Due to COVID-19, the future of the traditional workplace is uncertain. With many businesses now faced with unforeseen difficulties, namely creating socially distanced zones in the offices for employees and providing flexible working options. The need for more usable, flexible space has become of utmost importance.
In light of the global crisis, many companies are now offering flexible or remote working to their employees. The last few months have shown us if nothing else, that businesses can adapt.
But what does this to mean for the traditional workplace?
In a recent survey done by Hubble HQ, 70% of office employees had a positive experience working from home with many choosing to work from home in the future. However, the study indicated that those in favour of working remotely were aged 41 years or older meaning the younger generation preferred the traditional office environment.
Even so, the survey showed that regardless of age, all office workers found they missed face to face meetings with clients and colleagues. At Us&Co we have a range of meeting rooms available to hire by the hour.
Due to this uptick in remote working, 47% of companies globally are planning to make remote working a permanent option, as shown in a study by PWC. For instance, chief executives from Barclays and WPP are looking into a de-centralised approach to working. Nevertheless, after the pandemic, many workers will continue to work flexibly by splitting their time between home and the office.
Office De-Densification
For large companies, this new trend will help navigate the de-densification of office space. Following a return to work, companies may need to de-densify or use a staff rotation method by splitting their workforce into teams. Considering all businesses were under-prepared at the start of the year, many companies are organising for all eventualities. With the likelihood of the pandemic returning, and in turn the restrictions, many companies will be implementing social distancing measures by ensuring there is enough space for employees. By using a staff rotation method, they help certify their office is de-densified. Some companies may need temporary office space, with complete flexibility and without commitments to accommodate the remaining workforce.
In doing so, they need a flexible solution away from the traditional leases. Book a tour of a private office space here.
Flexible Terms
Businesses, in these uncertain times, will be reluctant to sign a long lease. Being able to have the flexibility to shrink or expand the business when necessary is hampered by the traditional long leases of 3 years or more. Serviced office and co-working spaces deliver the perfect solution for business moving towards short to medium term flexible contracts.
For large or small businesses, serviced office providers offer this needed flexibility. Also, the flexibility of working in a serviced office space is that all utilities and amenities are all included in the monthly licence fee. This takes the hassle out of ordering office furniture, organising a cleaning service, setting up bills, WiFi or providing refreshments for your employees. Find out more about Us&Co’s private offices.
Coworking as a solution
Co-working spaces like Us&Co, provide a short-term flexible solution which offers freelancers, small or even larger established businesses the freedom to use the space when needed. Ranging from a day pass to a monthly membership.
Co-working can be a cost-effective and adjustable solution. Taking one or several fixed desks on a rolling month contract provides flexibility without any commitment or hidden costs.
Many co-working and serviced office providers also offer access to bookable meeting rooms. Us&Co’s meeting rooms are equipped with high-tech audio/visual technology and fast WiFi, allowing easy video conferencing or in-person presentations. Each room undergoes a fogging service which is certified to protect from contamination and lasts up to 30 days.
Get in touch with Us&Co today:
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road
Phone us: 020 3102 4010
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us:020 3102 4010
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
The Pros of Working from the office
While remote working has become increasingly popular across all business sectors in the last five or so years, it remained a distant possibility for many pre-pandemic. With many companies unable or unwilling to facilitate working from home options, a proportion of the workforce inevitably looked on in envy at colleagues for whom the commute only had to be endured a couple of days a week. However, for the majority of the workforce, the challenges brought about by the global outbreak of Covid-19 quickly saw remote working become a reality.
After three or so months, we have all discovered what it is truly like to work from home and if it is at all it’s cracked up to be. As the title suggests, this article endeavours to highlight the pros and cons of working from home. To facilitate a cohesive study, here at Us&Co we surveyed our members to learn exactly what benefits they found came with working remotely and what challenges they faced and attempted to overcome.
Recent studies indicate that the average commute takes Dubliners 30 minutes, with their London counterparts having a longer average commute of circa 80 minutes. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that 85% of Us&Co members expressed that the main advantage to working from home is not having to commute to an office. The elimination of the need to spend up to two hours in a car or on public transport saves not only your invaluable time but can also provide some much-needed relief to your monthly expenses.
Moreover, when it comes to saving money, saving on your fuel costs or a train ticket isn’t the only advantage of working from home. It can also help reduce your expenditure on work attire and eating out. Likewise, for parents, many can save on childcare costs.
