The Flourish Hub, which is situated on the first floor of Heaton Chapel station has seen a flurry of activity in recent months, from community events, coworkers and more and it got us thinking…
Post Covid19 we are all much more adept and acclimatised to the remote working philosophy, with many of us moving to the work from home model more permanently or enjoying the blend of hybrid working but what of the home alone working blues? A study from Nuffield Health found that “80% of Brits feel working from home has had a negative effect on their mental health,” – with the predominant reasoning being “loneliness and isolation…,”
Cue the surge of coworking options across the UK, whether its private office space, hotdesking or coffee spots with free wifi; in 2023 we find ourselves inundated with choice.
We have put together some tips and tricks to help you find that positive work / life balance when working from home or getting out and about to your favourite coworking spots – check out the great offers we currently have for our coworking space at the Flourish Hub in Heaton Chapel, Stockport.
Get Networking!
Gone are the days of business cards in bowls and breakfast club banter – coworking spaces provide a place for like minds to congregate, be it at events, team meetings, or a good old fashion meeting of minds. Whether mid-morning yoga is your thing, or you’re more for an afternoon of innovation and collaboration at one of our Flourishing Mondays & Fridays; we, like so many, understand the need for connection and communication which is why as part of our membership we offer free access to our events, quarterly socials and keep you in the loop via our newsletter about upcoming training days and other support available.
More than that, we keep our cupboards stocked with proper tea (vote below!) and you can often find one of our team round and about for a chat and cuppa.
The Hub was created to bring people together, located on the first floor of Heaton Chapel train station; we are in the heart of The Heaton’s community and easily accessible from Manchester Piccadilly in just under 7 minutes by train. So if you need a change of pace from coworking in the city or coffee shop hopping – you’re welcome to come and see us in leafy suburbia.
Get Pro-Active!
Remote working has brought about a healthier and happier approach to the work / life balance, allowing for a more flexible working day. It has seen us able to segment our 9-5 in more realistic ways, popping on the laundry, taking the kids to school, taking time for you to refresh, recharge and refocus; whether it’s a moment for mindfulness and meditation or a walk with the dog to break up the day. We find ourselves much more open to the realities of life and time management which leaves us open to two avenues of thought. The first, is that remote working leaves us susceptible to distraction, disengagement and disenchantment. Decreasing energy levels = diminished output. The second is that when harnessing the power of a change of environment and creating a space for focus and fulfilment, be it at home or coworking and hotdesking; productivity increases. Removing the stress of the morning commute, the need for in person, lengthy meetings which can now so often be streamlined and modified through the use of technology or facilitated in calmer, more casual workspaces that allow for more agile communication and collaborations. Bringing teams together in bright, light spaces to innovate and troubleshoot together. Whizzing through teams, zoom and google meets on high speed networks to streamline time, cost and commute. As we learn to prioritise our time, needs and wants relative to our productivity and work requirement; the evolving picture of what it means to be proactive when remote working becomes clearer.
Safe space, head space, creative space. Space to create, shape and thrive in a new era of industry. Structuring your day gives a sense of strategy and goal orientated work ethos; coworking provides a base structure in that, you turn up, you make that coffee, choose your desk, hop on that wife, and get to it. Choose your lunch; hit the deli around the corner – microwave last nights leftovers that are the envy of your lunchmates. Sit, chat, eat. Our little kitchen space is the ideal little bite to eat.
Mid afternoon dip? Take yourself for a walk down Heaton Moor Road, enjoy the nature, the birds, the fresh air. Or, of course, the coffee.
Get Flexible!
One day a week? A few days a month? Set your own schedule and see what works for you.
Sunday slump and back to school feeling? Why not make Monday your “go day”?
Friday finish? A shorter day for a well earned weekend?
Having a flexible approach to your working week allows for healthier boundaries and empowering yourself to separate work from home life more effectively. Equally, taking your work out of your home life helps with the degree of both mental and physical boundary setting. Regardless of where and how you work, ensure you are creating those boundaries – the closed door to your workspace to be able to physically shut it on your working day, your working week and know that work is done and home life is waiting. Turn off the laptop, mute the work WhatsApp and allow for proper downtime. Share this philosophy in your working methods with colleagues and clients; make a meeting a meeting and a chat, a chat to create that space to allow for time management, effective scheduling and safeguarding yourself from burnout.
Remote working is the best friend of flexibility; so maximise it’s potential to ensure you get the most from your work / life balance.
To find out more about our membership, meeting rooms and coworking space email info@flourishtogether.org.uk
A great resource to support mindful remote working practices Mental health and working remotely | Mind – Mind