Why you should play more games in the office.
Less is More was introduced in the poem “The Faultless Painter” by Robert Browning in 1855. Ever since Less is More has been relevant in many parts of our lives. The one place many of us fail to live up to this concept is at work. We work more. However, we produce less.
If Less is More, maybe we should work less, to produce more. Many countries in the world are adapting to this by a shorter Full-Time work week. The Global Competitive Report by the OECD shows that countries with less working hours are topping the global competitive list. Personally, as a Dutch native transplant into the United States, this topic rings true in so many ways.
A recent study conducted by the Draugiem Group tracked employees’ work focus. The ideal work-to-break ratio was 52 minutes of work, followed by 17 minutes of rest. This ratio lines up with the Pomodoro Technique. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals.
Other concepts such as timeboxing and iterative and incremental development used in software design are being utilized in different fields across industries.
Are we doomed to a long ineffective work week?
The common belief is that who works more hours = more productivity. By now we know this is not true. However, it is a culture that wouldn’t change soon in many workplaces. In the US the average Full-Time employee will work 47 hours a week according to a Gallup survey.
Parkinson’s Law highlights the fact that when a person has more time to fulfill a shorter task, one will take that time. We all go to many meetings that last 60 long minutes, yet it could have been accomplished in a 20-minute meeting.
Besides the fact that wasting 40 minutes in a meeting should be a crime, it also drains energy, motivation, and focus of everyone involved. A part of those 40 minutes could be used to re-energize everyone.
What can we do to tackle this in the workplace?
Many modern workplaces are now embracing the notion of providing a playful space within the office for their employees. For example, in the Chicago office of Pivotal Inc., a ping-pong table and games are readily available. For an outsider walking in it may seem that the ping-pong table takes away from working time, when in fact it is a re-energizing moment that will make the work hours more effective.
There are more positive side effects of providing this escape at the workplace; Team building, increased personal connection and positive competitive spirit.
Not every workplace has space or funds to set up a ping-pong table, and not all of us enjoy chasing a little ball that always seems to be missing the paddle. Here are some great alternatives to create a re-energize moment in the workspace.
Game time to the rescue?!
A Deck of Cards ($1)
Players: 1– 4
Duration: 5-30 minutes
One can never go wrong with a deck of standard playing cards! There are endless games you can play with a standard deck of cards. Great examples are Agram or Six Card Golf, one can, of course, all play version of poker, bridge or just good old Solitaire if you need a break from work and your co-workers!
Splendor ($30)
Players: 2 – 4
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops — all to acquire the most prestige points. If you’re wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.
Knob & Heel (Cribbage) ($20)
Players: 1– 4
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Cribbage is a classic card game that has been played for centuries. Descended from a game called Noddy, Cribbage was originally a game played by sailors. It was one of the few games that could be played on the rolling seas, as it used pegs that moved along a track of holes that could be carved into nearly any part of the ship
Love Letter ($30)
Players: 2–4
Duration: 20–25 minutes
Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2–4 players. Your goal is to get your love letter into Princess Annette’s hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors. From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire!
Puzzles ($1 — $50)
Players: 1-many
Duration: 5–30 minutes
This is where an office can get together. Get a big, complicated puzzle and all work together and solve the puzzle over time as everybody chips in a little bit, piece by piece.
The Resistance: Avalon ($20)
Players: 5–10
Duration: 30 minutes
The Resistance: Avalon pits the forces of Good and Evil in a battle to control the future of civilization. Arthur represents the future of Britain, a promise of prosperity and honor, yet hidden among his brave warriors are Mordred’s unscrupulous minions. These forces of evil are few in number but have knowledge of each other and remain hidden from all but one of Arthur’s servants. Merlin alone knows the agents of evil, but he must speak of this only in riddles. If his true identity is discovered, all will be lost.
This is just a small selection of all the options out there. Go and have fun, take a break, invite your boss to join in!
As a leader set the example!
Are you a badass boss? Set the example! Be a leader and invite your most precious resource (your staff) to join you in a game and have them re-energize and ready to tackle the next problem.
As a final thought, besides these options to help you re-energize, one can take a walk! Go outside, take in some fresh air, let the sun hit your face. Walking 20 minutes is always a great idea.
If you have any great game suggestions or break ideas, please do share in the comment section.
This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by 277,994+ people.
Subscribe to receive our top stories here.