However, there is an obverse side to the coin and there are associated costs with working from home which need to be considered. According to our survey, 78% of our members reported that they had to foot the costs of facilitating a proper working environment at home which included the purchasing of a desk, an ergonomic chair, and IT equipment such as a monitor and a router. These important necessities enable an efficient and productive working atmosphere. In addition, the increased reliance on electricity and broadband at home add to these expenses at the end of each month. As a result, we find that many remote workers tend to use co-working spaces such as Us&Co which delivers a fast and reliable internet connection, comfortable workstations and complimentary beverages all for a reasonable price on a flexible contract.
A conducive working environment requires, at the very least, a fast and reliable internet connection. No more so when working at home as it can be quite isolating; as such, consistent communication between team members and managers is vital to keep abreast of changes and developments in the business. While this can occur via the usual platforms (emails, phone calls and video conferencing), this is subject to a stable internet connection. However, those working at home reported that their internet connection was unreliable causing a drop in quality in audio and visuals during meetings.
Despite the alternative ways of staying connected online, many people found that they missed the community of working in an office environment. Us&Co members felt that video conferencing was a poor alternative, with 55% saying that they preferred face to face meetings as it facilitates a better team dynamic and enhances collaborative working. Furthermore, 67% found it challenging to overcome the lack of social interactions which come with working from home.
We find this is no less true for those junior members of staff who invariable gain invaluable knowledge and skills while working in close proximity to more experienced colleagues. On-the-job training is an essential practice for any employee and it stands to reason that new employees in many industries will fall victim to being inadequately trained while working from home. This can lead to poor job performance and increased levels of work-related stress which will inevitably leave them feeling undervalued and can cause them to search elsewhere for progression and development opportunities.
Even though working from home can be isolating, there have been several studies which suggest that it can be beneficial to productivity levels. This was attributed to the fact that home workers put in more minutes per shift, owing to the elimination of commutes and shorter lunches. This, however, plays a part in some remote workers having increased stress levels as they tended to finish work later. This correlates with our survey which indicates that 46% of Us&Co members found it difficult to switch off at the end of the day. The physical separation of home and office, though a traditional one, has very real benefits for our mental health and anxiety levels.
Distractions, be they in the office or at the home, have an impact on productivity levels. Actions as small as changing your workstation have been proven to boost productivity. However, having the space to facilitate a change in a workstation isn’t generally possible for the majority of homeworkers as they tend to be resigned to one room. Confining oneself to a single room for hours at a time can have adverse effects; as such, having the option to move around freely while at work can greatly increase job satisfaction and performance. Us&Co prides itself on being able to facilitate this space by designing, decorating, and furnishing its centres in-line with the most up to date occupational psychology in order to create a quiet professional environment. While working from home can eliminate many typical office distractions, such as noisy phone calls or water-cooler chat, our survey found that 45% of Us&Co members were more distracted by the pressures and noisy environments of their homes, thereby demonstrating an eagerness to return to the office.
With restrictions easing and businesses slowly beginning to reopen, we can undoubtedly expect to see a change in attitude towards a return to the office. This is even more true for those who have understandable concerns surrounding Covid-19. In that regard, our survey indicated that only 39% of Us&Co members were anxious to return to the office. As a serviced office and co-working space provider, Us&Co understands the need to prioritise the health and safety of our members and to alleviate any concerns they may have. Therefore, Us&Co have been pro-active in implementing measures in our buildings to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to safeguard the health and safety of our members. Inevitably, many companies will have to stagger their employees’ reintroduction into their offices while also trying to juggle reconfiguring their spaces with the running of their businesses. Us&Co is endeavouring to resolve these concerns for our members by helping to prepare offices for social distancing and strict hygiene practices.
If you are looking for a new office or coworking space for you and your team why not contact the sales team at Us&Co:
London Stratford Private Offices & Co-working space,
11 Burford Road Stratford E15 2ST
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
London Monument Private Offices & Co-working space,
7 Harp Lane EC3R 6DP
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s GreenPrivate Offices & Co-working space,
5 School House Lane East D02 N279
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
Ten Things all Professionals Should Master in 2020
Here are 10 solid and achievable goals that should be on your list to master throughout 2020, to make it the best year yet for your professional development.
- Daily Creativity
It can be easy to lose your creative sparkle once your daily workload begins to build. Many begin to push their blogs to one side, give up on writing that book or pop their paintbrush down for a little longer than they should. However, having a daily time slot where you can unleash your inner creativity will help clear your head, putting you in a better frame of mind for the day. You never know, you may also create something wonderful. Only time will tell.
