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70 Hot Ideas for More Fun
& Less Stress
on the Job!
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The need for more fun on the job and less stress is well documented. People across the country are literally "burning out" because of their inability to cope with ever pressing market and business demands.
What can we do to lighten up on the job and cope more effectively with everyday tension, challenges and stress? I posed this question to 240 conference attendees asking them for their ideas, techniques and strategies for coping with stress and more importantly, how they created more fun on the job. The ideas that follow are comprised from years of trial and error across a broad range of industries.
Contained in this report are 52 fun ideas (plus a few Bonus Ideas—remember a key customer satisfaction concept is to under promise and over deliver). There are plenty of ideas so you can select one per week for the next year. You'll notice that many ideas are "event" type ideas that require more planning and effort. Many of the ideas can be used every week or even every day to add more fun to the job and resulting in lower tension and stress.
As you read through the "hot" ideas please consider several important keys:
Key #1: Enjoy the Process.
Explore the ideas with a curiosity of how you can incorporate what has worked for others into your daily or weekly routine. Enjoy the process of looking for ways to take great care of yourself and others by breaking the routine, not taking ourselves so seriously and learning to call "time out" for life.
Key #2: Swipe and Adapt.
If an idea sounds silly then it's most likely a perfect solution. If the idea in it's current state won't work with your group, learn to adapt the idea to a format that might work. If you're concerned about an idea being stupid rather than silly, ask a trained consultant for input. Any four year old can review your idea. If the four year old consultant says: "That idea is stupid, bag it" listen to their advice. If it's only silly, then go for it!
Key #3: Start Slowly.
One certainly would not want to start having too much fun at work too quickly. You might be sent away to a place with high fences and tight jackets. Do start quickly to gain the ideas and participation of others. Be patient. It will take some members of your team some time before they give themselves permission to "let loose."
Key #4: Plan for Success.
I recommend pulling out your calendar and planning for success. Review your favorite four or five ideas and plan for the fun event NOW! This activity planning is important for the "event" ideas as well as the "impulse" ideas. Write it down, plan for it. In my calendar I write in one thought, idea or strategy planned for the team each week. It's a great way to pre-plan for fun at work.
Here are your 70 "Hot Ideas" for an entire year!
1. The Stress Net.
It's simple—employees wear service hair nets when they are having stress attacks-this keeps the stress monster away. (Remember: This is not my idea…I'm simply the messenger!)
2. Play games at staff meetings.
Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud seem to be big hits. Don't limit yourself to T.V. show games. Games abound that lend themselves well to fun, diversion and real learning experiences.
3. T-shirt Contest.
This can go in 100 different directions—home made T-shirts; most colorful; funniest; from distant locations; theme T-shirts. Ask your team for ideas and themes.
4. Baby Photo Contest.
Break out those baby photos and bring them into the office. Number each entry on a board and have people guess who is who. (Several people offered this idea so it must be fun!)
5. Nerf Olympics.
No, that isn't nerd Olympics, it's NERF Olympics. Find the soft, light balls, bats, hoops and create your own "office decathlon". Prizes, ribbons and medals add to the event. Try one event a week for ten weeks.
6. The Roast.
A fun activity can be to roast a fellow employee. This must be done in good taste with someone of thick skin. The goal is to laugh with someone, not at someone. (A professional roaster can be brought in for a big event)
7. Pot Lucks.
Many fun activities offered by our group of experts centered around food. In fact, if I wrote only food related ideas you'd have plenty of ideas for the next two years and gain 743 pounds. A hand full of ideas included: Country Themes-Mexico, Germany, Sweden, Texas. (I had to toss that in for my Texas friends). Other food related ideas included: Chocolate Fix Parties; Hot Dog Cook outs; more to follow...
8. Squirt Guns.
Zap your supervisor when the rep gets an irate call. The mood will change and reps will look forward to fielding that upset customer!
9. The Rubber Chicken.
Hang one, curse one, toss him back and forth. Hang a sign around his neck: "Think you got problems?". One group tosses one into the air to grab and eat the "Stress Bugs." (They say it works, then again the group is just about a quart shy in the oil pan of life.)
10. Dress up for Holidays.
Halloween often gets the most attention. It's the one day per year adults give themselves to act silly. Why over look other great days like: Thanksgiving, Ground Hog Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Columbus Day and local days of interest.
11. Voice Mail "Joke of the Day".
Several companies have a voice mail "Joke of the Day". Simply dial in and get a chuckle. Others assign one person per day to provide the joke of the day. It can be a joke, funny experience, something that made you grin.
12. Country Fair.
Bring in baked goods, hand crafts, garden items, things you're proud of for display. Judges award blue ribbons, and once again, you eat all day.
