TURN YOUR WORKPLACE INTO A PLAYPLACE

Feeling stressed and unproductive in your workplace?

Perhaps it’s because you need your office to be more of a “playplace.”

And I’m not joking about needing to increase the joking.

Many corporations are now hiring “humor consultants “ to help employees work out internal problems and increase productivity. They’re bringing in people like John Morreall, PhD, CEO of Humorworks, a corporate seminar company which specifically helps corporations ensure humor is at work at work.

Dr. Morreal believes there are four specific benefits to keeping workplace humor alive and thriving:

1. Humor is physically and psychologically healthy. It boosts the immune system, plus reduces stress. Studies have specifically shown that epinephrine – a major stress chemical in the blood -- is reduced after laughter.

2. Humor promotes mental flexibility: brainstorming, dealing with change, bouncing back from failure. Studies have shown that the people who see a funny video, then take a creative thinking test, score better than people who merely watch a boring informational video.

3. Humor serves as social lubricant, reducing tension and conflict.

4. Humor gives a feeling of control during hard times – and perhaps a true feeling of control. Joking about a problem truly helps you do something about it -- by forcing you to see your problem in a new way.

So today decide to consiously deal with your heavy workload with a light sense of humor. Forward that funny email. Make that funny comment during a meeting. Cajole instead of force.