Working hard or hardly working? It can be both. Most workplace environments can come across as too serious, which means we find ourselves working with teams to add in a little more “fun” in the workplace. Some people want to do more events or Happy Hours, but spoiler – your culture should also generate fun within it’s core, or fundamental state. Here are 3 tips when considering fun.

Friendships

Making friends in the office is important. They are the people who understand exactly what you go through every day at work. They keep you motivated, understand your communication style and are great accountability partners, otherwise known as accountabilibuddies. It also is not a bad deal to have a best friend at work to get coffee with. In fact, a Gallup study shows that 58% of employees agree and 38% of business owners agree that building friendships and surrounding yourself with colleagues you enjoy being around is important. Another study from Gallup Q12 showed that employees are 4 times more likely to be engaged at work if they have a best friend they work with. One story shared in the study was that a company found that almost nobody had a best friend at work, so they implemented a “social hour.” Within a year, 60% of their employees reported having a best friend at work.

Being “Social” in the Office

There can be opposing opinions on whether social media in the workplace is effective or not. However, several studies have shown that social media use in the office actually increases productivity. It is important not to get too wrapped up about what is happening online, but it does offer you a quick break, allowing you to recharge.

Fun is Fun

Avoiding opportunities for fun at the office is not healthy for your company. Creating fun for your employees will help overall productivity and profitability as well as encourage your team to be what they are-a team. Whether it is company outings, office games or even simply goofing around, a little fun never hurt anyone. Fun at work can seem out of the norm, but it can also serve as a tool for staying motivated. If you don’t know how to create a fun environment for you and you team, here are 13 Fun Ideas You HAVE to Try with Your Employees.