Resetting for 2023

It’s been a tough few years, but we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve learned how important it is to take time off and recharge, whether that means switching off your phone for a week or taking an annual vacation. But how do we make sure these new habits stick around?

Professional basketball player, Jeremy Lin, recently talked about how naive it was pushing for a #nodaysoff mentality in his earlier career. Similar to hypergrowth environments, leaders need to take time off to recover, reset and prepare ourselves for the next level of competition.

Constantly switched on

“You need to have foresight. You need to be able to think about sustainability in what you do and future-proofing in your team, in your organisation, because it costs more to fix than to create." - Jonathan Ong, VP Operations at Qoala

Up until a few weeks ago, a holiday meant just that – it was time to switch off and mentally recharge, perhaps in a few weeks of sunshine by the beach or on an adventure-filled itinerary, with no knowledge or care for what might be going on back at the office.

But now things have changed. Now we work 24/7. And thanks to technology and other factors, our ability to find out what’s happening at work during our time away has never been easier – from checking emails from your phone (or tablet) while relaxing on the beach in Thailand; having access to your company intranet from hotels all over the world; having constant access via smartphone apps; posting regular updates about where you are and what you are doing through social media platforms such as Instagram or Twitter…

The key question is: is this good?

Adapting working patterns

I hope companies really see the benefits of taking the employee’s view of building a hybrid model that works, of making sure that it’s not only about the goals of the company, but also the goals of the individual.” - Martin Greiger, Head of Corporate Talent Acquisition at Circles.Life

In 2020, the world was changed by technology. We learned how to adapt in a variety of ways. For example, many businesses set up home offices for their employees, who then worked remotely for most of their day. Others started to rely on calling each other on the phone instead of meeting face-to-face: working from home meant that some people didn’t even leave their kitchens.

However, innovative environments are not enough to deal with burnout. And with over half of employees in Singapore considering switching jobs next year, leaders need to reshape culture with the input from their teams.

In 2022 and beyond, more companies are likely to evolve flexible working arrangements and distributed teams. As we move further into this era of rapid innovation and change, it's critical that our leaders take time off from work so they can stay at the forefront of what's happening around them – if only because you never know when someone will come knocking at your door with an idea worth exploring (or maybe just because you need some space).

Taken time off

"How are you doing? Are you still happy here? What motivates you?" - Arlene de Castro, Chief People Officer at Sprout Solutions

Even though the majority of employees are taking time off, it’s clear that some are still working too hard and putting their health at risk. Three out of the top ten cities that have the highest rating for employee burnout come from Southeast Asia.

Holidays aren’t just good for our mental health; they’re also an opportunity to take stock of our lives, get some much-needed rest and recharge before we return to work. Getting out of your comfort zone is important for both mental and physical health, so try doing something new or different on holiday – the more you challenge yourself, the better you will feel when you return.

Wrapping up

So what can we expect in 2023? For one thing, it’s likely that technology leaders will be adopting a more flexible approach to work-life balance – for example, by taking holidays whenever they feel like it. This will also include working from home and putting in some hours remotely. As for me, I'm still trying to find my window. Until then, happy holidays and see you in the new year!