The Work-life Insight
The future of innovation is community-led. Workspaces that recognize the importance of community are already ahead of the innovation game – reshaping the future of work as we know it. But why is community so important? Because as social beings, we are motivated to achieve specific needs. Maslow’s theory of needs proposes that physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization are our five motivational needs, starting from the most fundamental. Here, we see social needs as the third most fundamental human need. So, it’s no surprise that workspaces that provide sufficient social interaction are far more successful than workspaces that don’t.
This brings us to coworking spaces – an effective solution where diverse groups of remote professionals work together in a shared setting. The proximity to such a diverse community translates into endless possibilities, such as:
- Starting new businesses or enterprises together,
- Networking within the community,
- Sharing experiences and knowledge, and
- Drawing on the collective intelligence of the community for new ideas.But how do we ensure a sense of community in the workspace? Let’s explore five ways to achieve, activate, and nurture the community at the workspace.
Five tips for fostering a sense of community in the workplace
1. Deliver a holistic experience
Avoid designing each element of your office space independently. Consider the holistic experience you are offering your employees because when designed intentionally, space, technology, and community complement each other beautifully, becoming more significant than just a sum of their parts.
2. Design a better than at home experience
Your organization is currently competing with the convenience of working from home and ‘other places’ such as coffee shops. So it’s essential to design a convenient, informal, welcoming, and flexible place. Or you could apply for a coworking membership where you and your team can work and collaborate easily.
3. Create spaces that inspire human connections
Your design needs to prioritize community from end to end, much like coworking and shared spaces do. For instance, placing a community desk near the elevator helps reinforce the community ‘vibe’ and build trust right from day one. Common areas such as lounges, kitchens, staircases, and corridors should be designed to encourage eye contact, foster connections, and inspire connective moments such as impromptu lunches or brainstorm sessions.
4. Bring the employee experience to life
Develop an employee experience strategy that combines experience design, facilities operation, and event management with a human-centric approach. For instance, hiring a community manager can help facilitate ideas between employees and management. A community manager can also listen to employees’ needs and connect them to the right resource for help.
In a coworking space, community managers are generally full-time resources who have the full autonomy to create a community that trusts each other and thrives as a unit. Community managers have the power to create a sense of belonging, thus enhancing employee experience to the optimum.
5. Drive innovation through new partnerships and opportunities
Community managers have the capability to sense what employees need and want. They use these insights to encourage potential partnerships and opportunities between organizations, share their learnings with management to understand their employees better, and essentially create a sense of belonging within teams and organizations.
Conclusion
These tips are levers that can help reinforce your organization’s goals and help every employee feel seen and heard. Use them to create a culture of community within your organization. Alternatively, you can embrace the future of work by considering coworking memberships that encourage flexibility and promote a sense of community at the workplace.
FAQs
Why does community matter in the workplace?
As a social species, we naturally crave community in our relationships and workspaces. A strong sense of community makes employees feel like they belong instead of being left to wonder if they are around to round off the headcount.
How can management create a sense of community amongst team members?
Leaders within an organization can create a sense of community by sponsoring activities and events that get people together. Social events are great for team building and boosting employee morale.
How to develop a workplace community on a budget?
Building a sense of workplace community within your organization is possible on a budget. Here are a few ideas to build a strong workplace community:
- 1. Encourage a sense of belonging by making recognition a part of your company culture.
- 2. Organize regular social events outside of work to enable people to get to know each other better.
- 3. Cultivate team spirit by promoting competitive sports and employee participation.
- 4. Give back to the community by volunteering for worthy causes.
- 5. Create a space for employees to get together socially – whether it’s the cafeteria, water cooler, or seating arrangement throughout the office.
The future of work has evolved from a business strategy to a business responsibility – a much-needed approach as the world battles year three of the pandemic. This business approach or responsibility requires top management to address the shift in workplace culture in a way that’s meaningful and designed to support the well-being of employees.
The uncertain times brought on by Covid-19 have led to a powerful transformation in the employer-employee relationship. At a time when industry talent is waning and employees’ motivational drivers transform, employers too are realizing just how important people are to the success of their business.
Intelligent employers who offer a hybrid, human-centric, and purpose-driven place of work are ahead of the game when it comes to:
- Improving employee experience,
- Raising workplace standards, and </br/>- Finding the best talent.
