Do you think about your "wellness" when you're at work? According to pfizer.com, wellness is "the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving."
So, what does that mean for you? Simple things such as the temperature of your workspace (optimal is 71.6), natural light, and healthy snacking keep you alert and more productive throughout the day.
Coworking, specifically, can help with workplace wellness. Here's how.
Happiness
According to a 2017 article in the Harvard Business Review, 89% of people said they felt happier at work since joining a coworking space. Need we say more?
Health offerings
Coworking spaces provide amenities such as sit/stand desks. Various studies prove that prolonged sedentary time may increase the risk of heart disease by up to 147%. Standing while you work is one way to mitigate that risk.
Many coworking spaces also have offerings such as fitness classes, yoga, or meditation, either on premises or at a gym nearby.
Working with friends
Loneliness is one of the top challenges of remote working and freelancing. By coworking, people are able to work while making new friends as well.
The same 2017 article that said coworking makes people happier also stated that 87% of respondents meet other members for social reasons, with 54% saying they socialize with other members after work and/or on weekends.
Friendships at work benefit our mental health, but they also impact our physical health. Having good friends and other social connections has an impact on a wide range of conditions, from heart health to cancer.
Learning new things
In another survey, 69% of the people said that interacting with their coworkers has helped them learn new things. This allows them to both improve their existing skill set and also acquire new skills.
Coworking spaces increase learning through hosting events and education programs as well, and 67% of coworkers said that they attend these programs.
According to Michael Merzenich, PhD, the author of “Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life”, any time you learn something new, you’re reshaping and rejuvenating your brain. Learning new things can also make you more confident, creative, and curious.
As we reach the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are in need of workplace wellness more than ever, and coworking is the way for remote and freelance workers to fulfill that need.