There are lots of bootcamps or challenges out there on the internet centered around the idea of improving your mental wellbeing. Last month, I did one about Calling in Future You which was inspired by Tara Schuster’s Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies and Glow in the F*cking Dark books. Those challenges used daily journal prompts to spark reflection. It has enspired a lot of changes for me and I highly recommend you take it or buy her books! Currently, I am participating in a challenge called The Carterhaugh School’s Everyday Magic Challenge. It was designed by two folklore scholars (they have PhD’s in it!) and uses concepts from fairytales and folklore to teach concepts very similar to the ones Schuster taught, but through the framework of magical stories. I also plan on taking their larger Enchant program as well which will be a deeper dive into the framework.

While working on the latest challenge from Everyday Magic, I realized that something we are doing in our organization has parallels to one of the concepts the instructors shared. Today’s session talked about glamourbombing. Glamourbombing started out as an activity in the virtual environment of LiveJournal, but it can also happen IRL (In Real Life). It is a way to spark joy and that feeling of magic into the everyday.

[G]lamourbombing involves acts of random beauty, magic or wonder whose purpose is to raise ambient levels of glamour in the area; glamour being the unique magic of the fae. A glamourbomb is any public act or work that aims to inspire genuine curiosity and childlike befuddlement, a change of thought process, belief in magic, belief in the fae, and/or a sense of wonder in the recipient. Glamourbombing can involve anything you like and doesn’t need expensive materials – leaving decorated notes “from the fae” amongst supermarket items or between the pages of library books, hanging seven-pointed elven stars in local trees, dressing in wings and the most bizarre outfit you can conjure up, or simple the message “believe in faeries” can all be glamourbombs.

Urbandictionary.com

As someone deeply immersed in staff development for a library organization, I’ve been fortunate to witness firsthand the transformative power of fostering a vibrant and engaged workplace culture through acts that spark joy. Drawing inspiration from initiatives like Life is Good’s Playmaker Project training and Shawn Achor’s Happiness Advantage workshop, which emphasize the importance of positive psychology and intentional acts of kindness in the workplace, we’ve incorporated elements very similar to glamorbombing into our staff engagement efforts with remarkable success. At the heart of glamourbombing lies the notion of infusing everyday objects with a touch of magic and meaning, turning them into delightful surprises that bring smiles to people’s faces and brighten their day. For instance, we’ve adopted the practice of leaving small tokens of positivity, such as stress balls or stickers adorned with uplifting affirmations, on each staff member’s desk. These items not only serve as whimsical reminders of our organizational values but also offer practical utility, ensuring that they are more than just fleeting novelties, they are training reinforcement items!

But for us, glamourbombing goes beyond mere trinkets and knick-knacks; it’s about creating immersive experiences that engage the senses and spark joy. From setting up giant adult coloring pages and puzzles to hiding plastic eggs filled with jokes and candy around the office, we’ve orchestrated moments of delight and surprise that encourage staff to pause, unwind, and connect with their inner child.

Moreover, we’ve embraced themed events and training sessions as vehicles for infusing our workplace with an extra dose of magic and inspiration. Such as hosting a Jedi training themed orientation session for new staff, an escape room based team building exercise, and a leadership workshop designed around spies. We’ve tapped into the enchanting world of creativity and fantasy to ignite our staff’s imagination and engagement.

In essence, glamourbombing isn’t just about sprinkling glitter and confetti; it’s about fostering a culture of kindness, creativity, and positivity that elevates the workplace from mundane to magical. By embracing the principles of intentional acts of kindness, sensory engagement, and thematic storytelling, we’ve transformed our office environment into a vibrant oasis of joy and inspiration.

As we continue to explore new ways to infuse our workplace with magic and wonder, one thing remains clear: the power of glamourbombing lies not in grand gestures or extravagant displays, but in the heartfelt intention to spread joy and positivity wherever we go. And in a world that can often feel chaotic and uncertain, a little bit of magic can go a long way in brightening someone’s day and making the workplace a more delightful and enchanting place to be. I am excited for what our next project will be!