Have you ever been through a bad day that was turned around because a friend randomly decided to say hello? Have you ever felt a sudden wave of productivity or a clearer head after sharing something that was bothering you? Having this sense of connection with others, whether as a support system or just laughing at a meme together, is important and should be valued. Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more evident how having these kinds of interactions can greatly improve well-being. This is something that I personally felt as a member of the Positive Workplaces team through our check-in and check-out culture.

To all the orgs I’ve loved before, you are the reason why I am still persevering, you are the reason as to why I find joy in all that I do, but that does not give you an excuse to subject me to conditions that go beyond the good intent of organizations: volunteerism, and holistic development.

I think it’s a common experience for people to have a hard time expressing themselves freely around people they just met, even more so in a work environment. I thought that I would just talk about work things with work people. That changed when I learned about the concept of check-ins.

“ I realized that more than just looking out for experiences, finding role models and mentors in the midst of these experiences could have greatly helped me in my journey of figuring out my path.”

“Sinong Presidente mo?” This is a question we often hear with the 2022 general elections looming over our heads. In my case, this was the topic of conversation over a Monday lunch at home. I was taken aback because ironically as a political science student who often discusses the upcoming elections, we don’t often talk about it on a personal level. We recognize that it is to each his own candidate which allows us to engage in healthy discussions on relevant issues.

Everyone has their fair share of managing difficult people, be it a family member who refuses to listen, a friend who doesn’t share the same opinions as you, or a colleague you don’t see eye to eye with. While there are times that these issues get resolved, there are also times when it doesn’t.

Feeling cared can act as a buffer against stress, promote resilience, and enourage people to do the same. So how can we show care, even during these difficult conversations?