I might have mentioned previously that
I've never had a real job, but the internships and activities I've participated in have often involved office environments, which qualifies me to make the following observation: it's important to have fun at work. It's not always possible—trust me, being a camp counselor for eight weeks made that very clear—but if you find yourself employed in an upbeat workplace filled with personalities similar to yours, it can turn the daily grind into, well, something fun.
Here are some tips to having fun and bonding with your coworkers:
1. Pick an office that's right for you.I used to work at my college's newspaper, which was a sort of thankless activity—we spent hours every week on a publication nobody read, for no money or credit (like at some schools). Still, the paper was staffed by some of the best people I've ever met, basically because they had the same snarky/inappropriate/loud/perfectionist thing going on as do I. I've interned at a couple other journalism-type places, and almost everyone I've encountered has sported the same sort of over-the-top personality. It's just another reason to love my chosen career.
2. Listen to music.Sundays were always the busiest days on the school paper, since it came out every Monday, so it was not uncommon for editors to pull 13+-hour shifts. But we made the process slightly more enjoyable with music—Disney songs, '80s-'90s nostalgia mixes, and indie selections to stroke our inner hipsters. It was not uncommon for the staff, whether editing their 20th article or laying out their 20th page, to burst into: "I use antlers in all of my decorating!" (Beauty and the Beast, of course.)
My friend works in an office right now, and she says what helps her get through the day is that her boss is constantly playing the soundtrack to Glee for everyone to hear. I guess the main con about office music, though, is that if you don't like what's being played, it's all very annoying.
3. Take YouTube breaks.I interned for a newspaper once in Virginia, and even though we always got a lot of work done, the permanent employees and I were not averse to taking some time to watch funny videos on YouTube—
this one (slightly inappropriate) was very popular that summer. It didn't take that much time, but it let us break up our work with a good laugh and get to know each other better.
4. Go out to lunch.Yes, brown bags are cheaper, healthier, and take less time, but one or two times a week it's nice to take an hour and actually exit the building—you'd be amazed how much people loosen up. Even walking to Subway can help revive you mid-day. And as for cost, I usually have leftovers whenever I go to a sit-down restaurant, so at least I'm paying for two meals.
Do you agree with any of my suggestions? How do you survive the workday?
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