3 Ways to Have More Fun at Work

While the famous adage says choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,

we all know that’s not entirely true. Even if you are incredibly passionate about what you do, work always has its not-so-great moments and tasks.

At the same time, we also all know that enjoying your job matters a lot. Studies support that happy employees are more engaged and productive, and less stressed. Considering that you spend at least a quarter of your life working, the fun factor is very important.

Now, this is where most people will start telling you to set up an office pool table or host more after-work happy hours. However, like building a strong company culture, I think fun at work goes much deeper than that. Sure, you can still throw in a few free lunches and work-from-home options, but here are a few more meaningful ways to cultivate authentic happiness in the workplace.

1. Team up with people you really like.

If I may modify the old adage, I think it should say: “If you love the people you work with, you’ll never work a day in your life.” This is my best advice as this Venn diagram perfectly illustrates. Working with people whose company you enjoy can make hard days bearable and good days almost as fun as spending time with your closest friends.

When you like the people you work with, then a weekend conference can feel like a little vacation. A late night work session to meet a launch deadline can become an impromptu pizza party. And regular days in between are simply full of meaningful work, interesting conversations, and lots of laughs with folks you appreciate and respect.

It’s worth noting that this does not mean fill your team with people who think and act just like you. No echo chambers, please. A diversity of backgrounds, opinions, and mindsets is key for success and innovation. Just be sure to avoid bringing a downer into your community.

If you own a company or lead a team, set the criteria (values or qualities) that you look for in hiring someone to make sure they’re not only capable, but also pleasant to be around. If you’re an employee with less control over sourcing talent, aim to find a crew you connect with at the office. Also, try to be extra thoughtful about considering your potential teammates next time you’re job hunting.  

2. Spend most of your workday on the tasks that you love most.

Hopefully, there are some aspects of your job that you truly enjoy. Unsure what those are? Ask yourself, what does a good work groove look like for you? What about your job makes you feel energized or fulfilled? If you’re having trouble identifying these examples, you may have a bigger problem to solve here. It might be time for a career change.

Let’s assume you’re jazzed about certain responsibilities at work. Try to spend more time doing those things and less doing the others that aren’t as exciting. Don’t think of this as permission to slack off, but rather to prioritize your time and efficiently manage the workload that you feel less enthused about.

Start by making two lists: 1) the tasks that you’re amped to dive into, and 2) the to-do’s that require four cups of coffee to complete. Can you block off a significant amount of time daily to work on the exciting stuff, thereby making your days more fun? From your list of things you find less appealing, can delegate these items to someone else who might enjoy or learn from them? If not, can you give yourself a time limit for getting them done more efficiently?

Alternatively, you could always try reframing your experience by doing the less satisfying work in a fun place, like your favorite coffee shop or a conference room with a cool colleague.

3. Keep a lighthearted mindset.

Your attitude is everything and keeping a healthy outlook can be a surprisingly powerful way to make your workdays time well spent. Next time you feel that the day is dragging, remind yourself what’s great about your job.

For example, I might say to myself on any given day, “I get to help create sparkling water that keeps people hydrated and makes them feel like there’s a party in their mouths—isn’t that fun?!”  If you’re in a more serious or high-pressure industry, you might replace “fun” with “meaningful” or “inspiring.” Whatever it is you do, try to find the sliver of fun and whimsy every day.

If there’s no room for humor in your line of work, then try gratitude. Look for ways you’re so lucky to be doing the things you do. Even if you’re not having fun or feeling appreciative, consider faking it til you make it. Instilling this mindset may help you take things a little less seriously and see the joy in your everyday work.

If you’ve tried all of these tricks and still aren’t feeling good about what you do, may I suggest taking a break? Burnout is real and can prevent you from seeing the joy in things. Or you could get a disco ball drink holder and fill it with some fruity hint. That should liven things up!

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Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of San Francisco–based hint?, a healthy lifestyle brand that produces the leading unsweetened flavored water and a scented sunscreen spray that’s oxybenzone and paraben-free. Listen to her podcast, Unstoppable, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and disruptors across various industries and keep up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.