.avif)
The second wave of coronavirus has meant that almost everyone has to work from home – what a drag! Now we're back to staring at our screens at home. Some find it annoying, while others quite enjoy it. However, remote work isn't great for team cohesion. That's why we're doing everything we can to make working from home fun, maintain contact, and boost team morale. We'll explain how we do this, including 5 useful tips!
How we make working from home fun
For the team, Friday is one of the most important days for getting to know each other better. We often plan fun activities, have a drink together, or play games. All in all, we always try to make it enjoyable. That's what we did last Friday evening. A big challenge, given that everyone is working from home. Fortunately, we have a creative culture crew, and they came up with the following game:The GameAlmost everyone is familiar with Kahoot. We also used this for our Friday evening game, but with a twist. In pairs, we came up with questions about each other that others didn't know. Along with the correct answers, everyone also came up with three lies for their questions. So, with eight pairs, you get a quiz with sixteen funny and personal questions. One person from the culture crew hosted the Kahoot quiz, and the others played the game in their own teams.
Teams
The game isn't just played in small teams out of necessity; it also builds camaraderie. If you're paired with someone you don't usually work with, you get to know a different side of them, which is great! During the game, you consult after each question (quickly, though) because otherwise, you'll be too late with the answer. After each personal question, they can give a brief explanation. This quickly shows that you can still laugh together even over video calls!
Culture crew
To organize these kinds of activities, we've appointed a culture crew (which is also one of our five tips). They take care of these activities! Of course, it's much harder to come up with something fun when everyone is working from home. But they've proven their creativity!
5 Tips to make working from home enjoyable
Now, as a reader, we also want to give you some practical tips to make remote work a bit more enjoyable. That's why we have five useful tips for you to use.
Tip 1: occasionally schedule a virtual coffee break
Currently, for questions or discussions, you can call, email, or send Slack messages. However, you still miss that personal touch. Try to regularly use video calls with your colleagues. This quickly makes conversations more informal and allows you to see each other, making contact with your colleagues feel a little less distant.
Tip 2: make clear agreements
For many, working from home presents an extra challenge, for instance, due to having young children. This can mean you're not always as readily available. Therefore, make clear agreements. This will lead to fewer frustrated calls or emails, helping you maintain a pleasant working relationship.
Tip 3: spruce up your workspace
Your workspace is incredibly important for your concentration and job satisfaction. For example, by placing a plant on your desk, you will increase your concentration. Not only that, your workspace is a place where you spend about eight hours a day. So, it's important that you also enjoy being there.
Tip 4: set up a culture crew
It's almost impossible for the entire team to constantly come up with fun ideas, as everyone has different preferences and suggestions. That's why a culture crew is so important. If you don't have one yet, bring it up with your employer. If two creative employees are assigned, you can be sure that something enjoyable will be planned.
Tip 5: virtual happy hours
A virtual happy hour won't become the norm, of course, but for now, it's a fun starting point. This way, you can connect informally and get to know each other better. During the happy hour, also play games or do a storytelling round. We hope these tips are useful! Enjoy your remote work!
