7 ways to restore balance in life

How are you? A question often dismissed by a short response – “I’m okay,” “Busy,” or “Doing well,” and rarely do we get a truthful answer. But How are you, really?

We tend to de-prioritize ourselves when so many things are going on, when Zoom meetings seem endless, and work and places of rest blur together. However, this simple question, if asked every day, can become the key to regaining balance.

Globe Telecom Inc.’s DUDE bot, or Digital Usher for Disasters and Emergencies, greets every Ka-Globe each morning to ask exactly this. While DUDE was created as a chatbot to check-in on health and COVID-19 status of Globe’s employees, DUDE has popularly become a beloved figure because it checks-in and asks employees how they are doing.

DUDE has also become the company’s wellness champion, sharing health tips and connecting Ka-Globes to Hopechat, Globe’s text-based counselling service.

To share the love with the rest of the WeAreAyala community, the team behind DUDE, Employee Programs and Activations Head and Recruitment Marketing Manager Mika Ostonal and Employee Experience Manager Mark Dimaisip, dish out some of their own tips to make the day-to-day of fellow Ayala group employees a little brighter.

1. Know when to take a break.
   Taking breaks from work is the key to avoiding burnout. Even if the willpower to push through is there, stepping away for an hour or two will help your own wellness and capability in the long run. “It has early signs, when I find myself in the middle of the day, and I can’t absorb a meeting or I can’t process my emails, I usually call it a day, or message my boss that I need a few hours off,” says Mika. Listening to one’s mind and body helps avoid being unable to function at the end of the day. As they say, prevention is key.

2. Evaluate the value of each task.
   Having a full day of meetings and an endless list of tasks can easily get overwhelming. It’s important to know the value of each meeting and task, and prioritize from there. For Mark, knowing the agenda of a meeting is key to prioritizing tasks. Mika adds, “Rather than fixating on the fact that there’s a truckload of things that I need to do, it’s important to identify which among these tasks can bring value.”
3. Make things simple but impactful.
   A main takeaway of Mark from the creation of DUDE is how far the impact of good design can go. “DUDE isn’t that sophisticated in terms of technology, but I think it was able to pin down a lead, be relevant, and create an emotional connection with employees.” Case in point: Something as simple as checking in daily and asking, “How are you?” made a big difference for over 8,000 employees.
4. Find your tribe.
   Having interests outside of work is crucial in achieving work-life balance. It’s even better if you have a group of people who share your interests. Growth in your personal life will enhance your perspective at work and other aspects of your life. Outside of his day job, Mark is a writer, a talent he shares with a weekly group. “I have a Friday group where we write poems or flash fiction and because of that exposure I was able to complete and publish a lot of writing work.”

5. Find time to disconnect.
   Digital life can be very exhausting. As Mika explains, working within a digital realm requires more energy just to convey something. “As opposed to before, just by moving your hand, raising your eyebrow, or smiling, you already get a sense of what the other person wants to say,” she says. The solution? Disconnecting and doing nothing for a few minutes. Mika adds that disconnecting allows her to listen to herself, to think about things, and for her to recharge. Mark also shares, “I don’t know if it’s how proper meditation is, but for me, just sitting on a chair or lying on the bed and having 10 to 30 minutes of time to yourself [is important].”

6. Listen to your body clock.
   The body is the best timekeeper. As Mark says, “I sleep when I feel sleepy, and I get up when I feel recharged.” Fighting one’s body and rhythm is counterproductive and will only lead to subpar results both at work and in your personal life. Getting enough rest – at the right time – serves to keep the body and mind running effectively.
7. Be mindful how to address stress.
   “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to wellness,” says Mika. This is why it’s important to work towards discovering one’s own unique regimen. Taking note of stressors is a good way to start. Mark shares that instead of eating when stressed, he focuses on taking breaks. For Mark, once you identify your stress indicators and have a way to respond to them, it will be easier to take steps and restore balance physically and emotionally.