6 Tips to Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity with Humor
The pandemic may have been one of the most stressful periods for every business. One of the best, quickest ways to anxiety relief is fun, especially humour, in the workplace. Whether your team works remotely or in the office, a little bit of fun goes a long way.
If you’re looking to relieve some of the stress at work and improve everyone’s productivity, humour can be the answer you need. Here are 6 tips you can do to give your workplace a boost with a fun workplace full of laughter.
Benefits of Humor At Work
When you talk about humor, you’ll immediately know its many benefits. Cracking a few jokes and a little fun can affect the general atmosphere even outside work. It can lighten up your mental load and give you a good boost for the day.
Humor helps us relax at work and keeps us healthy. It creates an atmosphere of fun and perspective, which helps us cope with stress. In addition, research shows people who play jokes with each other feel happier and are more satisfied with their jobs.
Like our chimp ancestors, humans create and strengthen social bonds through laughter. Evolutionary theories suggest that laughter first developed in these ancestors as a signal of safety and relief. The modern equivalent is that teams with more laughter tend to be more cohesive, and colleagues who laugh together tend to work in a safer, more comfortable environment.
As happiness reduces stress, your employees should have better health. As stress results in ailments like drab, sensitive skin when sick or deep bags under the eyes, your employees will look and feel better.
Encourage Fun Conversations
Whether you want to start an office-wide celebration or simply tell someone a joke, the best thing you can do to encourage funny conversations at the desk is to have fun. Laughter is a great way to break the ice and make your day more enjoyable.
Creating an environment where people feel free to speak their minds and say whatever comes to mind boosts morale and makes a link among team members. Create good, light moments for a good laugh.
Laughter is also an indicator of emotional safety. By laughing, you let others know that you will positively respond to them, and you help them understand that you are not judging them. The bond that is formed through the conversation is strengthened through trust.
2. Make Jokes Count
No matter where and how the joke is made and received, it still counts. So, when you’re telling or sharing a funny story, make sure it truly fits the situation. You want a funny joke but don’t throw anyone under the bus.
Not everyone is good at telling and responding to amusing tales. If you tell a gag about a colleague, pay attention to whether they think it is hilarious. Try to understand your teammates’ sense of humor and make them glad.
One aspect of building a social, humorous office is ensuring that you don’t cross the line. Talking about other colleagues inappropriately or making them feel uncomfortable can be hurtful.
As a rule of thumb, avoid jokes about religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or intellectual disabilities, or gender. Nobody appreciates jokes about period underwear and other crude stuff like that.
3. Create a Happy Atmosphere
Humor helps relieve tension, increases our awareness and understanding, and creates a positive feeling. It can also help team members work together on projects and promote cooperation.
Play team-building games that foster teamwork provide visual cues for communication and help people laugh at themselves. These activities often are the catalyst that helps improve morale, so it is crucial to make an effort to create a positive, cheerful, and friendly work environment.
Bring in a potted plant. Try having a few games around the desks If you long for more camaraderie. In addition to bringing plants to the office, you can also get some pets to liven up the workplace. You can bring your dog or set up a cat corner for your office if your boss allows.
If you have more time, you can decorate the office with miniature objects or create your own designs. You can hang abstract paintings, posters, photos, or anything else. And, of course, you can add some quirky elements, such as a rubber ducky, an octopus wall decoration, and subtle accents to make it more interesting.
4. Keep Your Professionalism
Always keep in mind the importance of professionalism. Everyone should behave appropriately and not get out of hand. Just like with anything, sometimes, too much is just enough.
Even when you send a few puns and come up with the wildest of stories, remember that you still need to behave professionally. When you begin to joke around, you move away from the professional behavior necessary for your business.
Being professional doesn’t mean having any sense of fun and not taking a break from your work. It is all about having the right balance. After you have earned your credibility, it’s time to let loose and enjoy yourself. Laugh with your colleagues. Focus on having fun with each other, and you can have the best of both worlds.
5. Use Positive Language
Say less, do more. Avoid negative language and refrain from using hate, dull, and dark words. Use more positive language such as love, happiness, and life. You can bring up a topic and explain why you are refreshing your attitude in a more positive direction.
How you say things matters. It makes the conversation more constructive. You need your team to understand why they should only say positive things and how their word can profoundly impact you and your outlook.
Instead of criticizing, try encouraging coworkers during difficult and stressful situations. Ask questions and encourage people to share their mistakes with others. Make them focus on their achievements instead. After all, we all make mistakes. But, what defines us is how we deal with those mistakes and learn from them.
6. Listen to Others
When you listen, you show that you understand and care about what your colleague says. When you talk to one person at a time, you can better understand them and gain their respect, which makes you more likable.
When you listen to what people have to say, you have a chance to work with only positive energy. You can approach a problem more effectively and clarify your motives.
When you’re in a meeting, you should encourage each other to listen. Don’t talk, offer suggestions, and ask questions when the speaker pauses. Listen, but don’t wait for a moment of silence before talking.
The Bottom Line
Nowadays, we spend so much time working that we don’t think about how our energy affects our work. A friendly and relaxed atmosphere can inspire productivity and efficiency. Of course, if your business requires a certain degree of seriousness, allow that to happen. However, some lightheartedness is a good thing.
Remember, no business is exempt. The energy you and your employees put, indirectly impacts your profit margins and customer satisfaction. Giving yourself and your company some time to laugh and joke around can be a great way to boost your bottom line.
