Office Fun: Step Away from the Boredom of Your Desk

Taking a break will increase productivity.

Everyone has heard the tired old adage that “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. Even though this saying has been around for centuries, it is still true today. Sometimes people just need to take a few moments and step away from the boredom of the office routine. Sometimes, they just need time to engage in office fun.

In many situational comedies and parodies of office life, workers are frequently gathered around the water cooler or coffee pot, discussing one another’s personal lives and events outside the office. Some of these past comedies have even featured colleagues gathered around a desk, discussing the mysterious habits and odd behaviors of their leader. While these activities may indeed offer a brief moment away from the boring realities of everyday life, most people are in fact trapped at their desk on a daily basis, sometimes for hours at a time. When this occurs, having a quiet toy of some sort nearby often relieves the pressure of boredom and work frustrations. These toys do not have to be elaborate; sometimes they are as common as stress balls or small handheld puzzles.

Some individuals who sit before computers all day long often find that taking a short break from the efforts of their job is best accomplished through computer games such as Solitaire or Free Cell. In contrast, others may find it necessary to keep more interesting toys, such as anger management dolls, puzzle cubes, or pin or paper clip art projects. Although different people find different toys or puzzles appealing, all of these products offer people similar opportunities to decompress and take a few moments away from the stresses of their work. These office games are essential not only to a person’s emotional health; they also increase productivity because they allow people to take a breath and relax before beginning once more to focus on the task.