- Design Skills
A picture can often speak a thousand words, and in this ever-growing visual world having the knowledge on how to create simple designs and images will make your life a lot easier. Even if you only master the basics on how to tweak or pull together small designs this year, it will put you in great stead for the coming years also. Why not get started with some help from this article? http://lifehacker.com/5753459/learn-the-basics-of-photoshop-in-under-25-minutes
- Excel
Regardless of the type of environment, you work in there’s no denying that a good working knowledge of Excel will make it easier. From keeping track of your finances to creating daily reports, having in-depth knowledge of Excel is a vital tool that every professional should master. To help you get started, take a look at this article http://lifehacker.com/how-to-master-microsoft-office-excel-1767973710
- Hiring
Having the right team around you can make or break for many professionals, and one thing that is vital to master is hiring the right candidate. While many enlist specialist teams’ help with the recruitment process, knowing how to correctly hire for yourself is the best way to ensure you will be left with the best team. Knowing what you require from a candidate and picturing how they’ll fit within your team is essential for employee retention and general peace of working within your business.
- Measure Success
Success is different for each professional but having a clear vision of what you class as success and how you would measure it is extremely important. Take some time to consider what you would class as professional success and look at a variety of ways you could measure it. Once you feel comfortable with one form of measurement, stick with it. A clear measuring tool will give you a great indication of the direction in which you’re heading.
- Listening
Whether it’s taking on board feedback you’ve been given, factoring in changes in your chosen career or even just making a note of advice from family and friends. Set aside your emotional responses and take a step back to really absorb information from others in your life. Listening is an important part of communication, and often one of the toughest things to master.
- Skill Sharing
Not only is skill-sharing a way to help you develop professionally, but it also helps other people grow. Many of the skills we’ve learned and developed have been honed through the help of others and being able to share skill sets and learn from others is a key cornerstone for professional success. Co-working is a great way to share skills in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
- Time Management
With lives getting busier and work demands growing, it can often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Not only should you be working on ensuring all work is complete promptly, you should also focus on ensuring your work/life balance is equal. Remember, if you have a dedicated desk with Us&Co you have access to your space 24/7, allowing you to plan your days perfectly.
https://www.usandco.com/latest-news/2016/11/24/productivity-hacks-to-make-better-use-of-your-time/
- Keyboard Shortcuts
Many of us depend on our computers for our day to day lives, not to mention to thrive in our chosen business areas. Learning a handful of keyboard shortcuts will not only make your life easier but also help you amaze at your next board meeting. Here are some to get you sorted: http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-keyboard-shortcuts
- Saying No
When you’re your own boss, it can often feel like saying no is a big faux pas and that you should be grabbing every opportunity that comes your way with both hands. However, saying yes too often can cause more problems than it will solve. Learning to say no occasionally will help ensure that you can manage your time better and help you focus on the items that truly matter.
Tackling each of these steps throughout the year will leave you ringing in 2021 ready to tackle anything the year has to throw at you.
If you are looking for a new office or coworking space for you and your team why not contact the sales team at Us&Co:
London Stratford Private Offices & Co-working space,
11 Burford Road Stratford E15 2ST
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
London Monument Private Offices & Co-working space,
7 Harp Lane EC3R 6DP
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s GreenPrivate Offices & Co-working space,
5 School House Lane East D02 N279
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
How to effectively juggle your work and social life
How to effectively juggle work and social life
Now that many of us are working from home and have constant access to our emails, we know it can be tempting to just “quickly” check them in the evening after you have closed the laptop down for the day. Suddenly a five minutecheck turns into an hour and a half, 10 more emails and 3 phone calls. The pressures of work can pile up sometimes, but it’s more important than ever to make sure you have an effective work/social life balance to ensure a healthy mind. So, we’ve put together some tips on how to help keep the balance just right.
Be social
No matter how busy or weighed down you may feel, it is important to still make time to maintain contact with your family and friends. Instead of burning the midnight oil in front of the computer take some time out for the ones you love. Whether it’s a virtual catch up with friends over a drink, watching a movie or even simply having dinner with your family, doing something after work that you enjoy and is non-work related will help you relax; keeping you happy and healthy.