13. "Mood-O-Meter".
The "Mood-O-Meter" is placed by the doorway and lousy moods must be checked at the door. People register on a chart their mood for the day so everyone knows immediately if their co-workers are happy, sad, made or glad. (Remember, this is silly, not stupid. Silly ideas work well for changing perspectives. Some folks will really benefit from this idea! Some folks might need a doom and gloom category.)
14. Super Heroes.
Place the faces of employees on the bodies of Super Heroes. Display them proudly through out the office. (Note: If you can't find Super Hero bodies, call our office and we'll send you a life size photo of each member of our staff. Removing their heads can be just as much fun as the photo opportunities.)
15. Crazy Hat Day.
Each person designs, finds, buys, a crazy hat and wears it for the day. You can have some extra fun with this—offer prizes, take photos, video tape the hat parade. (You can have a theme hat day with prizes for all!)
16. Neck Massages.
This is one of my favorite—a five minute neck message can work wonders. One company brought in a professional to coach the team on the proper techniques for a WOW! Massage. (Lot's of local massage groups offer "Deals" for mini-sessions.)
17. Clown Noses.
Everyone should have a supply of clown noses in his/her desk. They're fun, silly and cheap.
18. Nose Day.
Wear silly (not stupid) noses for the day. Costume shops have some wild noses ranging from the standard barn yard animals to the more creative cosmic sort. Have some fun making it a nosey day. (This works best for employees who do not have face-to-face contact with customers! As if I needed to tell you this!)
19-23. Theme Days.
Here are five ideas-in-one create "theme days". Dress up, create environments that focus on the theme, and of course, EAT! Themes mentioned included, but are not limited to: Western Days, Hawaii Days, Pirate Days (what do pirates eat?), Team Days (Dress up in a sport outfit and eat anything). Movie and/or TV theme days, 50's days, 60's days, 70's and I guess you can do something with the 80's as well. Heck, why not do a year 2100 theme?
24. Darn-it-Doll.
They're adorable, cute and absorb tons of aggressive behavior. Place one on your desk and smack it when you need to release some energy.
25. Stress Punch Bag.
Place it in the center of the office and again, when the urge hits—you hit! It's far better to take your stress out on the dummy than the customer or fellow employee!
26. Family Day at Work.
I've seen this work like a charm for a wonderful change of pace. Employees are generally excited to share what they do with their families and excited to "share" their families with fellow workers. I'll leave the details to you.
27. I WIN!!!
The ugly tie contest that is. Dig in your closet or that of a husband or male friend and find the ugliest tie. The winner should be allowed to keep all the entries just to add to his/her collection. (I know my lime green leisure shirt will be back in style soon…so will your ties!)
28. Fun Fax.
Liven up the dullest form of communication-the fax! Add a cartoon, a quote of the day, a joke...anything! (Send me one please-I hate boring faxes! 858-578-7065)
29. Quotes.
Using quotes can be a tremendous way to focus the mind in a new or resourceful direction. Try using Reader's Digest—they have collections of jokes, funny stories and great quotes.
30. Quotes Expanded.
Drop a motivational quote or idea in paycheck envelopes. It might offset the sticker shock from taxes being deducted. We offer Windows for Success. Twenty-eight thought provoking quotes in each of three categories: Teamwork, Service, and Quality (84 outstanding quotes in all). The "Windows" pop open revealing the inspirational thought for the day. Call our office if you'd like more information or a sample card.
31. Clown Face Painting Day.
Hey, loosen up a bit! Before you say this is a stupid idea, ask your four year old consultant! Bring in a "face painter" to paint up faces for the day. (Some of you might benefit by a clown painting!)
32. The Belly Laugh.
Just let it go! Gather everyone in a circle and have someone start a deep, focused belly laugh. Go for it 100% and watch the silliness catch on. Extreme laughter is contagious! Remember, twenty seconds of deep, side splitting belly laughter equals three minutes of aerobic exercise! You could do an entire workout just by laughing.
33. Seasonal Dress up Days.
A beach day in the dead of winter can be ironic and fun. Remember the beach chairs and sun glasses. Sun screen will add a nice touch.
34. Bald Head Caps.
I love this idea—Can you imagine everyone in your department wearing a bald head cap? Just the thought of these makes me chuckle. Give it a try.
35. Dress the Same.
For a change, have everyone dress the same—exactly the same. This can be a worthy effort.
36. Bubbles.
They're inexpensive and easy. Three or four minutes of bubble blowing has a calming effect. You might add a new twist and try Bubble Olympics-different events featuring, you guessed it, bubbles. (Biggest bubble, longest lasting, longest float distance…you get the idea!)
