Recently, I was scrolling through LinkedIn, slowly sinking into the gloom-and-doom rabbit hole - layoff announcements, bleak takes on the creative industry and ominous predictions of the bleak future for humans in an inevitable AI-dominant environment. As I contemplated retreating into the Himalayas, one post stopped me in my tracks.

It was a TVC doing the rounds, racking up a flurry of likes, reposts, and heartwarming comments. Curious for something uplifting, I clicked on it to see what the buzz was about. It was an absolute gem of a spot by the talented team at Enormous and Good Morning Films for Battlegrounds Mobile. The ad captured the spontaneous joy of kids getting into a chalk fight at school - total nostalgia overload. Suddenly, I was 10 years old again, giggling in a classroom, ducking chalk missiles, and not a care in the world. The soundtrack sealed the deal, cheekily asking, “Are you having any fun?”

Boom. That question hit hard.

Because let’s be honest—we’re not. Somewhere along the way, our wonderfully weird, misfits-filled, creative industry seems to have forgotten how to have fun. Once full of spontaneity, laughter, and 'what-if' ideas, we have become bogged down by impossible deadlines, relentless pitches, shrinking budgets, job insecurity, corporate politics, big egos, client curveballs, and inboxes that never sleep.

We're taking ourselves—and our work—way too seriously. Proof of this is the relentless analysis-paralysis, research groups, multi-layered meetings, discussions, and endless changes. It’s as if we have soaked up this heavy, serious energy that drains the joy out of our work. Perhaps that’s why so much of what we create feels... meh. And we feel it in our bones.

But here’s the thing: every environment has its pressures. Even as kids, school was stressful—exams, competition, expectations. But we still laughed. We still played. We found lightness in the cracks. Can’t we bring some of that carefree spirit into our grown-up work lives? Embrace the grind, sure. But still play. Still, create with a sense of mischief and wonder. That’s where the magic happens.

Closer to home, Sri Lanka’s recent box-office hit Nelum Kuluna (or Tentiigo), by the talented husband-wife duo Ilango and Hirani, resonated deeply and even got an Indian remake on Netflix called Perusu. Audiences didn’t just watch it—they flocked to it. The theatres were packed. People walked out beaming. Why? Because they were tired of taking life so seriously. And laughter, clearly, never goes out of style.

Maybe that’s the cue. Injecting fun and play into our work isn’t about slacking off—it’s about unlocking something deeper. Studies (and just good ol’ life experience) show that fun boosts creativity builds trust, and helps us bounce back from stress. Play opens us up. It gets us curious. It connects us. And unlocks new ways of thinking. And isn’t that the crux of our business?

So next time you’re staring down a soul-sucking brief, get up. Shake it off. Dance. Doodle. Throw around a few silly ideas. Play. Because fun isn’t the opposite of serious work—sometimes, it’s what makes the work sing.

And really, don’t take life so seriously. Nobody gets out of it alive anyway.

Ruchi Sharma is founder and chief creative officer, HumanSense (Sri Lanka). This column first appeared in our May issue. Buy your copy here.