Take holidays
Everyone is entitled to a holiday! Yes, it may seem pointless to use your holidays when you are in lockdown and can’t jet off for two weeks to a beach somewhere but it’s important to step away from work once in a while. Taking a break, even for a few days and switching off will help you feel refreshed and give your body a chance to fully re-charge their batteries. Why not take a Friday or a Monday off to elongate the weekend? It means that you will come back to work feeling well-rested and be more productive than ever.
Be efficient with your time
We know that being social and finding the time for a holiday is important, but of course the work still needs to get done, hence the phrase work AND social life balance. Being efficient and strict with your time will help you achieve a complete to-do list and a healthy social life. When you’re at work, focus on the task in hand and give it your full attention, try to avoid distractions like texts and social media. This will help you concentrate and allow you to efficiently produce your best work. Before you leave the “home office” make a to-do list for the next day, this will help you feel organised and prepared in advance, so nothing gets missed.
Create your own working hours
There are numerous studies that show that working 9-5 isn’t the most effective way of working for lots of us. As we all have grown accustomed to working from home we can now see the truth in this; you may be more of an early riser or perhaps a night owl, either way we all know that we would be much more productive if we created our own working hours. As well as boosting productivity, creating your own schedule can help you balance and make time for your social life and any family commitments you may have. Co-working is perfect for this, with 24/7 access to our dedicated desks you can work the hours that suit you, why not give it a go and see if it’s for you.
Get in touch with the Us&Co sales team today:
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
What Will Post-Lockdown Look Like?
In light of, Covid-19 lockdown restrictions being eased, we are now seeing people slowly but surely returning to work. Nevertheless, with this incremental return to normality, governmental guidelines such as social distancing will invariably have to stay in place. What this signifies is that our day to day lives will inevitably be changed for the foreseeable. From our commute into work to our grocery shopping we will have to adapt to “the new normal”.
But what will post-lockdown look like? What will be different? What will we have to prepare for? This article endeavours to answer these questions by highlighting the main changes we will most likely see affecting our lives.
Transport
With employers implementing a staggered reintroduction into the workplace, with many employee’s continuing to work from home, employers will also have to consider staggering employees “start and finishing times”. There will be a need, like seen throughout the 2012 London Olympics, for some coordination with public transport authorities such as TFL to help decrease the volume of people travelling during peak times.
Additionally, while social distancing is in place, public transport such as the bus and train will no longer be able to operate normally. According to London’s deputy mayor for transport, Heidi Alexander, buses which usually hold up to 85 people now should only carry 15 people, while train carriages should only carry 21 people from the usual 125. This certainly will create extended queues increasing “dwell times”. To combat this, the government are proposing to increase bus and train timetables. Commuters will be advised to wear face-coverings and if possible, bring personal hand-sanitiser and tissues. However, they suggest that public transport should be a last resort for people if other modes of transport are available.
What we will see in the coming weeks, as government officials are suggesting, is an uptake in active travel such as cycling and walking. Considering this, a plan has been laid out to increase the number of bicycle lanes throughout the city as can be seen to be done in New York City which has begun to put in place 110 miles of bike lanes. Meaning we can expect an increase in the number of roads reallocated to pedestrians and cyclists. Even so, drivers will have to have to take due care as there will be a rise in inexperienced cyclists on the road.
Shopping
In terms of how our shopping habits will change post lockdown, we need only look at how supermarkets and pharmacies have dealt with the restrictive measures during lockdown. Using the British Retail Consortium published guidelines we can see the measures that will stay in place for the foreseeable with the reopening of more shops.
There will be a limited number of people allowed in a shop at one time with, if possible, a one-way system with a limited number of entrances and exits. Customers will have to wait in the clearly marked queue allowing for correct social distancing. A shop employee will then direct waiting customers when they can enter and direct them to the cleaning stations where they will be encouraged to use the hand sanitiser. Till-points will have changed throughout, with Perspex screens being installed to protect both customer and till operator. Due to physical money being notoriously covered in germs, government guidelines urge people to use contactless payment methods when they can, which we will most likely see become the norm in the future.
Café’s and sandwich shops will follow the same procedures, though through a take-away centric approach. It may be awhile before we will be allowed to sit in and enjoy a coffee. It is also up to the discretion of the food retailer to open their toilets and, maybe more importantly, baby-changing facilities to the public as these will need to be frequently cleaned.
