Is Your Contact Center Plagued with Spring Fever?

Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and plants are greening up. Spring is here and with it a well-known event appropriately named spring fever. Defined as a feeling of restlessness and excitement felt at the beginning of spring, this fever strikes at the heart of everyone and makes us want to do more, in particular to be more active.

For contact center agents who spend a lot of time indoors, spring fever can really hit hard. You may be a bit distracted and feeling more energized than usual. As it turns out, there are scientific reasons for this change. When spring rolls around, there is more sunlight. Your retinas are sensitive to these changes and melatonin levels decrease, causing your mood to lift creating a happier, more energized state.

So what are some of the symptoms of spring fever?

• Less Sleepy – when your body starts producing less melatonin, you feel less sleepy. The more daylight we have, the more energy.
• Feel Happier – another chemical change happening this time of year is increased serotonin. Serotonin increases cause the euphoric mood we have in the spring, just as decreased levels may be the reason for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADs) in the winter.
• More Active – all of these chemical changes may make you want to be more active. Just the simple fact that people exercise more in the spring also creates a happier state, increasing the feeling of spring fever.

For some, there are real spring fever challenges. If you are truly not feeling well and perhaps not enjoying all the benefits of spring, you probably suffer from seasonal allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that more than 40 million Americans suffer from allergies. Pollen is the biggest culprit of spring allergies and can cause many to rush to the pharmacy and/or doctor seeking relief.

While scientists have studied the effects of weather patterns on human behavior, we are only just scratching the surface. What we do know is spring fever is here! To keep on track during this time of the year, try some of these simple tips to increase your focus:

• Learn stretching exercises you can do at your desk – this will help increase focus and improve your mood.
• Take time to be outdoors during breaks and lunch – if you can picnic in the park during lunch you will get your outdoor fix and return to work more relaxed.
• Enjoy the extra daylight – we have more sun now so get out in the evening for a stroll.
• Take care of yourself – with all this increased energy, it’s easy to overdo. Remember to ramp up exercise appropriately and get plenty of sleep.

Most importantly, get out and enjoy the warmer weather when you can. Even a quick jaunt outdoors will keep your energy levels higher and improve your mood.