Working in a warehouse can be a grind. You’re putting in long hours doing hot, heavy work that is often repetitive. But there’s no reason you have to feel miserable. After all, you’re moving around rather than sitting behind a desk, and you’re working with a broad cross-section of people. Here a few ways to make your warehouse work more fun.
Make Friends
You may or may not develop a lifelong friendship, but you will almost certainly feel happier and more satisfied if you become friendly with your coworkers. Get to know them as people, thank them when they help you out, and look for areas of common interest. If nothing else, chatting up your fellow team members will make the time pass more quickly.
Work Together
Look for opportunities to take on projects that require teamwork. Being part of a team helps to build camaraderie and can make you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. It might also allow you to cross-train – learn new tasks and job functions -, which could ultimately help you advance at the company.
Implement Friendly Competitions
Warehouse work tends to attract people who are hardworking and slightly Type A, with a competitive spirit. So why not turn the grind into a friendly competition? Whether you challenge a friend to see who can fill the most orders in an hour or your team is in the running for a team of the week award, competition can keep you performing at your best.
Take a Pause
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a breather. Some days are just more frustrating than others, and it’s important to recognize when you need to hit the pause button. Depending on the warehouse setup and exactly what you’re doing, you may not be able to simply walk away. But you should be able to find a few spare moments to take some deep breaths and do some light stretching. When your break time comes, go for a walk to get some fresh air and clear your head….especially if you are in forklift operator jobs or those that require focus and attention.
Leave Work at Work
A massive advantage of warehouse work is that it’s impossible to take your work home. After all, you probably don’t have a forklift and massive pallets of products in your garage. But disconnecting mentally can be tougher. Develop an end of shift routine that helps you disengage, and take active steps to keep yourself busy with non-work-related activities during your off time.
Ready for a new job?
If you’re ready for a new opportunity, SURESTAFF can help you find a light industrial position in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin.