Furthermore, clothes shops have been advised to prohibit the use of changing rooms as well as removing any customer seating. If this is not possible, fitting rooms will have to be manned at all times, while seating will need to be spread to ensure social distancing is maintained. Even with the exhaustive measures being put in place it could very well be the case that retailers may see a decline in in-store sales. Unsurprisingly, Drapers reported over 80% of in-store sales have dropped from this time last year with many people opting for the online option. We can be assured to expect a different retailing landscape post lockdown.
Fitness
However, the retail industry is not alone in possibly having to pivot its business plan. Gyms, in an attempt to retain their existing members, created virtual gym classes where people could log in and take part in the comfort of their own home. This saw a surge in home gym equipment purchases. Due to the relative ease and accessibility to virtual workout classes with personal trainers, gyms may see a decline in membership with people opting for the online option. Nevertheless, what we can expect is that the option will have to be provided as it has been proven to work.
Even though post lockdown may seem to curtail our freedom, it will undoubtedly bring us alternative ways for us to manoeuvre around the restrictions. As we all know, “necessity is the mother of invention!
Get in touch with the Us&Co sales team today:
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
Going Back to Work Under Social Distancing Restrictions
With the global situation taking its toll on all business sectors, the necessity for innovative and flexible solutions to stem the impact on the markets has now become of paramount importance. This is also true for the flexible office space & co-working sector as the current pandemic crisis has forced many workers to adapt to working from home. However, businesses are now beginning to consider the possible potential relaxation of the current measures in order to arrange a gradual return to the office. This will mean, for the foreseeable, that government-mandated measures such as social distancing will inevitably impact workplace requirements as companies seek ways to protect the health of their employees.
One possible way of tackling this obstacle is de-densification; this will create space for your employees by splitting offices or using a staff rotation method. However, this has the potential to create its own issues as seen in central London where there has been a notable decrease in allocated space for employees as demand for high-quality office space has surpassed the supply in the last five years. Therefore, attempting to create a “6-Feet office” as per governing regulations will prove to be a challenge. Companies, as a result, are considering temporarily decentralising their base of operations for the use of a workplace recovery or swing space.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that one is resigned to isolating their operations outside of Greater London. Many boroughs in Outer London have seen a great influx in investments and office developments in the last ten years, but none stand out as much as Stratford.
Interested in swing space in Stratford? Click here for more information on Us&Co Stratford’s co-working and private office space. Book a Video Call with our sales team or have a look for yourself with our virtual tour!
Ever Since the 2012 Olympics, Stratford has undergone a colossal renovation project which has given rise to Stratford becoming the new up and coming business hub. Now in 2020, Us&Co has opened its third and largest premises with up to 34,000 sq./ft of serviced office space including meeting and conference rooms, and breakout spaces.
As a serviced office provider, Us&Co understand that the business relationship between operator and tenant is a symbiotic one. Hence the need to strive for a mutually beneficial initiative which might attempt to curb any negative outcome resulting from this extended pause in business. To pre-empt the eventual return to the office, Us&Co have been pro-active to implement measures in their buildings to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to safeguard the health of their members. Inevitably, many organisations will have to stagger reintroduction into their offices while trying to juggle reconfiguring their offices with running their businesses. Us&Co endeavour to resolve these concerns for their members by helping to prepare offices for social distancing and hygiene practices.
Some businesses also may have to contend with the fact that the opening of their new offices have been delayed due to postponed construction and so must find a temporary workplace for their staff. Us&Co Stratford is equipped to accommodate a company of up to 150 people which would be able to avail of a whole floor measuring at 6,000 sq. feet. All offices are fully furnished and are equipped with ready to go high-speed secure internet available throughout the building.
Us&Co Stratford also hosts a range of meeting rooms which are all fully equipped with the latest AV technology and easy connectivity to large high definition screens for presentations or screen sharing allowing for easy video conferencing.
While Us&Co Stratford is easily reachable by car, with numerous car parks nearby, the building is in walking distance of both Stratford High Street and Stratford International Station with an 8-minute Tube ride into the centre of the city. Despite its perceived proximity and accessibility to central London, Stratford boasts of freely moving traffic and less crowded streets around office buildings making it an invaluable location especially during these times.
Get in touch with the Us&Co Stratford team today:
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
*Why not have a look at our other branches:
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Email us: enquiries@usandco.com
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Email us: enquiriesdublin@usandco.com
Adjusting to Working from Home
With the invention of the personal computer, working from home has now become increasingly popular. So much so that there has been a remarkable increase in people remote working in the last 4 to 5 years with 1.7 million people in the UK now reporting to work mainly from home.
