In Singapore, workplaces can be stressful and working hours can be long. Often, the difference between enjoying the challenge of a hard day's work and burning out can be determined by the relationship you share with your colleagues.

 

While many of you may think you're already seeing your colleagues more than your family and friends, daily office interactions don't typically translate to meaningful connections with your co-workers. Socialising outside the confines of your office is important for you to form lasting bonds with your colleagues.

 

Besides having a more enjoyable time at work, developing good working chemistry with your colleagues can also lead to better work performance through more effective communication, improved morale, greater collaborations and, perhaps most importantly, trust.

 

In time, some of these relationships may help you further your career and even develop into personal friendships lasting a lifetime. If your workplace already has a team-bonding session or if you're thinking of putting forward some ideas for a new initiative, here are four fun ways to get you started.

Friyays, or Fridays that ooze of "yay" moments, give everyone in the office something to look forward to all week. It also provides extra motivation to do good work, forge more personal relationships and allow you to blow off steam.

 

This is where you head out of the office for a drink, grab some finger food, shoot pool or go bowling in a fun-filled setting. During these sessions, you get to understand your colleagues more intimately through discussing weekend plans and sharing new life developments such as getting in (or out) of a relationship, planning a wedding, having a baby or even gossiping about clients (or bosses!).

Engaging in sporting activities with your colleagues is a good way to keep fit and build camaraderie in the office.

 

If your office doesn't already have a sporting club, you could approach the Human Resource department or your boss to get their buy-in to start one. Many companies will support such health and fitness-related initiatives, and you could even score brownie points with your firm for your proactiveness.

 

To keep things fun, you can log achievements by the club and share it with the rest of the company at the end of the year. This could drive participation rates in your workplace as well as pull in friends and acquaintances in similar industries working close by – which helps expand your network, both in the workplace and outside it.

 

You and your colleagues can also improve your health and fitness together by joining AIA Vitality, a wellness programme that rewards you for healthy choices you make. Choose to go to the gym or participate in organised fitness events or simply clock runs and walks to start earning travel and leisure rewards as well as insurance premium discounts.

While this may not seem like a conventionally fun thing to do, many art exhibitions involve unique learning outcomes and/or aiding a good cause.

 

Learning about new cultures, understanding unique perspectives or just marvelling the artwork itself can be an enriching experience. This also offers an opportunity for you and your colleagues to peel back another layer of your lives and share in your creative passions together.

Go beyond just knowing you colleagues well – meet their partners and families as well. This way, your job becomes more than just a 9-to-6 pay cheque; it becomes part of your life.

 

A good way to start is organising a barbeque for your colleagues and their families. Truth is, few people can say no to delicious barbequed food.

 

By knowing your colleagues' family members, you build a more personal relationship with them. At the same time, family members will be more understanding and supportive whenever everyone has to pull extra shifts to win a big project or help one another out at work.

 

Throw in some fun games and activities at the barbeque, and you'll get an event that many people will be looking forward to in the future as well.

Some of these activities can be organised on a weekly basis and others less often. Regardless, forging stronger bonds with your colleagues outside of the office will likely lead to better work outcomes.

 

There are numerous benefits to bonding with your colleagues, including making friends out of your colleagues, enjoying your work more, delivering better quality work, and broadening your skillsets, including others. These all lend a hand in improving your employability and career progression in the long-term.