According to insights by Gartner, a consulting firm based in Connecticut, 39% of knowledge workers say they would leave if their employers insisted on a ‘hard return’ to full-time, on-site work.
This is promising, and the hope is that it will push organizations to transform their DNA, evolving into a workplace of the future that genuinely puts its employees first.
6 ways to best support employee wellbeing
1. Ramp up employee benefits
With mental health problems skyrocketing and their effects impacting the workplace, the time is now to recognize the emerging mental health crisis and plan out a meaningful benefits program. Following are a few short-term changes worth considering carrying over into the years ahead.
- · Provide additional time off for employees.
- · Offer flexibility in terms of remote working or working out of shared spaces.
- · Re-evaluate company child care and parental leave policies to include added benefits.
- · Provide wellness support by improving mental health care benefits
2. Build kinder work environments
Do away with the ‘always-on’ culture and instead focus on making the workplace a kinder place to work. Leaders are choosing a compassionate leadership model that removes the ‘hustle-culture,’ replacing it with a model that prioritizes employee well-being and rewards collaboration over competition.
3. Encourage boundaries
Build a leadership model that encourages employees to set boundaries between their personal and professional lives. Adapt practices that support the well-being of employees and their families, such as:- Creating ‘meeting hours’ that do not trickle into any time of the day.- Consider implementing a shorter workweek.- Discourage after-hours communication.- Encourage exhausting vacation time.
4. Review all systems and processes
It’s essential to avoid workspace bias that favors office workers over remote workers. Some ways to do away with such bias is to:- Put all workers on a level playing field by opting for a remote-first culture.- Review all systems and processes to ensure company policies do not favor office workers over remote workers.- Create a knowledge dump of updated information that everyone can access from anywhere.Review company performance review processes to ensure that promotions and incentives are merit-based, not based on who works from where - the office or coworking space.
5. Encourage virtual socialization
Even if it’s just one employee working remotely, make sure managers across the board hold meetings virtually. This ensures that no employee misses out on any real-time, in-person conversations. Another great way to strengthen remote culture is to encourage social meet-ups online.
6. Create an inclusive workspace
Unlock connection and collaboration across teams with tools and technology that support an inclusive workspace. For instance, by integrating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the workspace, you can truly feel that employees worldwide are across the room.
Conclusion
Organizations have come a long way over the last two years, but there’s still room for improvement in supporting employee wellbeing. With both companies and their employees adapting to the ‘new normal’ of hybrid work, broader cultural shifts are the need of the hour for employees to feel truly supported at the workplace.
FAQs
What are the five main categories of employee benefits likely to see significant change?
The categories most likely to see changes centered around the transition to hybrid working leave benefits, family-friendly benefits, health & wellness benefits, flexibility benefits, and learning & development benefits.
What is the future of the hourly workforce?
The future of hourly workers is one of the more significant labor issues the Joe Biden administration is currently tackling. Forward-thinking organizations would be wise to reevaluate their overall HR strategy toward offering flexible work arrangements. Those that are tuned to unique stressors that the hourly workforce experience will be able to manage them well in the future.
Do shared workspaces help with employee wellbeing?
Coworking and shared workspaces such as Worksocial help improve employee productivity and wellbeing through the power of workspace design. For instance, the flexible meeting room spaces repurposed into conference rooms allow teams to collaborate on projects with ease, pioneer cultural change and improve well-being.
As lockdown restrictions ease, companies around the globe are planning for the future of work. Considering employees everywhere have settled into a routine of remote working, organizations are actively looking towards a hybrid work model that combines remote working and at-office collaboration.
Today's most desired offering for job seekers is working remotely, with 55% of employees wanting to work from anywhere at least thrice a week. In fact, according to Mom Corps, 42% of employees would take a pay cut to have flexible work options from their organization.
With 74% of companies in the United States either using or planning to implement the hybrid work model, it’s time to understand what a hybrid work model is and how to adapt it to your organization’s operations.
What is hybrid work?