However, with the global outbreak of Covid-19 affecting all industries, many of us, up until a month or two ago, would have never considered the possibility that many office professionals would be forced into doing just that, Working from Home (WFH).
Adjusting to working from home is never easy. Though there are obvious benefits to remote working including increased flexibility, lack of commute and no water cooler chat (if that isn’t your thing!), it can be a struggle to be productive if you don’t quickly find a routine. While it is hard to find that sweet spot, here are several tips and tricks which may help you along the way.
1. Keep up your Morning Routine.
This may be easier said than done but keeping a semblance of your usual morning routine will help prepare you for a productive day – be it going for a run or making yourself a cup of coffee, these habits that you usually keep will go a long way in getting you into a work mindset. This involves getting dressed; it may sound silly but attempting to work in your pyjamas is probably a bad idea.
2. Stick to a Schedule
The “flexibility” of working from home can be so enticing. Sleeping in or procrastinating because you don’t have anyone breathing down your neck seems like the dream but, in reality, it can have a negative effect on your mental health and productivity levels. On the other hand, don’t allow yourself to be overworked into the night. Set your business hours and follow them religiously. This includes taking your full lunch break.
3. Create a Designated Workspace
There have been a lot of studies highlighting the benefits of movement in the workplace. Changing your workstation has been proven to help productivity and morale. However, one of the major downsides of working from home is that you end up working in an environment cluttered with personal distractions. It is much more difficult to concentrate when your TV, games and social media are all so readily available. Therefore, its best to create a dedicated workspace and stick to it. Looking to design your own Home Office? Architectural Digest might give you some ideas. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted onto the couch where you’re within arm’s reach of the TV remote.
4. Set Ground Rules
This ties in neatly with Tip #3. When you have chosen your designated space, you need to set some ground rules with either your roommates or your family members. Just because you’re at home does not mean your available for a chat or domestic chores. When you’re in your “home office”, you are not to be disturbed.
5. Take Breaks
This may seem counter-intuitive, but research has suggested that taking small breaks will help your productivity and creativity levels. If you don’t create a good work-life balance you won’t be able to commit fully to your work. This doesn’t mean checking in on your social media accounts but stepping away from your computer every now and again; our eyes weren’t made to be looking at a screen 24/7.
Read more:
– Are you taking breaks all wrong?
6. Keep Connected
Working from home can be extremely lonely so it’s good to stay connected with your colleagues. There are many ways to do this but one of the best ways is using a video conferencing app such as Zoom or Google Hangouts. Communication is an important part of any job so don’t resign yourself to being isolated. This way you can catch up with your team and/or clients. You don’t necessarily have to talk about work; we’re social creatures after all.
7. Eat Healthily
Snacking is oh so easy when you’re working from home. Having a fridge stockpiled with your own food can be a recipe for disaster. Though it’s nice not having to watch out for nametags and worrying if you’re using someone else’s milk, planning a healthy lunch and eating fruit is beneficial. A research paper published by the British Journal of Health Psychology indicates that eating healthily helps mental health and concentration. You can always reward yourself at the end of the day with a treat.
8. Exercise
Sitting at your desk for hours on end is now considered to have adverse effects not only on your productivity but also on your health. Exercising is a great way of keeping fit as well as keeping you motivated and engaged. If you can’t go out for a walk or run, there are numerous online fitness classes you can sign up to and take part in from the comfort of your own home. At a minimum, try stretching occasionally as this will help you maintain a good posture.
9. Stay Positive
Finally, stay upbeat! Adjusting to working from home can be difficult so give yourself time to find your own rhythm. It has its challenges so go easy on yourself and embrace the flexibility of working remotely.
Get in touch with the Us&Co team today
Our office spaces are currently closed as a response to the global situation, however we are still more than happy to discuss future co-working and private office memberships. We have virtual 360° floor-by-floor tours of all three of our spaces (London Monument, Stratford and Dublin). You can contact us through any of the means below, and we will be sure to let you know when we’re re-opening our doors.
London Monument co-working space
7 Harp Lane EC3R 6DP
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: 02030313535
London Stratford co-working space
11 Burford Road E15 2ST (newly opened)
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space
5 School House Lane East DO2 N279
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the globe are having to adapt to working from home. For many, this is previously unknown territory. The question therefore arises as to how to maintain productive working when WFH.
