Let’s play pool to improve productivity
We often associate a game of pool as something to do at the pub, an enjoyable pastime with mates. The thing is playing pool or playing anything for that matter is almost always exclusively reserved as an activity or reward after we've worked. We've earned it, we’ve worked hard and deserve a break. Pool or any game, activity or holiday is always a reward not a catalyst for productivity.
No time to play, I'm too busy working.
Words constantly echoed around the UK, busy people at the 'sharp end of thin things' worrying about work hard rather than allowing our inner self to find the solutions to our lifelong hopes and dreams.
We all understand that when we play, we put our worries down as we lose ourselves in the positive feelings play provides.
These positive emotions are generated by 'happy hormones' or endorphins rushing through our body, helping us to relax, lifting our mood and producing a greater sense of wellbeing throughout our body and mind.
In short we feel energised, boosted, relaxed and raring to go. Rather than the opposite feelings after a day at work feeling tired, low in mood, stressed and full of pent up emotion.
So if play fills us with energy why don't we play more before and during work?
As adults we're conditioned to work hard first, play is a reward for hard work. However in more ways than one should be the otherway round, play should be the fuel for great efficient work.
A recent psychological study entitled "Play hard, work hard: Fun at work and job performance" found -
"individuals having fun at work were also more likely to be more engaged in their work, and consequently exhibit greater creative performance." (Fluegge-Woolf, 2014)
Indeed, Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung stated -
"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves."
In so many ways it makes more sense to break the work day with play, to see play as a stimulus to great productivity rather than the reward for hard work. Play can of course be both but the power of play as the oil in the wheels of productivity is the key to the equation many of try hard to solve.
Some people will have seen the play spaces in new businesses such as Google, Twitter and Facebook, these companies were founded on the hard work of individuals who started working out of bedrooms and garages. People that we perceive, tied themselves to computers for many hours at a time, they did but they also worked in a way that worked for them. They played, they integrated work with play, used play as a tool for creativity as the fuel for the next burst of work.
They understand the true power of play in the workplace.
Every workplace should have a place for play
Think of the morale boost, the power of team building, the greater output, these all equal happier staff, less staff sickness and much greater productivity.
So why not invest in a custom-built pool table, or even a branded custom built pool table. No better still a branded custom built pool table handmade in the USA especially for your business. The concept alone can stir the soul of some of the most grumpy employees. Why not invest in two pool tables, because the board or directors could also benefit from the play hard to work smarter philosophy, just as much as the staff.
Investing in a custom pool table for your business or home is not only affordable, but reaps rewards for many years to come.
Fluegge-Woolf, E., 2014. Play hard, work hard: Fun at work and job performance | Emerald Insight. [online] Emerald.com. Available at: <https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MRR-11-2012-0252/full/html> [Accessed 4 August 2021].