Mental health has been getting a lot of attention lately, with more and more people recognizing just how much it impacts every single aspect of life. Your professional productivity is one. If your mental health is suffering, your productivity will as well. This can go back and forth, triggering a downward spiral that isn’t going to spell good news for your career.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to keeping yourself mentally healthy and, therefore, productive, many professionals have been turning to coworking as a solution. How can coworking help? Read on as Circle Hub explores.
The Connection Between Mental Health and Productivity
There are many different mental health disorders out there, each with its own set of symptoms. However, some of those symptoms, from depression and anxiety to having trouble concentrating and staying motivated, are shared among multiple mental health conditions, and those are the key factors that significantly affect productivity.
Research shows that depression alone can lead to a 35% decline in productivity, contributing to roughly a $210.5 billion loss each year for the US economy. Mental health issues are becoming a big economic burden, making it hardly surprising that more time and attention are being placed on improving the mental state of the general workforce.
What Causes Mental Health Issues Among Professionals?
While mental health issues can affect anyone, professionals tend to be particularly affected. Not only do they have to deal with the same personal struggles as everyone else, but they also have additional contributing factors to overcome, such as:
- Excessive job demands, such as heavy workloads or tight deadlines. This can quickly lead to stress and other mental health problems.
- A poor work-life balance. This can take a huge toll on mental health while also contributing to burnout.
- A toxic workplace. If you don’t feel happy and comfortable in an environment in which you’ll be spending so much time, your mental health will soon start to suffer.
Coworking Gives Mental Health a Boost
In the same way that there are many different mental health disorders out there, there are also many different ways to deal with them. One solution that many professionals have found helpful is making the move to a coworking space. This can tackle the various problems that cause mental health issues in the first place, allowing them to eradicate their issues at the source.
How, exactly, can a coworking space give mental health a boost? Here are just a few of the ways:
Reduces Loneliness
Loneliness is a barrier that many professionals come up against. Whether you’re based in an isolating workplace or you’re a freelancer who works on your own on a daily basis, a surprisingly large chunk of the workforce feels lonely at work.
At a coworking space, loneliness is much rarer. A good coworking space will foster a friendly and supportive environment – one that encourages a sense of belonging. Rather than seeing the same faces each day as you would in a traditional office, a coworking space will enable you to interact with professionals from all walks of life, making it much easier to find people with whom you can form a meaningful connection.
Creates Boundaries
If you currently work from home, you’ll know all too well how difficult it can be to separate work life from home life. The lines between the two constantly blur, which takes a toll on mental health.
Start working from a coworking space, however, and you’ll suddenly find it much easier to set boundaries between the two aspects of your life. It’s much easier to mentally switch between the two when you have a separate dedicated workspace, too. You’ll suddenly be able to focus so much more on both your home life and your work life, with this new work-life balance giving your mental health a big boost.
Provides Flexibility
The structure that a coworking space will add to your day can be mentally stabilizing. The best part? You’ll still maintain a strong sense of freedom, thanks to how flexible coworking spaces are.
For starters, there’s no long-term contract to sign up to. While each coworking space will have its own terms, Circle Hub operates on a month-to-month basis. If you change your mind or decide to pause your membership for a while, it’s easy to do just that.
You also have full flexibility in terms of when you work. Pick a coworking space that offers 24/7 access, like Circle Hub, and you’ll be able to create a schedule that’s tailored to the hours when you feel most productive.
Access to Wellness Amenities
Wellness is a big part of mental health, yet it isn’t traditionally a part of professional work life. There was always a line drawn between the two – one that is now starting to blur thanks to how wellness amenities are being increasingly incorporated into professional settings.
Coworking spaces tend to be big champions of this, with many offering wellness amenities that traditional offices can’t compete with. At Circle Hub, you’ll have access to everything from an on-site gym to a gaming room, ensuring that your wellness needs are being fully taken care of. This will have a knock-on effect on your mental health, promoting a positivity that not only makes you more productive at work but also spills over into other areas of your life.
Coworking Improves Productivity in Other Ways, Too
The boost that coworking will give to your mental health will go a long way in improving your productivity. However, making the move to a coworking space will give your productivity a nudge in other ways, too:
Makes Collaboration a Breeze
Collaboration is a huge driver of productivity, and a collaborative environment is exactly what you’ll find at most coworking spaces. People are usually happy to share their perspective and knowledge, giving you a priceless source of peer feedback. Not only can this improve the quality of the work that you do, but it can also have a very inspiring and motivating effect. You’ll be able to kick ideas around with other professionals, which will also leave you feeling more creative! As you can imagine, all of this will do nothing but good things for your productivity.
Encourages Networking and Growth
While the term ‘networking’ often produces connotations of stuffy seminars and tedious events, the casual collaborations that we mentioned above are also a form of networking. At a coworking space, you’ll be networking daily without even realizing it, which will do wonders for both your productivity and growth.
Of course, many coworking spaces do offer official networking events too. However, at Circle Hub, ours are still very informal get-togethers. From yoga sessions to breakfasts, they’re laid back and don’t come with the pressure that traditional networking events do. You’ll soon find that your professional network rapidly grows, meaning more and better opportunities for you in the future.
Provides a Range of Work Environments
Shared workspaces tend to be at the heart of all coworking spaces. After all, this is what coworking spaces were initially modelled to be – a shared workspace that can be used by various professionals. At Circle Hub, we call them Hot Spots, and there’s no denying how these vibrant environments can really help with productivity. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by other hardworking, motivated professionals to give you the push that you need to do the same.
However, there will be times when a shared workspace isn’t conducive to the work that you need to do. Whether this happens to be an important video call, a brainstorming session with your team, or the need to work on highly confidential documents, you may sometimes require a little privacy in order to be fully productive.
This is where many coworking spaces really shine. At Circle Hub, in addition to our Hot Spots, we have a selection of other workspaces that our members can use, too. From our private offices to our meeting rooms, you’ll be able to pick and choose your workspace for the day depending on what you’re actually working on.
Finding a Coworking Space That Supports Mental Health and Productivity
Will all coworking spaces support your mental health and productivity? Unfortunately, no. Firstly, some coworking spaces are very basic. They keep things simple and don’t put much effort into creating a community environment. They offer a desk to work at, but not much else.
Even among the coworking spaces that do prioritize mental health and wellbeing, you’ll find that not all of them will be right for you. Each coworking space will have its own vibe, and some simply may not suit you.
How can you tell if you’re going to fit in at a coworking space? By paying that space a visit for yourself. By all means, study those online reviews and find out what others think, but the only way to really gain a good idea of what the ambiance of that space is like is to go and see it for yourself. Spend some time exploring the space and speaking to other members. Ask plenty of questions so that you can learn first-hand what coworking at that workspace is really like.
Coworking at Circle Hub
While some coworking companies have coworking spaces all over the country, Circle Hub is much smaller and more intimate. We have two locations for our members to choose from: one in Northridge and one in Ventura. Both spaces offer a friendly atmosphere, a range of workspaces, and top-tier facilities and amenities. They both place big importance on supporting mental health and productivity, which is why our members really thrive here.
Want to check out Circle Hub’s coworking spaces for yourself? Click here to book a tour of your chosen location today!