Little Ways I Bring Joy to My Work Day

All work and no play does make Erika a dull entrepreneur…(hello, The Shining reference)

We all need some joy in our lives, especially while we’re working!

I love being a business owner, and I love helping my clients, but some days you need a pick-me-up because things are too stressful.

This is why I’m sharing a few ways I add joy throughout my work days to show you how simple, impactful actions can give you the energy or the mood boost you need to get through your day!

Boundaries

First things first, one of the most effective joy-bringers is setting clear, healthy boundaries in your work life. One way I do that is by only taking meetings from Tuesday to Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are for me to work uninterrupted in and on my business, and they help me set up for the week ahead and properly wind down at the end. 

Another way is protecting your breaks, fully stepping away from your phone or laptop or whatever would be pulling your attention away from taking a proper break or mid-day rest. A great way to do this is by blocking it out on your calendar and being firm about not being available during those times.

Boundaries are key to an effective work and life balance, but overall in respecting and protecting your time in and out of your job.

The Sweet Treat Effect

Don’t forget about the healing power of a snack! Everyone loves a sweet little treat, something you enjoy eating or drinking that helps pick up your mood. 

There’s no one way to do this. For example, you can make an outing of your snack/sweet treat, sometimes that’s all it’s about, getting yourself out of the house and changing up your routine. Another option is to make something at home and get yourself moving, or at least out of your office for a little bit. Whatever the case, your snack is a reward for your work progress, and also a way to integrate a break into your day.

Playing Video Games

When I’m done working for the day, my evenings are all about unwinding, and one of those ways is through playing video games. 

I find that for me, video games are relaxing and they’re just a digital form of story-led puzzles, keeping my focus on the task in front of me rather than letting my brain fall back into work-related thoughts.

Watching the Harbour

As I write this, I’m still living on the east coast in Nova Scotia, and one of my favourite things to do is to watch the harbour. There’s always something to see, a ferry coming in, different boats being docked, and people walking/moving around. 

For me, it’s very calming and helps me move from my world in my office and bring me back into my community, even if it is just from my window most days. And hey, a harbour is just really cool and fun to watch and observe!

These are just some simple ways that I use to add joy throughout my day but at its core, each of these is about adding a sense of relief and reward to my work day. 

Working is stressful, it's taxing on our minds and bodies, so it’s important to incorporate simple things that make you smile, laugh, or take a sigh of relief.

So what are you doing to add joy to your work day?