Did you know that almost half of the workers in the USA have struggled with their mental health at some point in their professional lives? With mental health issues steadily on the rise, professionals all over the world are looking for ways in which they can counter the stress and burnout that they experience on a regular basis, and many of them are now turning to coworking spaces.
Why? Because these shared workspaces have so much to offer, with one of their perks being that they can boost mental health in a big way. Keep reading as Circle Hub explores exactly how coworking spaces are managing to do this, and what this could mean for your professional success.
Why Are Mental Health Issues on the Rise Amongst Professionals?
Why has mental health in the professional world suddenly started to rise so severely? There are a number of reasons for this…
To start with, around 76% of professionals struggle with work-related pressures. The stress that this causes impacts their ability to work. It leads to burnout as well, with this triggering emotional detachment and a vicious cycle that becomes hard to break out of.
Additionally, the majority of workers feel that their work environment is toxic. Not only does this stifle creativity and productivity, but it also quickly brings about anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and a whole host of other mental health issues.
How Coworking Spaces Can Help
While many professionals recognize that their working environments are impacting their mental health, finding a solution hasn’t always been easy…until recently. Coworking spaces are now growing in popularity, with those who utilize these workspaces raving about the mental health benefits they’ve experienced after signing up.
Let’s take a closer look at how coworking spaces can significantly boost mental health:
A Healthy Work-Life Balance
Many professionals find it difficult to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Modern work culture demands long working hours, high-pressure deadlines, intense competition, and the expectation that one should always be available. This has really blurred the lines between work life and home life, making it hardly surprising that ambitious professionals can struggle to balance the two.
While moving to a coworking space won’t instantly give you a perfect work-life balance, it makes it much easier to achieve this. They provide an all-important sense of structure to the working day, yet in a flexible way that allows you to share time between your two worlds. You’ll be able to pick your own working hours, so that if you’re needed at home at certain times, you can be there, while still getting all of your work done. Some coworking spaces, like Circle Hub, offer 24/7 access, giving you complete flexibility to decide when to work.
A Community to Lean on
Humans are social creatures. Social interaction is essential for mental well-being, affecting everything from cognitive function to mood. The need for social connections is deep-rooted, yet many professionals, especially those who work on their own, find themselves increasingly battling feelings of isolation and loneliness. This can really chip away at a person over time, impacting their mental health.
Move to a coworking space and you’ll suddenly find yourself immersed in a community. Coworking spaces are great for encouraging social interactions, to the point where you’ll quickly be able to make new connections, both social and professional. Even introverts find coworking spaces a great place to get to know others. Simply spend some time in one of the common areas, and it won’t be long before you’re deep in conversation with interesting people from a variety of backgrounds. You could also attend one of our networking events. They’re casual and always have a relaxed, friendly vibe. All of this provides a sense of belonging – something that will give your mental health a huge boost!
No More Commute Stress
Many workers start their day with a long and frustrating commute. This immediately takes a toll on mental health, increasing stress and anxiety. Long commutes, meaning those that take more than half an hour or so, can also have a cumulative effect on mental health, increasing the likelihood that you’ll experience work-related burnout.
Sign up to a coworking space, however, and stressful commutes will become a thing of the past. With coworking spaces now popping up just about everywhere, the majority of professionals will be able to find a suitable one that’s quick and convenient for them to get to.
If you want to work at one of Circle Hub’s coworking spaces, you have two California locations to choose from: Ventura and Northridge. Both spaces are decked out to the highest standards and are easy to access, whether you’re walking, driving, or taking public transportation.
A Focus on Downtime and Wellness
While coworking spaces are primarily a place of work, they also very much acknowledge the need for downtime. It’s something that many professionals don’t get enough of, yet it is a big contributing factor to burnout. Rather than ensuring that they take regular breaks (which not only improves mental health but also boosts productivity), they find themselves glued to their desks for hours.
If you find it difficult to ‘switch off’ and take regular breaks from work, a coworking space could provide the encouragement that you need. Take Circle Hub as an example. In addition to our common areas, we also have a kitchen space where you can enjoy your fill of free coffee, along with other refreshments. We regularly host free breakfasts too, ensuring that you’re eating the most important meal of the day! If you prefer to be ‘doing something’ during your downtime, you’ll have plenty to choose from, from a gaming room to our on-site gym. With wellness being intrinsically linked to mental health, all of these facilities could give you the boost you’ve been searching for.
No Need to Sweat the Small Stuff
Whether you work for yourself or you’re a remote worker employed by a company, there’s a lot to think about when you don’t have an official workspace that you need to attend each day. Not only do you need to find somewhere suitable to work, but you also need to ensure that you have access to electricity, high-speed WiFi, printing services, and other small details that are necessary to work to a high standard in today’s world.
The stress from having to manage all of this can really build up, requiring a lot of admin time. With a coworking space, you don’t have to worry about any of those ‘small’ things. From WiFi that cuts out to a printer running out of ink, all of those problems will be handled by your coworking space. This frees you up to focus on your work, which can be a huge advantage to your mental health.
A Reduced Financial Burden
All of the ‘small stuff’ that we mentioned above? Each one costs money, and those costs can quickly add up. In addition to all of that, if you need to rent your own physical office as well, that adds a huge overhead to your monthly costs. The stress of then having to make those payments on time, even if your business starts to struggle, can seem insurmountable.
Coworking spaces are generally very cost-effective, which takes away that financial burden. Yes, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee, but that’s usually a fraction of what you’d otherwise be spending. After all, in addition to getting a desk to work at, you’ll also have access to so many different amenities. These all quickly justify that small monthly fee.
Boosting Motivation
If you consistently feel unmotivated at work, your mental health will start to deteriorate. This, in turn, will affect how motivated you feel, placing you in yet another cycle that’s tough to break.
Interestingly, motivation is something that people who work at coworking spaces rarely have to worry about. Coworking spaces are, by nature, designed to be motivating environments. With plenty of natural light, ergonomic furniture, and other elements that are proven to be motivating, you’ll find it much easier to focus and do your best work.
This is enhanced by the community aspect that we mentioned earlier. When you’re in a room surrounded by professionals who are each feeling motivated, this will quickly rub off on you, leaving you feeling the same.
Coworking at Circle Hub
Curious about the coworking spaces offered by Circle Hub? We’ve already talked about some of our facilities and amenities, but there are plenty of others, too.
Our variety of workspaces is something that all of our members greatly appreciate. Just like most coworking spaces, we have shared workspaces where you can turn up whenever you want, pick an available desk, and get to work. However, we also have a Designated Desk system. This allows you to reserve a specific desk in advance, so that your favorite spot is guaranteed to be available for when you need it. If you need some privacy to host a meeting or brainstorm with your team, we also have private office suites and conference rooms that provide plenty of seclusion.
Take a stroll around our building, and you’ll also notice a beautiful 1500 square foot space. This can be hired out by our members for events, both professional and social. We even throw in an event coordinator to ensure that everything runs smoothly!
Ready to Start Your Coworking Journey?
There are a number of reasons to make the move to a coworking space, but the boost that it will give to your mental health is a big one! The healthier your mental state, the more productive and successful you’ll be in your professional life, making it so important to prioritize and properly care for your mental health. Join us at Circle Hub, and this will become so much easier!
Click here to book a tour of Circle Hub’s coworking spaces today!