Work doesn’t have to be hard — at least not all of the time. This is definitely true if you’re lucky enough to be able to work from home.
Whether you’re a remote worker, hybrid worker or your running your own business, working in your own home can be both a blessing and a curse.
Why not make it your mission to have fun working from home every day?
Sure you don’t have to worry about the commute and you’ll probably have a better family life, but what about interaction with coworkers?
There’s no Larry in accounting to tell you his lame dad jokes.
It can get pretty lonely and dull working all by yourself.
So how do you liven things up and have a little fun while you’re working solo?
Not to worry!
Check out my list of 11 ways to have fun working from home below for inspiration.
1| Reach Out and Network
You might be working at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t connect with coworkers or peers.
Why not schedule daily Zoom sessions to lighten the work day?
You can call it your daily water cooler chat. Even a couple of 15 minute sessions a day can do a lot to lift your mood. You might think it’s not productive, but I find these breaks actually make it easier to focus on my work.
Everyone needs a break.
Even if you’re a backyardpreneur, schedule some time with friends or mom to lighten up your day. Trust me, you’ll find the day goes by quicker and you’ll have more energy when it’s time to buckle down.
2| Have Fun Working From Home With Family
If you have a spouse that also works from home and/or kids at home, take family breaks to lighten your mood. It’s usually best to do this on a regular schedule. That will make it easier to separate work from home life.
You do need boundaries to be productive when working from home. That’s why a backyard office in a shed or gazebo is such a great idea. You still have the comfort of working from home, but you also have a separate dedicated workspace.
Let the family know when you’re in the backyard office you’re at work and need space.
When it’s time for that scheduled family break to have fun working from home hit the yard with the kids in the backyard or head in the house.
You can’t be all work and no play if you want a healthy family life. That’s one of the great things about working at home. You can be closer to the family, but still earn while you do it.
3|Take Time to Exercise
You know what’s one of the best ways to get those creative juices flowing? Taking a break for some much needed exercise.
People that work from home most of the time tend to move about less. They’re too sedentary. That can be bad for you both physically and mentally.
I know from experience. This is one I’ve been guilty of myself.
Some Days it’s tempting just to crawl out of bed, fire up the laptop and get to work. You don’t even have to change out of your pyjamas if you don’t want to.
Resist that temptation!
Get dressed, go for a morning walk before you open the laptop and then another one at lunch. Hit the gym if you prefer, but take the time to do it daily.
Crank the tunes and have fun with it. You’ll feel better and more motivated when you sit back down at your laptop to work.
4|Schedule Short Social Media Breaks
Social media is so addictive, it’s hard not to check in from time to time. Don’t feel guilty about that.
Allow yourself 10 minutes at least 2 or 3 times a day to check in on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok. That way you won’t feel like you’re missing out and that latest funny cat video may be just what the doctor ordered to lighten your mood and get you back on track.
Remember.
Make these breaks short and scheduled. Spending too much time on social media can take you down a rabbit hole and ruin your productivity. Moderation is the key here.
5| Listen to Music While You Work
I love to listen to upbeat music while I work. It’s a major mood booster and it can make even the most mundane tasks more appealing.
If you’re worried you might spend too much time singing away and not enough time focused on your tasks, try instrumental music. It’s my go-to on days when I’m trying to write a long post.
Do a quick search for upbeat instrumental music on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music or whatever your app of choice is. You’ll find tons of great playlists to help you groove through the work day.
6| Start Standing and Moving While You Work
Standing desks are one of the best inventions out there for remote workers or anyone running a home-based business.
They allow you to stand up and move about. You can even add an under-the-desk treadmill and exercise while you work.
You can dance to your favorite tunes while you work as well.
That might be hard when you’re trying to type, but it’s easy when you’re reading emails, researching or sitting in on a virtual meeting.
The work day doesn’t have to feel like you’re chained to your desk. After all, you’re working at home. If you can’t let loose when you’re working in your own home, where can you?
Let your hair down and have fun while you work!
7| Listen to Short Comedy Podcasts
A few minutes before I started writing this article I fired up my Google Podcasts app and did a search for comedy shorts. I found dozens of entries with some hilarious material! There’s nothing better than a quick laugh to make the work day more fun.
You might not have your daily dose of Margaret from HR’s joke of the day while working remotely, but you can easily bring the comedy to you.
Open up whatever app you use for listening to podcasts right now and have a look. You can thank me later!
8| Liven Up Your Workspace
One of the best parts about working out of your own home office is you get to pick the color scheme. It’s your space, make it fit your personality!
Use fun colors to make your work environment more appealing, add interesting patterns to your walls — whatever works for you to lift your mood.
Plants can be a nice touch as well.
Don’t forget the finishing touches. Add your favorite bobble head to your desk to amuse you when you need it.
You could also keep a fidget gadget near by. I find they help to focus me when I find my train of though drifting off task.
It’s your space, liven it up and make it your own.
One more thing.
9| Create Fun Rituals
There’s no getting around the fact that we’re all creatures of habit. I bet you have rituals you do every day without thinking about it right?
Of course, we all do.
Why not add fun creative rituals to your day to keep the positivity flowing?
You might make a point of doing a little dance every time you land a new client or tapping out a drum solo when you make a sale.
Adding little rituals to your day is a great way to have fun working from home.
Work doesn’t have to be boring. Try a few of these ideas out and you’ll find you enjoy your day more and get more done while you’re at it.
