How coworking can save your work/life balance
The modern workplace is more stressful than ever. Technology has given us the ability to stay connected 24/7, and that’s fantastic when you’re having fun, or when you’re a student in a boring lecture. Unfortunately, it’s less fantastic when work starts following you everywhere. Even when you’re out of the office, you’re never fully disconnected from your professional life, and the unconscious compulsion to keep tabs on your work email and your Twitter replies can lead to increased stress in the long run.
We know that stress is bad, but how can you de-stress without hurting your productivity? There’s no catch-all solution, but coworking spaces can help. Here are a few of the ways in which coworking can improve your work/life balance:
1) Yoga and meditation
Yoga has taken urban US cities by storm. It feels like every young tech worker does yoga on the side, whether as a hobby or for health reasons. One thing’s for sure: activities like yoga, meditation, and good old-fashioned exercise help relax and soothe the mind. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to regain focus once you return to work.
Luckily, many coworking spaces offer classes and opportunities to work out on a schedule. Sure, you could do it on your own, but following a schedule with your coworkers is the easiest way to make it a habit.
2) Nap rooms
Power naps are such a mainstay in startup culture that plenty of coworking spaces offer an area to do just that. These “quiet zones” might be equipped with a hammock or a couch—but one way or the other, they’ll help you sleep. Waking up refreshed is much better than pushing yourself while your productivity is declining.
3) Don’t meet in meeting rooms
Meeting rooms might be useful when you’re feeling particularly serious or when you have physical documents to go over, but most startup meetings involve neither of those things. If you’re just going to be talking with your coworkers anyway, why not take a walk, or grab a bite to eat? All that matters is that you’re not multitasking. If you’re giving each other your undivided attention, you can have a productive meeting even if you’re not physically in a meeting room.
4) Share your problems
It’s bad to be dependent on others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask for help now and then.
We often think of work meetings as a place for precise, productive discussion, but it’s important to share your more abstract thoughts and fears too. If you’re concerned about something, bring it up with a coworker—they may be able to ease your mind, or address your issue if it’s something that needs addressing. Either way, keeping your concerns bottled up is a surefire way to decrease both your happiness and your productivity.
5) Indulge in community
It’s a coworking space—the community is there for a reason. Make use of it! One of the biggest benefits of coworking spaces is that they connect you to people outside of your company. Make friends, go to after-work events, and get to know the people around you. Growing your social circle isn’t just useful for business connections; it’ll make you feel more at home in the office, too.
