What little things do you do at work that make it more fun/ bearable?

[KillerReels]

I'm having bit of a crappy time at work. My motivation has been really affected and id like to feel more happier like I used to. My work colleagues, though not my friends are nice and I get along with them and we have a laugh too.

What small things do you do that help keep your spirits up and make you look forward to the next day?

Oh and clothes - I like thinking about what to wear and giving a quick positive comment on what others are wearing, as we fly past each other in the corridors.

When I can, I try to get up a bit early and do a little bit of exercise before work, just yoga from an app or a quick walk, then when I'm organised enough I make a nice packed lunch, I don't know why but these 2 things make me feel a bit looked after and better when having a mentally busy/soul crushing day

I have never had my own desk, or one which felt like my own until this job. It has some very random, but personal to me items, plus my box of Yorkshire tea bags and some crystals. I have my own huge mug and I absolutely adore my colleagues, my line manager and my senior managers and get on well with them all. Most of all I can be myself, without judgement and we have lots of laughter and are very supportive of each other. So very different to my last role!

Cigarettes

Oh this is pretty, but here goes.

When I'm irritated by the person I'm emailing, I miss out the comma after 'Thanks'. It means I'm technically thanking myself.

I.e.

Thanks

Jane Doe

Only going to the office two days a week now has meant my job is much more bearable, especially as I don't see the people I don't really like on both days.

I know I am fortunate and not everyone has that option.

Look out the window.and make a herbal tea. Go for a swim at lunchtime as very nearby.

Thank you so much everyone. I can't do some of the things suggested as I don't have a lunch break as I work 9-3. However, I've made a list of things that I can do that might make a bit of difference.

• make an effort to talk to some people that I don't really know very well. It's a large department.
• bring in biscuits
• personalise my desk. Make it a bit homely.
• get a couple of new pairs of clothes. This might take a few months before I can save up!
• get some nice stationery/ pens

The drop in my morale over the last year is due to a relative of my manager who has started as a temp ( even though we didn't need it) and my work being taken off me and given to them.

I'm left with the crappy parts of the job and it's just really demoralising. They are here indefinitely and manager is trying to secure the position for them permanently so nothing is really going to change for me and I feel I need to introduce a few things to help my mood.

We have a whiteboard for info on traffic in and out. Every month the board gets decorated around the rim. This month is clovers, leprechauns and rainbows.

Occasional office treats, or silly contests. We did an Olympics contest last year where we picked random countries from out of a hat and followed along. People decorated their cubicles in their adopted country's colours, etc.

Smoke

We used to have Friday jukebox. Everyone could add two songs to a Spotify playlist. Huge range of age/taste so it was really interesting until someone complained and we had to stop.

I used to have a tool that tells me how much money I'm earning every second I was working. It sat in the top corner of my screen. It made me feel better on bad days.

Haha! I think this might be for me soon.
I'm losing the will to live at work.

Oh I'm sorry, that's horrible and unprofessional of your manager and not good for you. Good for you trying to look on the bright side. It sounds like a conflict of interest to me though, if there's someone you can report it to I'd report it.

I work from my own studio cum office so have autonomy over my workspace, hours and terms & conditions. Fresh flowers, plants, slightly quirky decor. Rock solid boundaries on which hours I will work.

The best thing is being extremely choosy about my clients. I take no bullshit so everyone I work with is at least pleasant. Well, apart from the person I am going to stop working with next week for stepping out of line and being rude to me.

(Unfortunately for them what I do is rather niche and the next person is about 25 miles away and has a waiting list 🤣)

I bribe myself to do stuff I don’t want to do. Eg I’ve been out 4 days this week, I’m exhausted and didn’t want to go out today so I bribed myself with a Costa! Little things like listening to my favourite podcast or audio book, or getting my nails done or whatever. It works for work stuff, housework, admin whatever I don’t want to do 😂

Ooh you've just given me the idea of having a small plant on my desk! I love plants! This will definitely cheer me up! Thank you!

Your job sounds ace! Commanding who you get to work with!

@TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack
I don't really want to rock the boat as nothing will come of it except a load of aggro. I will have to just hope she leaves (extremely doubtful!).

couple of things

1. nice lunch/ drinks/ snacks
2. regular toilet trips when I message friends/ family/ whatsapp groups which makes me feel 'connected' to my real life
3. I take small 'life admin' jobs to do at my desk if possible. I sneak a bit of time to make my shopping list, catch up on paying a bill, etc

I walk to work so that work is a place I go to, as a human being and a place I walk away from. I found that when I was home-car-work-car-home I never felt like a person