and help you out.?

Research says having a picture of your pet on your desk will increase your productivity by 100%* - This research is conducted by a dog.?

Focus on the outcome. When you think about the impact your work will have on your audience, the way you approach challenges change.?

Use the walk-and-talk method. Record your inspiration, tasks for the day, and comments on your design or new ideas while you go for a 20-minute walk. Physical exercise brings clarity to your mind.?

Rely on sticky notes. Do a sticky note collage on your desk and every time you cross something off your task list, take out a sticky note. Your desk is clean by the end of the day! If a clean desk doesn’t suit you, then reverse it ??

Celebrate “Why? Wednesdays.” Every Wednesday or any day of the week, go into a “why? Mode.” Ask questions about work, and force yourself to ask why questions about the things you are curious about.?

When in a slump, take a step back. Design an interface for a spaceship or a plant.?

Collect your mistakes. Make a mood board of your mistakes and laugh about them.

Draw boundaries for yourself. Limit yourself to a particular color palette or shape to push your creative thinking. Take a yellow only color palette or design everything in the shape of animals. (imagine an upside down giraffe’s head instead of a dropdown menu?)?

Gather your peers and compete over the worst design ideas. Laughter and lightheartedness can lead to some inspirational designs.?

Think about it from a different perspective. How would an alien with no sense of fingers access your design? This can make your design thoughtful and inclusive.

Choose random objects and try to make them better or worse. Think how you can make a lampshade worse or a mouse better.?

Take a break. Select a recipe or a manufacturing process and make it into a design. Converting physical processes into design or strategy can help you solve some unlikely problems.?

Do a daily challenge. Solve a puzzle, create a new typography artwork or design a fanny pack for your pet animal.?

After every milestone, create a design capsule. Take printouts of stuff you love and bury them in a park on your daily route. It gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing that someone else may have it.

Remember, in most cases, joy is a choice. It's about finding what resonates with you and incorporating it into your work life.?By implementing even a few of these suggestions, you can begin to transform your work experience from a mundane obligation to a fulfilling journey.?

It's high time we started finding joy in what we do.

Hope this list helps!

PS: Here are a few other reads collated for you if you are in the creative field

1. Navigating the ethics of Design
2. Turning timeless in an "instant everything" world
3. How to design for billions, without losing empathy