As a co-working space provider, we are well-versed in creating working environments that prioritise creativity, collaboration and efficiency. In this article, we are going to share some of our proven techniques for workspace productivity, that are also fully transferable to working from home.
Interested in learning more about Us&Co’s Private Offices & Co-Working Spaces? Click here for more information or view our virtual 360° space tours.
1. Maintain a collaborative environment from home
Working from home does not mean working alone. Just because you are out of the office, doesn’t mean that you should stop utilising the skills and insights of your colleagues.
Now is the time to really make the most out of the wealth of communication technology available: Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts. Obviously, it’s not quite the same as having your team in the room with you, but virtual meetings are the next best thing. Use these tools to open up idea-generation discussions, pick people’s brains and talk through what you’re working on. You’ll find it so much more lucrative than trying to go it alone.
In some cases, there are even benefits to be reaped from working in close proximity with housemates, family members, partners or friends – even if they’re not in the same industry. Talking through your thoughts out-loud with anyone is helpful for making sure your ideas make sense. Plus, you may even learn something new from their specialities that are applicable to your day-to-day: from how they manage their time to how they format their spreadsheets!
2. Optimise your working from home set-up
How you set-up your workspace is crucial to getting in the right frame of mind to create and deliver. It may be tempting to slouch on the sofa in your pyjamas, but ultimately that’s not going to help you remain productive.
Based on our learnings as a productivity-focused office space provider, the below are our top tips for setting up your own WFH workspace:
- Find a chair and desk set-up that helps you maintain good posture – Poor posture can contribute to a number of physical complaints that also have a knock-on impact on your concentration – including fatigue, joint pain and headaches.
- Allow yourself plenty of natural light – Ideally, you’d want to work by a window, with the curtains. Research shows that workers who receive sufficient daylight are up to 40% more productive.
- Separate your workspace from your home space – When working from home, creating healthy work/life barriers is even more important. If possible, work from a different room as you relax/sleep. If that’s not possible, pack away your work things at the end of the day so they don’t remain a constant reminder of everything you’ve got to do when you’re supposed to be winding down.
- Find somewhere quiet to work, if you can – We understand that this is not always possible, particularly for those with families at home. However, if you can create yourself a ‘safe-space’ away from noise, at least for calls or video conferences, that is ideal.
3. Continue your work habits & routines as much as possible
The secret to working productively from home is to treat your days as similarly as possible to your in-office days. Everything that you’ve learned works for you in the past, try and continue as much as you can.
First things first is to start and finish work at the same time you would usually, in order to maintain routine. Yes, that means getting up, dressed and grabbing breakfast in the morning, and switching off at a reasonable time at the end of the working day.
If you’re used to chatting with your teammates around the coffee machine, or talking through your weekends on a Monday morning, keep that up! Those social, water-cooler chats are just as important to your wellbeing and productivity as work-based conversations. Similarly, we recommend organising virtual lunch-dates with colleagues and friends to give yourself a well-needed midday break.
For those who like working in an office with background chatter or music, try and emulate that through curating your own WFH playlist. If your preference was always for silence, work out the best ways you can achieve that at home.
4. Remember that work shouldn’t be 24/7
Now more than ever, people are starting to re-prioritise and concentrate on the things in life that mean most to them. Obviously, work is important – for many it’s the most important part of their life. But the trick is to still make sure you still take breaks whenever you can, so you come back refreshed and ready to roll.
Get in touch with the Us&Co team today
Our office spaces are currently closed as a response to the global situation, however we are still more than happy to discuss future co-working membership. We have virtual 360° floor-by-floor tours of all three of our spaces (London Monument, Stratford and Dublin). You can contact us through any of the means below, and we will be sure to let you know when we’re re-opening our doors.
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: 02030313535
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road (newly opened)
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Book an in-person tour (when we re-open)
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Over the last 15 years or so, Stratford (east London) has been completely transformed. Previously somewhat of an economic black hole, pre-Olympics Stratford needed a lot of TLC to get it ready for London 2012. A colossal renovation project took place. Over 46,000 new jobs were created in the district, bringing with them a 30% increase in rail capacity and 20,000 new homes.
Fast forward to 2021, Stratford is now turning into an office hot-spot, with more and more businesses moving to the area. Transport for London, Cancer Research, the Financial Conduct Authority, Unicef and the British Council all now how Stratford bases.
So, what is it specifically that’s making Stratford so appealing to London businesses? In this article we look at the top 7 benefits of basing your office in Stratford.