The unprecedented transition into working from home has proven that productivity and flexibility go hand in hand. And a hybrid work model provides just that – an approach that empowers employees to work offsite, on-site, and in-between locations such as coworking and shared spaces. It’s a radical departure from the traditional 9-to-5 work model, giving employees the flexibility to:(
a) work remotely or on-site part of the week
(b) work remote full-time
(c) work full-time on-site
The importance of a hybrid work model
Studies show 42.2% of Gen Z would like to work remotely only one to two days a week, 37.8% of millennials would like to work remotely only three to four days a week, and 21.4% of Baby Boomers and Gen X would like to work remotely full time. Employees see value in hybrid work, but what makes the hybrid work model so attractive?
Perks of having a hybrid work model
Increased productivity: Instead of working only between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays, employees have flexibility in getting work done when they are at their productive best.
Work-life balance: A flexible work schedule promotes better work-life balance. Studies have shown that employees who have more control over their work hours can plan their personal time better.
Low exposure to illness: A hybrid work model gives more flexibility to sick employees, giving them the option to work remotely altogether.
Overhead savings: Since this set-up involves fewer employees on-site at any given time, you can consider reinvesting what you save on real estate costs into providing alternate work options such as co-working and satellite offices.
Hire global talent: Companies can gain access to a vast pool of talent, giving them a competitive edge while entering new markets and increasing productivity.
Remote work model vs. hybrid work model
Fully remote companies do not have physical workspaces for their employees to work out of. Meetings, tasks, and events are held virtually and are accessible for employees working out of anywhere. All they need is a stable Internet connection and a work-friendly environment such as shared and coworking spaces. On the other hand, hybrid companies make staggering arrangements so employees can work remotely a few days in the week and on-site on others.
The hybrid work model is increasing in popularity because it:
(i) requires low investment (infrastructure and equipment), and
(ii) is easy to implement
A well-known company with a hybrid work set-up is Apple. Employees can work from home twice a week and are expected to work from the office thrice a week. Another well-known company with a hybrid set-up is Microsoft. Employees have the option of working 100% remotely or working from anywhere for 50% of the week.
Conclusion
The hybrid work model was once seen as an alternative style of working. Today, as 72% of companies look towards investing in tools for future virtual collaboration and 83% of employees chose flexibility, it’s only a matter of time before more companies jump aboard the hybrid work model train to retain workforce talent.
FAQs
Why should I adopt a hybrid work model?
Studies and research show that organizations adopt hybrid work models in order to:
(i) extend flexibility that is crucial for productivity,
(ii) maintain in-person interactions that are needed for company culture.
How do I adopt a hybrid work model?
The fitting process, people, and tech – that’s all you need to adopt a successful hybrid work model. We recommend running an employee survey to understand your team’s needs before choosing a working model that suits your organization.
Is the hybrid work model good for employees?
Most definitely, research shows that a hybrid work model improves employee engagement. According to a survey conducted by Webex, 79% of employees indicated that their employee engagement levels have either stayed the same or shown improvement since they started working remotely.
Types of hybrid work models - how many different subtypes are there?
The most common types of hybrid work models are:
(i) Flexible hybrid work model,(
ii) Fixed hybrid work model,
(iii) Office-first hybrid work model, and(iv) Remote-first hybrid work model.
Sources
Rest is one of the most important parts of performance and exercise. Unfortunately, it also happens to be one of the hardest things to do for people constantly on the go. However, recovery is essential for your mental and physical wellbeing.
If you're the type of person who feels guilty about taking a day off, one way to help eliminate the guilt trip is to know the benefits of rest and recovery. Plus, is your body begging for a rest day? Learn when it's time to say 'no' training.
What is the Recovery Stage?
When you play sports or exercise, your body is exposed to various stressors. For example, lifting strains your arm muscles while running puts more stress on the legs. So whenever you're finished with an exercise, it's essential to give your body time to adapt to the stresses it just underwent. This is called the short-term recovery phase.
Always rest immediately after an intense exercise to avoid injuries. Allow your body to recuperate after extreme movements.
5 Recovery Techniques to Try
Keep the following tips and tricks in mind to help get the most out of your workouts.
01. Rest
You'll recover quicker from the physical and mental demands of hard training if you rest immediately after working out.
It's OK to take a rest day as well. Read down below for signs that you should take a day off.
02. Eat & Drink
One of the most important parts of training and recovery is staying hydrated. It's also vital to nourish your body with the right foods before and after a workout. Food helps restore your body's energy supply, so try to eat healthy, high-protein foods after a workout to enhance your performance and recovery.
