There is a truism in the Refinery29 office: If you want to get a response to an email, include a GIF. While not every office is GIF-sending-friendly, including one can be a great way to brighten a boring email or better express yourself — after all, there's a limit to how many exclamation points you should include.
But not every GIF is work-friendly. I once sent this GIF to my coworkers (best described as Obama-as-Beyoncé-on-a-pizza-in-space?) and just received blank stares. So don't be like me — next time you want to share a GIF with a colleague, go with one that's proven to work.
Here are 20 tried-and-true GIFs that have seen their fair share of Refinery29 inboxes.
That feeling when things finally ( finally!) come together.
Photo: Via Giphy.
If you're all ready to celebrate a birthday, promotion, or completed project — or maybe just need a drink after a hard day's work.
Image: Via Giphy.
This is definitely the politest way to say you really DGAF.
Image: Via Giphy.
When you and your coworker are equally confused about what you are being asked to do.
Photo: Via giphy.
If you want to convey all those "OMG" feelings (but don't know where to even start), let a kitten do it for you.
Image: Via Giphy.
Then again, sometimes your job can feel like herding actual cats.
Image: Via Giphy.
Let the lads of One Direction be the animated emojis of your grief.
Image: Via Giphy.
Emails about free food deserve a response as gleeful as Cookie Monster's.
Image: Via Giphy.
Mic-dropping might be a bit aggressive for a work email — if not for Ben Wyatt's goofy charm.
Image: Via Giphy.
A Michelle Tanner GIF is always an acceptable way to end an electronic pep talk.
Image: via Giphy.
If you've ever tried to fix something that doesn't need fixing (or tried to take care of something that doesn't need taking care of), a quick "sorry" accompanied by this pug can do wonders.
Photo: Via ReverseGif.
Some days, you are the cat — and a last-minute presentation is the flower.
Image: Via Imgur.
Anticipating a surprise birthday party, raise, or job well done? Go with Ron Swanson.
Image: Via Giphy.
Or go with a classic Kristen Wiig moment when you really can't hide your excitement.
Image: Via Giphy.
Then again, sometimes you don't want to keep your excitement to yourself.
Image: Via Giphy.
And never underestimate the power of a "thank you" GIF. Like when someone gets the job done efficiently...
Image: Via Giphy.
...Or does something you weren't expecting.
Image: Via Giphy.
Or just really, really moves you with their actions.
And sometimes, you just need to express that "face palm" feeling.
Image: Via Giphy.
As a bonus, here's a GIF you should probably keep to yourself (but hey, it's a feeling we've all had at one point).
Photo: Via Imgur.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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