37. Hunk Night Videos.
An after hours event, one group gathered the interested troops from various departments and viewed videos while eating pizza. The themes varied from "Hunk Night" to "Scary Night", etc. (I'm certain my video was included in the "Hunk Night"-yah, right!)
38. Fireside Chats.
A small plastic fire place model is brought in and the group simply chats about the days events. (One word of caution: roasting marshmallows is tough on the fake fire!)
39. Dunking Booth.
Several groups offered some rather "aggressive" stress reduction ideas—A dunking booth for managers and corporate officers. I imagine this would work great if all parties are willing. (One group was "awarded" this dunk when they reached their goals-it worked!)
40. Karaoke Day.
Don't ask me to do my Elvis impression because I'll have too much fun! This can be a great way to audition future stars. The winner goes on to "Star Search" with Ed McMahon. (Ask for my new CD Release-"You can lock me in prison, but you can't keep my face from breaking out!")
41. Talent Show.
Along with the Karaoke ideas looms hidden talents in a variety of fields. Folks on your team might play musical instruments, do magic acts or knit fast. Draw out these hidden talents for a fun session!
42. Ice Cream Social.
What could be better? Here's another food related idea that offers a good excuse for a get together and offers a sugar buzz as well.
43. Listen Literally.
This remains one of my favorites. It's a talent that requires some practice but the pay-off can be hilarious! My recent favorite: When I asked a waiter for directions to the men's room, he said, "Use the Stairs". They have asked me not to return to the restaurant again. Try looking in classified ads and read them literally.
44. Draw Straws.
Shortest straw wins lunch or gets to go home early or wins a prize. Remember, people love to win things, any thing!
45. Stretch Breaks.
Stand up, move your body, breath deep. This activity has many side benefits such as it sends oxygen to the brain. During times of "fight or flight" tension, we shut down our breathing, thus shutting down oxygen to the brain. Stretching also loosens up muscles, promotes circulation and increases your range of motion. Do this as a group with a leader and music for an added team touch.
46. Rubber Band Fights.
Be sure to wear safety glasses for this activity, then let the games begin. Set up targets to shoot at with points being awarded for hits. Place a paper heart on your shirt (or forehead) and let the rubber bands fly. This might seem a bit childish and silly but who said we had to be rigid and boring as adults?
47. Misquotes.
Depending on your line of work or industry, opportunities abound of customers and fellow employees misquoting slogans or ideas. Another opportunity is to play with slogans or quotes that are familiar. One group starts out a quote then let's each individual write the ending. Example: "You can lead a horse to water but...". One clever person finished the quote by writing: "But you can't make him put on a bathing suit!" Pretty clever.
48. Army Hats.
Try this fun idea-during your next meeting wear a army hat. Better yet, try a helmet. Still better yet, just before the meeting have everyone quick change into combat fatigues. When the boss walks in she'll see the troops ready for commands.
49. Sound Effect Machines.
I hate to admit this but I've brought these sound effect machines into the office with side splitting results. Products range from animal sounds to bodily noises. These machines can be fun if used with some form of discretion. In other words, don't be obnoxious! (Why is it that when we point fingers, more are pointing back at us?)
50. Kiss Day.
Everyone gets a kiss or several if they've been especially good. A nice Hershey's kiss can make for a fun award. (Is this another cheap attempt at a food idea?)
51. Wedding Bells.
It's fun to see how fashions and styles have changed over the years. Thus, bringing in that one favorite wedding snap shot could reveal much about hem lines and hair lines. Have folks guess what year the wedding took place. The person with the most correct answers wins a prize. (Probably something to eat!) Hint: If you see a long haired guy in a lime green leisure tux, honest it's not me.
52. Slipper Day.
Go ahead, break out those passion pink slippers that look like a shaggy rodent and wear those to the office. It was fun to see that "somewhat" normal adults had some of the strangest slippers know to man. The more "off-the-wall" the better. Of course a contest is held to select the wildest pair of slippers. You already know what the prize is: FOOD! (Endust might be an excellent prize—spray the slippers then dust as you walk!)
53. The "Yes" Clap.
Raise your left arm to a 45 degree angle from your body. Place your right arm below and behind you. Begin shaking your right hand (The lower one!). Vocally, begin a firm "Wooooooo...." building in volume and intensity. (Keep shaking that right hand. The lower one). In a few seconds, after the intensity and energy level rises to fever pitch, bring your right hand rapidly up to your left and clap while shouting "YES!!!" Repeat this process two additional times with increased energy and explosion. If your energy level was at a "2" before this process, I guarantee it'll raise to an "8". If you're already at an 8, watch out, NASA may want to speak with you about their next missile launch. It is impossible to be bummed after this exercise.
