Do you love your customer service job, but feel fatigued by the end of your shift? When you work as hard as you do to help your company’s clients, you’re bound to have moments when you’re feeling overwhelmed. We’ve got some insights into how to keep your energy up without sacrificing your physical and mental wellness.
A call center job can be a rewarding stepping stone to your ultimate goals, but it is important to learn how to manage stress, boredom and fatigue – in any career you choose.
Fatigue’s Impact on Productivity and Mental Health
According to the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), at least 75% of Mexican workers suffer from fatigue. That affects both productivity and job satisfaction and without intervention, it can lead to burnout—which requires far more effort to bounce back from than it does to prevent. Fending off call center burnout requires a combination of approaches, from preparation to self-care in between calls to winding down after a long and challenging shift.
How to Get Prepared for Your Call Center Shift
What’s your strategy for getting fired up for your day? First, make sure you’ve had at least seven hours of restful sleep, and that you give yourself plenty of time to have a refreshing shower and nutritious breakfast. Even that healthy dose of caffeine is important to fuel your engine.
Take the time to stretch, and consider walking to work if you live close by. Exercise is a great way to signal your brain and body to wake up, and it prepares you to deal with long hours of customer care and problem-solving.
How to Take Care of Yourself Throughout Your Shift
Self-care is key to success. If you don’t look after yourself before, during, and after calls, you’re more likely to crash and burn. Now that you’ve started your day with a healthy, invigorating routine, you need to keep the momentum going with habits that will carry you through your shift.
Best Practices During Calls
Think about some of your most rewarding customer interactions. Were you actively and positively engaged in the conversation? Chances are, you were. Not only did you make that customer feel valued, but you probably felt pretty good, yourself.
Listening to a customer, empathizing with their challenges, and treating them as you would a respected friend benefits both of you and leaves you feeling uplifted at the end of a call. Here are some more tips:
- Smile when you’re talking. There’s something to the phrase, “fake it ‘till you make it!”
- Use the customer’s name once or twice during the call. It helps them feel they’re being treated as an individual, and it humanizes them to you.
- Use active listening techniques, such as paraphrasing what they’ve said to you and asking, “Did I understand you correctly?”
- Validate their concerns. Let them know you see where they’re coming from, and assure them that you’re going to work with them to find a suitable solution.
Think of you and the customer as being on the same team. That will help you to maintain your enthusiasm throughout the call.
Essential Post-Call Rejuvenation: Taking Breaks
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things don’t go as well as you’d like when you’re handling customer issues. That’s when you need to take a moment after the call and reset yourself. Take regular breaks. Perform some deep breathing exercises, get up and walk around, and stretch. Try a few office yoga poses. Be sure to drink plenty of water, as hydration will help you maintain your energy levels and mental acuity.
Take a few minutes a few times each day to close your eyes and practice mindfulness—a proven means of reducing stress. Mindfulness refocuses your attention on the here and now while training yourself to set aside intrusive, negative thoughts.
These habits aren’t just for following difficult calls. They’re helpful anytime you feel you need a breather. And when you’re ready for a longer break, refuel with a light meal or snack.
Unwinding After Your Shift
When you get home, your time is your own but how you spend it will affect your well-being any hour of the day. Set aside time to do things you enjoy, and that help you relax. Hobbies are necessary for optimal mental health!
Eat a well-rounded meal, and get to bed in plenty of time for those 7 hours of sleep. Avoid screens for the half-hour before bedtime for the best rest, but consider reading a book or listening to low-key music to help you drift off.
Ongoing Strategies for Maintaining Optimal Performance
Your overall well-being influences your ability to succeed and thrive at work and in your free time. Here are some final tips that will empower you to live a balanced, energized lifestyle:
- Build and maintain healthy routines and habits at home and at your call center.
- Get plenty of exercise each week, with small sessions throughout the day.
- Make your cubicle comfortable. Personalize it as appropriate, and keep it tidy.
- Make a point to get to know your co-workers. Camaraderie makes shifts more enjoyable.
- Keep up with routine health checkups, and listen to your healthcare professional’s advice.
- Prioritize socializing and hobbies outside of work.
- Keep your kitchen stocked with nutritious foods.
- Pack your lunches and pre-prepare home meals to save money and avoid the urge to grab junk food.
You deserve to treat yourself well, and in doing so, you’ll be better prepared for your long call center shifts.
Join Seguros Confie Today and Learn How to Stay Energized While Providing Exceptional Service!
We hope these pointers improve your production and sense of accomplishment at your call center job. But if you’re not a member of our Tijuana customer support team, you may not be exploring your full potential! Do you want a rewarding career with a company that values you as a person as well as an employee, offers excellent benefits, and encourages you to live an enriched and abundant life? Apply to Seguros Confie today!