Tip: Eat a lot of lean protein like chicken breast or fish (to help the muscles repair and grow) and carbohydrates (to restore the used glycogen) even on your day off. It's also a great idea to consult with a dietitian who can help you determine how much you need of each according to your workout routine and lifestyle. Remember, everyone's nutritional needs are different.
03. Massages
If you're feeling sore, consider getting a sports massage. Massages help loosen up tight muscles, increase oxygen and blood flow, and help drain lactic acid buildup (which makes you sore).04. Ice BathIce baths make your blood vessels constrict, pushing the blood away from the muscle because of the freezing temperature. However, once you come out of the ice bath and start to warm up, the vessels open up and allow blood to flow back into the muscle, bringing more oxygen to help you recuperate.
05. Take a Nap
Sleep is also important. If you're training hard, you could benefit from a short nap after a workout. Nightly sleep is also critical. Even one or two nights of poor sleep can reduce performance for long bouts of exercise.
Also, consistent, inadequate sleep can change hormone levels, affecting muscle recovery, muscle building, and performance.
Signs You Need a Rest Day
Is your body telling you it's time to take a recovery day? No matter your exercise schedule, it's crucial to listen to your body. Some telltale signs your body is begging for a break include fatigue, an unexplained decrease in performance, and musculoskeletal aches and pains. Likewise, if you feel restless, cranky, have a hard time sleeping, lose your appetite, or feel depressed or stressed, you may also be pushing yourself too hard.
In general, you should plan a rest day every seven to ten days if you engage in high-intensity physical activity. However, some people may benefit from a rest day more often, like twice a week.
Recovery is Worth it
The whole point of recovery in exercise is to allow your muscles to repair themselves. If your muscles are sore from your workout, give them a break. Use the tips above during the recovery stage to help move the process along.
The more you let your body rest, the better you'll perform during your next workout.
The origin story of coworking spaces began in Germany in the 1990s when the first hackerspace was founded. Hackerspaces are not-for-profit community-operated spaces where like-minded people with common interests in science, art, and tech can get together and work. The hackerspace or makerspace are considered the precursors of today’s coworking spaces.
Now, while coworking and shared spaces have come a long way since the first hackerspace in Berlin, the guiding force that has brought them so far remains unchanged. Coworking spaces today function as centers for collaboration, knowledge sharing, community-building, and peer learning – factors that play a critical role for both new businesses and businesses looking to regain their footing in 2022.
Essential steps for starting a business
Choosing the right coworking and shared space can exponentially help your business take off, but that’s just one of many considerations when setting up a business in the U.S.
Let’s look at six essential steps for starting a business in 2022.
Recent studies by Pew Research Centre have shown that the self-employed represent about 10% of the working population in the United States. The workers they hire account for another 20% of the national workforce. These numbers reflect the role entrepreneurs play in the American economy, their increasing demand for cost-effective spaces to work out of, and the potential for success in starting a business you can call your own.
Keeping all this in mind, here’s a 6-step process you must follow to set up your business in 2022. We’ve covered everything from researching the market and figuring out finances to finding the right business address.
1. Market research
Understanding the market helps you gauge whether your business idea has legs. You can then kick-start your research by identifying your target audience and gaining insight into what drives their decision-making through secondary research (government data on income, population, and location-based trends).
2. Business plan & structure
There are two main reasons you need a business plan in place – (i) to roadmap your business, finances, strategy, and future planning, and (ii) to draft a finished description of your brand vision that includes realistic projections and exact numbers.
Once your business plan is in place, choosing the correct legal structure to register your business is the next step. Whether you choose a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or non-profit, it’s essential to mention the legal structure along with an executive summary, company profile, marketing plan, team hierarchy, and finances when you draw up your final business plan.
3. Finances
Securing enough capital to get your business off the ground is your focus – and there are several ways to go about it, including dipping into your savings, applying for business loans, or using your credit lines.
4. Registration & license
Your business name embodies your brand vision and mission, and your next step should be registering that name officially. Registering your business makes you compliant with the laws around registration. It also means no other company can register a business under the same name. Once you’ve registered your venture, it’s also necessary to secure the proper licenses to operate your business.
