Okay, so if we are all honest, things aren’t going exactly as planned. Many of us are wishing for a good pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers to click ourselves back to our happy place when the reality is we are like the kids from The Cat In The Hat sitting in the window and staring out into a world hoping for better, sooner.
But who says the Cat In The Hat won’t make a visit?
As we are all working remotely, we need to be remotely having fun. Here are a few ways to get started!
Remote games
Remote games can be a simple way to start a conversation and have fun. Here are a few ideas!
Team Bingo – You could share out homemade Bingo cards with funny (and appropriate) things your team says or does during remote meetings that you check off throughout the week. First-person to complete their card wins!
“My Co-worker is…” – Have your team members share what their family or pets are doing at the home office but start it off with, “My co-worker is…” and watch some of the hilarious responses you get in return!
Ask Questions – Throughout the week, ask funny questions that actually helps to get to know others and bring the team together such as:
“What was the most important snack you knew you had to stock up on?”
“What is the craziest thing that has happened during your workday so far?”
“What are you binge-watching right now?”
Playlist sharing
A great way to have some fun on your team is sharing the music you love! Share your favorite playlist with your team or create a group chat channel like #nowplaying or #whatiamlisteningto and help others feel connected by enjoying the same tunes.
Dress up
Why on earth do we wait for Halloween to dress up in the office? Break out your favorite hats, wigs, and costumes and have some fun! Wearing less make-up when you go remote? Maybe it’s time to do a make-over your co-workers won’t forget! (Note: Make sure whatever you do, if you have client meetings, you have a way to tone it down a bit).
Backdrop competition
Okay, we know Zoom has some really cool backdrops but we’re talking about the homemade kind! Challenge your team right before the weekend to create a backdrop for their remote workspace so that come Monday, they are ready for a big reveal! Use only items in the house (shopping is not the name of this game) and leave your cameras off until the start of your first meeting. Turn those cameras on and enjoy whatever surprises await!
Family fun
So, the family is there…we are past trying to hide that. And that means the workday consists of a blend of work and family life. Use the family for some work fun! Try inviting the kids to run a team meeting by having them tell the team one thing they need to do better (this can be fun if they have no idea what you do) or have the kids draw a picture of what they think you are doing and share it with the team.
Bring your pet
Of course, your pets are there, most likely bringing you comfort and joy so why not share them with the team? Bring them to a meeting and show them off if they are being cute or silly to bring a smile to everyone! You can even try snapping their expressions and creating fun work memes with them!
Mini talent show
Anyone on the team plays an instrument or sing? What about any other unique talents? Hold an online talent show and have some fun supporting each other as they share their personal gifts with others.
Art class
This one can get interesting. Pick an object or a well-known piece of art and ask the team to recreate it using only items found in their house! Sit and chat online while working on your project and then share it at the end of the video call.
Happy hour
Schedule a small block of time for everyone to grab their favorite drink, get on a video call, and enjoy some time together that isn’t work-specific. Happy hours are called that for a reason…to be happy! Reflect on the hard work you are doing together under amazing circumstances and just have fun.
What else are you doing to have fun remotely? All of us at Docket would love to hear! Email us at info@dockethq.com!
