Is Coworking What You've Been Looking For?

When we give tours to prospective members, we hear one thing a lot: They've tried working from home and it's just not working out for them. While some reasons are are singular to the individual, more often than not there's a common list of complains: Working from home is uncomfortable, unstimulating, lonely, and filled with distractions (suddenly, the dishes in the sink have to be washed, and doesn't the dog need another walk?). All of this leads to decreased happiness and productivity, and that becomes a vicious cycle that affects both business and psyche.

A new member once exclaimed after her first day at Click, "I've gotten more done today than I have in the last two weeks!" That's a common sentiment. Clearly, coworking is onto something.

If you're feeling down in the dumps about your current work environment, you might find your fit in a coworking space. A coworking community is...

Focused & Productive -- Working hard is contagious. There's something about sharing a space with other dedicated, ambitious individuals that inspires everyone to buckle down and get their work done. And the coffee machine and snack box are your biggest distractions; as hard as you look, you won't find any laundry needing folding.

Social (in just the right dose) -- Coworking provides a built-in network of peers who are available for advice, networking, collaboration, water cooler chats, lunches, and happy hours. But unlike in a traditional office, there's no corporate pressure to connect and participate beyond your comfort level. Coworking can provide a social environment that works for extroverts and introverts alike; you choose how much interaction suits you, without penalty.

Connected -- As you get to know your fellow coworkers, you'll find that they're tapped into all sorts of interesting things. And they probably know somebody that you've been meaning to get to know, and they'd be happy to make that introduction for you. You may even find that they're working in the same field as you, or that there's an exciting synergy between your work. Simply working in proximity to other entrepreneurs, startups, and remote employees can create professional opportunities you would not have imagined. Not to mention that sometimes you just a recommendation for a great babysitter, arborist, or art supply store (real examples from the past month).

Convenient -- Coworking spaces generally provide Internet access, networked printing, coffee, fresh water, an other conveniences as part of their membership fees. You can stop worrying about maintaining office supplies, cleaning the bathroom, and watering the plants. Let us keep up with it. You just sit yourself down and work away.

If you've been suffering at home or in the corner coffee shop, feeling inefficient, isolated, and frustrated, come give coworking a try. We'd love to give you a tour, and day passes are available if you'd like to get the full Click experience before joining. If there's one thing we know, it that there's no time like the present to get back on track by designing a happier work life for yourself.

Best Practices for a Happy & Healthy Co-Workday

Click Members are an impressively hardworking group. We're dedicated to the work we're putting out in the world, so during our workdays we really focus and commit our time to those efforts, whether we're working remotely for an employer or pushing forward our own enterprise. And that can translate into a lot of time spent in front of the computer screen, getting lost in our work.

But desk-based work isn't all doom and gloom. Here are some things you'll see Click members doing to promote not only their productivity, but also overall health and happiness during their workdays:

Comfort: We've all done it: A few hours into our day we realize we're slumped forward in our chairs, shoulders hunched, hands crowded together on the keyboard. It's a recipe for discomfort, but it doesn't have to be. Plenty of Click members have modified their work stations to suit their individual ergonomic needs. You'll see standing desks, height-adjustable "wobbly" stools, stability balls, and even balance boards in use here. Out first-floor lounge seating also provides a mid-day change of pace from the traditional desk and chair setup. Changing position, sitting tall, stretching, and moving around whenever possible are all beneficial ways to promote physical wellbeing in the workplace.

Sustenance: How often have you looked up from your work to discover that it's 2pm and you haven't had lunch? It can be far too easy to skip meals, but our focus, efficiency, and creativity decline as our hunger increases. Here at Click we love our food, and we take full advantage of our kitchenette. We bring lunches from home, enjoy "Salad Club" member lunches (everyone brings an ingredient to contribute and builds their own salad), and munch on natural foods goodies from our Berkshire Natural snack box. There are also plenty of places to eat in the neighborhood, and sometimes a true, out-of-the-office lunch break is the best way to recharge for the rest of the afternoon. The better we keep ourselves fed, the better equipped we are to make the most of our workdays.

Music: Headphones can be a great tool to promote focus -- whether or not any sound is coming through them. Some people get distracted by music and simply like the isolation that a pair of earbuds provides, while for others putting on some tunes makes it that much more fun and energizing to punch through their to-do list. The rest of the office may be peacefully quiet, but you've got your own private concert going on.

Socializing: Many coworkers are solo entrepreneurs or individuals who are working remotely for companies. Within the context of this space, our work is our own, and it's easy to keep it to ourselves. But we're also social creatures, and face time with our fellow members is a fulfilling part of the coworking experience. That's why we make a heartfelt effort to build our sense of Click community, whether through our intraoffice Slack chats or through our members-only events, including lunchtime talks and end-of-the-month get-togethers. When we get to know each other better, we discover personal and professional connections and find valuable resources within our ranks. The faces we encounter when we arrive back at the workspace the next morning feel friendly and familiar, and the whole space is more ours.

Fresh Air: Sometimes the nature of your work takes you out of the office on a regular basis. But other times you need to structure in some time away. This goes for coworking spaces as much as traditional offices. Whether we take a walk around the block to admire the neighbors' gardens, grab a smoothie at Nourish Wellness Cafe on the corner, or jump on one of Click's share bikes to run an errand, we get an energy boost when we break up our indoor work time with a jaunt outside.