Interested in moving your business to Stratford? Click here for more information on Us&Co’s brand new Stratford co-working and private office space, or book a tour to come and look around.
1. Stratford is in the city, but out of the city
Allow us to explain. Unlike more ‘traditional’ white collar centres in the city centre – Bank, Canary Wharf, Moorgate, etc – Stratford doesn’t quite have the sardine-like quality of central London. Traffic on the roads moves more freely and the streets around the office buildings aren’t as crowded with people. Those who work in Stratford often comment on how un-London parts of the area feel, with a distinct friendly community feel.
2. The Stratford community feel
Businesses that move their offices to Stratford are joining a community that has existed for generations, long before the London even started its bid for the Olympics. To this day, there are still local shop-owners, pub landlords, train staff and more who have lived and worked in the area all their lives. This creates a real neighbourly feel that is rare to find in, say, the financial districts of London.
3. Westfield Shopping Centre is right on your doorstep
Imagine working just walking distance away from one of the largest urban shopping centres in Europe. The Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre opened its doors in 2011 and has so far generated retail sales of well over £7.4 billion. There are more than 265 different retailers, restaurants and bars to entertain your team on lunchtimes or after-work excursions.
4. The Olympic legacy means there are world-class sports facilities
Talking of what’s right on your doorstep in Stratford – there are all the fantastic sporting facilities you would expect of a former athletes village. The London Aquatics Centre is now a public-use swimming pool, the London Stadium plays host to West Ham football games (among other events) and open green spaces have been converted into handy outdoor gyms.
5. Stratford is great for cycling commuters
More and more people are commuting by bike in London in general. TFL estimates that almost 1 in 4 vehicles in the capital right now is a bike. Unsurprisingly for the home of the Lee Valley VeloPark, cyclists are particularly welcome in Stratford. Cycle lanes, quieter roads and an abundance of bike storage racks all make it easy to travel to your new Stratford office space on two wheels.
Read our top tips for commuting by bike in London.
6. Convenient location for commuter towns
If you’re not keen on the idea of cycling to the office, Stratford is very convenient for other forms of commuting, too. Stratford underground, rail and DLR stations offer super-fast reliable links to the City, London City Airport, Eurostar and top commuting towns in Essex and to the east of London. What’s more the development of the Elizabeth Line (currently estimated to be open in late 2020) will further boost Stratford’s rail connectivity.
7. Stratford offers value for money
Rental prices for private offices are noticeably lower than what you could expect to find in more saturated central London locations. Commercial property prices in Stratford are 21.1% lower than the London average. Considering the recent investments in the area, the value that you get despite that price gap makes it an opportunity almost too good to pass on.
Want to take advantage of that value for money that you can get in Stratford? We have an introductory offer on offic space of just £350 per desk per month at our brand new Stratford work place. Find out more here.
Get in touch with the Us&Co team today:
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us: 02030313535
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road (newly opened)
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East
Phone us: +353 (1) 529 4100
Creative Consultancy RCCO UK were among the first to join the Us&Co Stratford family when we opened the doors to our new workspace in January 2020.
To celebrate their new home, CEO Jordan Richards and the team put together this fantastic behind-the-scenes tour video – showing off all the amazing amenities the Stratford business centre has to offer. Check it out below!
Video credit: rcco_uk on Instagram (click here to view the original video).
What Jordan had to say:
“We can see the Olympic Park, our favourite pub and Westfield! We’re so lucky to be right next to the DLR and main train station, so it’s an easy commute to get here. One thing I love about this office is how much space there is to grow. There’s so much natural lighting and so much space. I love that this place has all of the facilities taken care of… and some great coffee! I’m so proud of this new space that we’ve grown into. It’s really going to allow us to do better creative work, bring more people onto the team and host our clients in a creative space.”
Interested in working from our exciting new Stratford co-working centre?
Interested in learning more about Us&Co? Us&Co offer professional co-working (hot desks, fixed desks, private offices, meeting rooms and event venue hire) in London and Dublin. We pride ourselves on creating a working atmosphere in which growing businesses, SMEs and individuals can thrive and grow.
Come look around our centres by booking a tour here.
Get in touch with the Us&Co team today:
London Stratford co-working space, 11 Burford Road (newly opened)
Phone us: 020 3031 3535
London Monument co-working space, 7 Harp Lane
Phone us: 02030313535
Dublin St. Stephen’s Green co-working space, 5 School House Lane East