The Perks of Not Being a Wallflower
People are strange, according to The Doors. And while I don’t necessarily agree with Jim Morrison, I honestly believe that this pandemic has made us somewhat stranger.
“Strange” in some ways that we may not be aware of.
Ever since this pandemic broke out, some of us are left with no other option but to work from home, while at the same time, tending to the needs of our loved ones. We get so absorbed with the daily tasks that we have become strange, so to speak. While it’s not a bad thing, the challenges though can get overwhelming. It leaves us not wanting to do anything at all at the end of the day. All we want is to relax and forget the world.
But you have to admit and agree with me when I say that after a night’s rest, the following day, we go back to the same vicious cycle. Top that with the Covid-19 outbreak at the back of our minds, threatening our sanity, crippling us to be more productive.
How do we go about combating that?
At John Clements, apart from seeking candidates for our clients’ manpower requirements, we also try to spend some quality time with our colleagues. We hold weekly activities — Game Night, JCCinema, Cooking and Baking Class, Bingo Night, etc. It’s our little way of fighting off the stresses of the week and the constant fear brought about by the pandemic. These activities allow us to bond with our colleagues whom we miss having lunch with or enjoying a round of cold beer after a day’s work. Sure, we don’t get to win all the time, but the shared laughter and fun for me is priceless.
But why play games with colleagues?
It is said that a gaming session with colleagues can allow deeper bonding, improved spirits, and lowered stress levels. There are also other benefits that bonding with colleagues provide. Various findings showed that engaging in activities with co-workers can help improve the following:
- Better social connections: Strong social connections make people happier and physically healthier, which can translate into work performance.
- Better employee morale: The development of good relationships in the workplace have the potential to improve the mood of employees, making them subsequently more productive.
- Better relationship with colleagues: Our work is more enjoyable when we get along fine with our colleagues. It’s easier to collaborate, brainstorm, and if the need arises, share tasks to meet the deadline.
We may not have the luxury nor the freedom to go out these days to meet with friends physically, but there are other ways we can do that. There are also different ways to stay positive. Though easier said than done, we can beat depression and negativity brought about by this pandemic by finding ways to make us social, which eventually can make us happy. And a happy mind means a happy body.
Be a wallflower if you choose to. That’s absolutely fine. But not being one has its perks, too. As for me, after one more round of Bingo, I don’t feel strange at all. Try it!
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Sources:
https://www.managers.org.uk/insights/news/2017/december/three-reasons-you-should-let-your-employees-play-games
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/01/31/5-ways-social-connections-can-enhance-your-employee-wellness-program/#e03b3e9527c4
https://www.industrialpersonnel.co.uk/important-effective-working-relationships-colleagues/
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/good-relationships.htm
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About the author:
Mary June, or Mj, loves traveling, collecting shoes, writing poetry, and watching reruns of CSI. She hopes to witness the aurora borealis and meet Stephen King in person someday.
