Joy takes work

A career in education is fulfilling. We get to help people. We get to make an impact.

But let’s be honest—this job is also hard. Exhausting in ways that don’t always show up on paper.

A few weeks ago, I was at a birthday gathering for a friend. I ended up talking with two teachers, and somewhere in the conversation they mentioned that three out of four administrators at their school had quit mid-year—and the fourth was probably leaving at the end of the year.

That’s the reality in a lot of places right now.

So the question becomes: how do you stay in it?

One thing I do—very intentionally—is this: I force myself to have fun.

Not in a fake way. Not in a “everything is great” way. But in a deliberate, almost stubborn way.

If I’m going to spend this much time at work, I’m going to build an environment that gives something back to me.

My office reflects that. I’ve got Funko Pops lined up. Marvel and Star Wars toys. A replica of Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine. Harry Potter. Michelangelo—my favorite Ninja Turtle—holding it down on the desk. Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba. There’s candy sitting in a Lego person’s head. A purple cow plushie my wife crocheted for me. And then there’s my setup—coffee pot, grinder for fresh beans, a small TV, Bluetooth speakers.

To someone walking in, it might look random. To me, it’s survival.

What’s interesting is—it doesn’t just help me. It creates moments.

A coworker walks by and sees First Take on the TV in the morning… now we’re talking sports. Someone smells the coffee beans… now we’re talking about where they’re from. Someone notices Michelangelo or the Mystery Machine… now we’re laughing about childhood.

Those small moments matter more than we think. They break tension. They build connection. They remind us we’re human in a job that can sometimes feel mechanical.

I recently read a study on playfulness in the workplace, and it gave language to something I’d been doing without fully realizing it. The research found that playfulness isn’t about games or distractions—it’s a mindset. It shows up when people bring creativity, curiosity, and lightness into their work. It also found that when people intentionally design their work in small, playful ways—what researchers call playful work design—it can increase engagement, creativity, and even performance. And environments that allow for playfulness—where people feel safe to be themselves—lead to stronger relationships, better collaboration, and higher overall well-being.

Reading that, I realized this isn’t just me trying to get through the day. There’s actually something deeper happening.

In education, we talk a lot about rigor, expectations, and outcomes. We don’t talk nearly enough about sustainability. If we want people to stay in this work, we have to find ways to make it livable. Not perfect. Not easy. But livable.

For me, that starts with creating small pockets of joy in the middle of the day. Moments that don’t erase the stress—but help me carry it.

Joy doesn’t arrive naturally at work. For me, I have to work to find it.

But it is worth it.

What’s one small thing you could add—or change—in your environment to make your day just a little more enjoyable?