54. Smile!
Try this right now: Raise your head and look at the ceiling. Place a giant smile from ear to ear on your face while looking up. Now, try and be depressed. Go ahead, try and be depressed with head held high and a giant smile on your face! You can't do it! Neither can others who try this exercise a few minutes each day.
55. Puppets.
Puppets can be a healthy way to argue with a customer. One puppet is the customer another puppet is you. Have a conversation together. Explore ideas that might work better under similar conditions in the future.
56. Coffee Breaks.
Make a coffee break an event. An expresso bar can add a nice touch. In Europe having a cup of coffee is an event. Much "to-do" goes into the preparation and presentation of the coffee. Little cookies accent the plate. Part of this ideas process is looking for ways to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Have fun with this concept.
57. WOW!
If you've participated in any of my programs you know the goal is to "WOW!" our customers. A rousing "WOW!" war cry from the team can set creative ideas flowing, reduce tension, move your bodies and refocus your team's intent. The WOW! idea cannot be explained, you must experience it personally.
58. Balloon Batting.
Have the group blow up a variety of balloons then bat them around. Sound complicated? You can also draw faces on the balloon of a challenging customers; play volley balloon; pop them in the air. You can even blow up the balloons, don't tie them off, then draw a "target" and see who can land their balloon the closest. Prize possibilities abound using this theme—break out the plates and forks! More food!
59-61. Dart Board.
There is something calming about taking a sharp object and hurling it toward a target. We suggest an inanimate object as the target…perhaps that's why they invented a dart board. This idea also lends itself to some creative adaptation. You can write out a frustration, place a word on the target and fire away. You can even combine the balloon idea and attach balloons to the target and watch the thing explode (Is that idea 60?). Still another idea (#61) is to combine Idea #27 "I WIN!!!" with Idea #58 "Balloon Batting" and place prizes in the balloon. At one company employees earn darts for going the extra mile, dealing superbly with customers, etc. and each week the team throws darts at balloons loaded with prizes. The prizes range from cash to movie tickets to ice cream coupons.
62. Primal Screams.
A basic animal stress release devise is to let out a good animal scream. Select your favorite animal, tilt your head back then let'er rip. Some animals are easier to imitate than others. A coyote hallowing at the moon, a cat fight, chickens clucking are easier than a fruit bat or earth worm. Have the team stand in a circle, everyone selects a different animal, then at the signal begins their primal scream.
63. Best Pet Photo.
Proudly display your favorite pet photos. Have a contest: Beauty, most "unique", largest, smallest. Give away ribbons to the winners. Remember the baby picture idea (#4)—do the same thing with the critters—guess whose pet belongs to whom. This can be great fun. Winner gets a flea collar and 25 pound bag of Alpo.
64. Funniest Home Videos.
You might be able to have folks pull together funny home videos for viewing by the troops. Be sure to place time limits or provide No-Doze.
65. Fun Slides.
If your group is clever, you can pull fun photos from books, take a snap shot of the pictures with slide film them make up some fun stories. We use fun pictures as overheads in our presentations. The photos seem to illustrate and reinforce key points.
66. Funny Stories.
Here's how simple this idea is: Write a simple story full of adjectives, verbs and some nouns. The story only needs to be a few paragraphs long and can take on assorted themes. When you have finished writing, take out a majority of the adjectives and verb. In their place write what type of word should go there—i.e. "Verb". Ask the team to offer words that will fill in the gaps—don't read the story yet—just get words. After you have all the replacement verbs, adjectives, nouns, read the stories. The outcomes are hilarious.
67. Best Imitation Photos.
This ties in with Idea #63—submit your best photos of you imitating a pet. Have people guess who is in the photo. Vote for whomever looks most like a real pet. (I'm not sure this is a real idea but someone in our office got a good laugh by submitting it for consideration, so it must be worthy of mention.)
68. Talk to the Animals.
This could be a take off from Dr. Doolittle but one person says people in her office speak to stuffed animals. Our contributor says the reps take their animals to the back room and talk to them. Frankly, it sounded like an idea that can be fun but I think the entire company should be required to undergo mandatory drug testing.
69. Men's Legs Contest.
Another sick group of people thought it'd be fun to have a men's leg contest. No doubt they ate their way through the contest.
70. Keep Breathing.
In and out, in and out. Stop for more than six or seven minutes and you're a real goner! Deep breathing relaxes, cleans toxins from your system and sends more oxygen to the brain. Try this breathing technique three times a day: Breath-in to the count of 1, 2, 3. Hold the breath to the count 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. Exhale to the count of 1,2,3,4,5,6. Repeat five times—Now go conquer the world!!
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