Fun instead of stress: good ideas for a relaxed working day

First the work, then the pleasure! A saying that we all know from our childhood and that we often take for granted in our professional lives. But work and pleasure can also be wonderfully combined: Just a few little tricks can increase your own motivation at work and make the working atmosphere more pleasant - regardless of profession or position. After all, it would be a shame to start a new working week longing for Friday.

Relax through the day

Strength lies in calm

If you start your working day rushed, you are unlikely to achieve good results. Therefore: take a few minutes to arrive in peace and quiet and consciously collect yourself over a cup of tea or coffee.

Get an overview

What's on the agenda today? Write a to-do list and also make a note of when each item should be completed by. That way, nothing is forgotten. Another advantage: if you set yourself specific goals, you will be much more motivated to work.

Say no sometimes

Are the tasks piling up? Then complete them one by one and kindly decline further requests. Constantly bending over backwards for others doesn't make you happy in the long run.

Appreciate the little things

Keep your ears and eyes open for the little pleasures at work. A nice chat with a colleague, a good song on the radio or praise from your line manager.

Don't forget: Get enough exercise

Especially if you sit a lot, make sure you stand up every now and then. Instead of ringing through to colleagues in the office next door, walk over. Taking a short walk around the block during the break works wonders.

Dear colleagues

Spend breaks together

Set one day a month to go out for a meal with the whole department. This encourages communication and ensures that everyone in the team gets to know each other better.

Give compliments

They lift the mood and are a real motivational boost. So don't be stingy with praising your colleagues for good performance. Want to bet that the recognition will come back to you?

Small tokens of appreciation

Muffins are quick to bake and are guaranteed to put a smile on faces - and not just for birthdays. Why not surprise your colleagues spontaneously with a few sweet treats?

Celebrate joint successes

Introduce certain rituals to celebrate achieved goals. Toast with a bottle of sparkling wine, for example, to celebrate a completed project or a new customer.

Going out after work

A small drink after work creates space to make friends and bond the team.

Relaxed with the boss

Find out your boss's preferences

Does your boss place more value on good planning than spontaneous ideas? Then simply take this preference into account in the way you work.

Don't take anything personally

Everyone hears criticism from time to time. Therefore, don't question your person, but evaluate the facts.

Seek one-on-one conversations

Seek a direct exchange with your boss to clarify problems. It helps better than getting angry or working into the blue.

Show commitment

Nobody likes nerds. But if you make new suggestions and ideas that go beyond what is required, you will be well received by the boss: you will show him that you are genuinely interested in the economic success of the company.

Emphasize your strengths

Make it clear in which areas you achieve particularly good results. This way, you will be entrusted with tasks that are particularly suited to your skills more often in the future.

Preserve the vacation feeling

Not from zero to one hundred

Out of the plane and into the office? Not a good idea. It's better to take an extra day off to recover from the return journey and settle in at home.

Take time out with you to the office

Have you taken lots of photos? Then set them up as a background on your PC. Place souvenirs on your desk so that they often catch your eye. Alternatively, always carry a photo or a small souvenir with you.

Break out of the routine

Have you been very active on your days off and tried lots of new things? Then copy this principle to your everyday life by changing your habits: do more sport, learn a new language ...

Request your next time-out

Nothing dispels a gloomy mood better than the anticipation of a new recovery phase. Why not plan your next vacation as soon as you get back?

Atmosphere at the desk

Set up your desk

Photos of loved ones or particularly beautiful moments in life create a pleasant familiarity at the workplace and remind us of what really matters outside of work. A quick glance is usually all it takes to tackle tasks with more vigor.

Order is half the battle

It's not particularly effective to work in the chaos of files and sticky notes. It's better to take a little time every evening to regain the necessary overview.

Bringing the office to life

... with green plants and flowers. They have three advantages: they filter pollutants out of the air, generate oxygen and create a pleasant, feel-good atmosphere.

A good mood on the wall

Hang up posters and pictures and talk to your line manager to see if the walls can be made friendlier with a few splashes of color. Also nice: decorate the office according to the seasons, for example with cute handicrafts made by the children.