Call Center 101: Stay Healthy and Successful

Working as an agent in a call center in BPO Philippines can be stressful. There are health concerns with the change of lifestyle that comes with the job: working the night shift, sleeping through the day, receiving verbal abuse from some angry callers, demands to perform well and meet quota… Some people thrive on these crisis-like situations while others just burn out. 

Here are some simple tips on how to keep healthy and pace yourself at work, ensuring your job performance and security as a call center agent.

Don't skip on meals and sleep. Eat light, nutritious meals, high on water and fiber, less on rich carbohydrates as regularly as you can. And if you have a hard time adjusting your body to sleep because of the shifting schedules, remember that being still and calm while breathing deeply is as restful to the brain and body as a deep sleep.

Hydrate yourself regularly. Because of air conditioning, call centers can be very dry environments. Human bodies are comprised of 70% water with all major organ systems, especially the brain, requiring water to function. Mineral water is better than distilled water, since the former has electrolytes which the body needs.

Keeping oneself hydrated keeps away headaches, fatigue and keeps your throat (which provides the voice that you talk to clients with) from becoming dry and sore. 

Avoid drinking liquor and smoking. Though these seem to de-stress, the effect is only temporary and is only harmful to your body in the long run. Smoking weakens your lungs and throat, affecting your voice. The alcohol in liquor dehydrates you, making you prone to weariness as well as headaches.

Avoid coffee and energy drinks. Depending on such beverages actually aggravates your body, making you more vulnerable to stress. Drink mineral water or fruit, vegetable juices instead.

Not sleepy? Exercise. Please don't be dependent on sleep medicine to get a good night's rest. There are some basic deep-breathing and stretching exercises that can actually reduce stress, and relax the body to the point of rest. 

Ask help. Call centers are well aware of the health risks that come with the job so they provide health and wellness programs to guide their employees to better take care of employees, since a healthy employee is a working employee.

Take part in such activities offered not just for your personal health but as for your social well-being as well, giving you a chance to make friends and meaningful relationships with colleagues in the company.

Leave work at the workplace. Organize your desk, your workload so that tasks can be handled methodically and checked off at the end of the work day and shift. Get control and complete your job as fast as you can and as best as you can so that once your shift is over, you can go home with no worries of leaving things unfinished. 

Doing these simple but healthy actions consistently to ensure your well-being and performance as a call center agent will give you the positive energy to overcome challenges that lead to promotions and prosperity in BPO Philippines.