letting you hair down

brock200 · 20-02-2009, 15:19

hi all just wanted some advice i all ways work and one of the staff came up to me yesterday and said i should let my hair down for once and have some fun at work but i don't really do fun and to tell u the truth i would not know where to start what would u do and if u said 2 have fun what kind of fun thanks

**Paul** · 20-02-2009, 15:23

I can think of a few things

brock200 · 20-02-2009, 15:24

please tell

Halcyon · 20-02-2009, 21:28

Maybe your colleague was just telling you lighten up a little. Don't take things too seriously.
At the end of the day you need to be a little laid back at work otherwise it would get too despressing.

I understand that you want to do your work welland get on with things but maybe just chill out slightly as well. Don't let work take over your life.

20-02-2009, 22:41

I think we should try to be a bit more helpful to people who seem to be genuinely asking for advice - there are enough cynics here, a different approach would be refreshing ???

Tezcatlipoca · 20-02-2009, 23:57

Hmm. On reflection, I've deleted a few posts.

I know what some people are thinking , but please stay on topic

I think Gaz has a point about being more helpful & sympathetic.

TheDaddy · 21-02-2009, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

I think we should try to be a bit more helpful to people who seem to be genuinely asking for advice - there are enough cynics here, a different approach would be refreshing ???

Wise words, you didn't actually offer him any advice though.

Brock we are all different, if you want to take your job seriously then good luck to you, just remember we work to live, not live to work. Work hard, play hard is my advice.

Angua · 21-02-2009, 08:05

Or another approach might be to not criticize others mistakes and be a little more tolerant of those who are not as dedicated to work.

Also show you have a life outside work or be the person who gets the funny cards for peoples birthdays.

Even something as small as putting a wingding

smiley on an e-mail might help.

brock200 · 22-02-2009, 01:17

what would u do for fun where would u start as i don't really do fun thats why im asking

joglynne · 22-02-2009, 08:32

Can you give us a bit of information to work with? You said in your original post that "one of the staff came up to me yesterday and said i should let my hair down for once and have some fun at work ". The fun at work sounds like there may be an established social side to where you work? Are you the office junior, part of a team, or maybe a Team leader? Some times the position you hold can dictate how much "fun" it is safe to indulge in.

What do your colleagues do? I can understand you may not feel comfortable, or knowledgeable enough to join any generalized banter but if they have something more structured, even something as simple joining the office Lotto syndicate could give you something to help in breaking down the barrier you appear to have innocently erected.

The member of staff who approached you may also be a good introduction to the lighter side of office life. If they spoke to you as someone trying to help could you not have a quite word with them and ask their advise?

lucy7 · 25-02-2009, 19:09

All so serious!

Go for a drink with them all, chat about rubbish, have another drink, chat more about rubbish, thats what most think is letting your hair down!!

cookie_365 · 25-02-2009, 19:23

Think about your colleague's motives.

Are you getting stressed out at work, and your colleague has noticed, and is trying to help you out by letting you know that you can relax a bit and still be a success.

Or are they a bully, threatened by you? A classic bullying technique is to tell anyone offended/upset/uncomfortable by their behaviour to 'lighten up' - it's a way of making their victim feel responsible for the situation.

Assuming it's the first, I would go back to them and say 'You know, I think you might be right - I do need to relax a bit - I'm so uptight I've got no idea how to go about it - any suggestions?'. That gives them a chance to help you out and bring you into the social group, without anyone feeling like you've just decided to impose yourself on them.

The Hitman · 25-02-2009, 19:58

The best way to let your hair down. Is to take your wig off.IF you dont have a wig then buy one.

**Maggy** · 25-02-2009, 21:31

Take in a huge gooey cake or a box of chocolates once in a while and they will soon think you are a good egg..There won't be any further suggestions that you are uptight after that...

Anonymouse · 25-02-2009, 22:06

Fun? At work? What the hell's that? Is it allowed? We're only barely allowed to be ill at our place, let alone enjoying ourselves; we even get told off (to the extent of possibly inviting verbal warnings) if we take too much time off to look after family (e.g. one bloke whose pregnant wife was in danger of miscarriage for a while). Take 5% of time off (roughly 1 day per month) and it's a problem...to them, anyway.

Frak me, one bloke was taken to task for being off sick for 8 weeks, and indeed he was, but to put this in context and give you some idea of what a 19th Century employer ours is, the bloke in question had a broken leg.

'nuff said. I can't advise on letting your hair down; 99.9% of the time we're too busy tearing what's left of it out.