INSIDER, February 2026
I read a post last year that asked, “Do you schedule fun like you schedule meetings?” It discussed the need to take ownership of our time – ensuring the days, weeks, months, years don’t pass without us carving out space to do the things that bring us joy. The message resonated, because I’ve yet to master the sense of owning my calendar. All too often I find myself feeling consumed versus in control, and I imagine many of you can relate.
This is all a work in progress, but the post made me think about the importance of where we say yes and what we say yes too. If asked to support a new initiative at work, I am likely to say yes without hesitation. When asked to meet for coffee, try a new yoga class, or even (it pains me to admit) to play board game with my kids, I’m far more likely to say, “I can’t right now” or “sure, let’s do that soon!”
We just returned from a family trip to Puerto Rico. Last fall, close friends who used to live in our town but relocated a couple of years ago asked us to go on vacation with them, presenting a prime opportunity to exercise this idea of scheduling fun. Prime until it wasn’t, because with some shifts in timelines of some major projects the timing turned out to be quite poor.
I worked long hours for the week and a half leading up to our departure, packed feverishly the night before we left, and arrived having done zero research on our destination (very unlike me). If I’m honest, the trip felt like a really bad idea – until we arrived. The joy on my kids’ faces, brought on by the sunshine and sight of their friends, made all the stress worth it. We spend the next four days exploring the beautiful streets of Old San Juan, playing in the sand, and hiking in El Yunque rainforest.
This experience reinforced the lesson that post intended to impart, which is that the timing will never be just right to prioritize fun – but we must do it anyway. Life is too short not to make time for the experiences and people that bring you joy.
Does Fun Fit at Work?
This applies to work and to leadership, too. We are often caught up in the next milestone, objective, initiative and lose sight of the importance of making time and space for fun at work. When celebrations do take place, it’s often in honor of a major accomplishment – not to reward everyday effort.
In a time in our world that feels filled all too much with stress and despair, fun can feel almost shameful. But to do our best work, to be of service to others, we need to find sources of joy to keep us hopeful.
Considering how to incorporate more fun into work may feel frivolous, but doing so can help employees feel more connected, more energized, and happier. There’s nothing frivolous about that!
If you’ve found ways to prioritize fun, for yourself or by incorporating it into your team’s culture, I’d love to hear how.