5. Decide your workspace
Based on your business type, structure, and licenses, the next step is deciding where to work. While you will need licenses to open a storefront, you can also choose alternatives like coworking and shared spaces that allow you to work from well-designed spaces, private office spaces for rent, and fully-equipped conference rooms.
6. Build, promote, grow
Finding the right talent plays a vital role in the success of your business, and coworking and shared workspaces help with just that – assisting companies to network across global markets without heavily investing in real estate. A shared or coworking space is also a great environment to test, promote, sell, and grow your product or service, depending upon your industry.
Conclusion
Starting up is exciting – and there’s an extreme amount of work involved. Getting your paperwork in order is only the beginning of a challenging journey. But that first leap to starting up is half the job done – the other half is where a creative coworking workspace like Worksocial can help.
FAQS
How can this 6-step process ensure my company’s future growth?
Right from coming up with a business idea through every future stage, you will constantly be tweaking your strategy to give your business a chance to succeed. Taking into account this 6-step process to ensure the most appropriate way forward for your business is critical for future growth. These considerations can help turn your start-up into a success and prove that shared workspaces like Worksocial help in the journey.
Why does a coworking or shared workspace make sense for small businesses?
One of the essential steps for starting a company is having a registered office, and a coworking or shared workspace where resources are shared at a fair cost is the most cost-effective way to go about it. Also, coworking spaces are an excellent environment for testing and onboarding potential customers, networking with future collaborators, and gaining access to various resources designed to accelerate growth.
Do shared workspaces help with recruitment?
There are several ways organizations can attract talent, and one such way to do so is by adapting flexible workspaces. Flexible, coworking, shared spaces as Worksocial help organizations recruit from a vast pool of expert talent due to their expanding network of locations.
Sources
WorkSocial’s operations are anchored on the founders’ passion and purpose, making them resonate with and beyond their target audience. This is precisely why WorkSocial has been experiencing tremendous growth over the past years and is consistently rated New Jersey’s best coworking space.
WorkSocial: from its humble beginnings to its undeniable success
Combining the founders’ years of experience in running a small shared office space and learning the ins and outs of digital marketing with an impactful vision of “happiness in the workplace” became the distinguishing factor of WorkSocial from its competitors.
“Collaborative workspaces make people more productive. We take the noise out of acquiring workspace for small teams. We focus on the people, we focus on bringing our members together as a community, and we focus on giving back to our community,” shared Natasha Mohan, founder and CEO of WorkSocial.
Mohan made it a point to be people-centric by bringing together a community from different industries. She made it her mission to help people find a deeper purpose in their careers. Opting to start in the workplace, Natasha Mohan “decided to build a space that humanised their workday” through WorkSocial, where a fun and happy lifestyle meet the demands of those working from anywhere.
WorkSocial operates in compliance with the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards
Socially conscious investors often favour companies like WorkSocial that comply with the ESG standards to screen potential investments. The ESG criteria secure the investors to avoid greater financial risks due to a company’s environmental and social practices.
WorkSocial is ESG-compliant, mostly commended for their intentional hiring. The company welcomes members of the LGBTQIA community, is ethnically diverse and practises fair pay where all employees are granted equity in the business. Driven by their social responsibility, WorkSocial also conducts weekly feeding programs at St. Joseph’s Home Shelter in New Jersey.
What people say
Centring on empowering their employees and clients, WorkSocial has earned the high praises of those who have had the privilege of experiencing their services.
The company’s reviews include testimonials saying, “Great space with extremely hospitable and professional staff. Jane went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. Easily accessible location, great technology on-site and very comfortable space for my workshop. I would highly recommend this facility.“
Influential motivational speaker and repeat client Kyla Mitsunaga also raved about WorkSocial’s inclusivity. She said, “I’ve been a WorkSocialer for about 3 months now. When I first met with Natasha, she asked what the other cosharing spaces I had visited were offering me and took the time to get to know me and my needs as a solopreneur. I felt heard, respected, taken care of. That feeling hasn’t stopped since I decided to join WorkSocial in December 2019: from the massages on Fridays to the healthy food, to the inclusivity, to the clean workspaces, to the networking opportunities… WorkSocial feels more like my new family more than anything else.“
Credit:Baden Bower News
What started as a vision to create an ideal workday where people get things done and achieve fulfilling careers led founder Natasha Mohan to establish New Jersey’s favourite workspace, WorkSocial.
WorkSocial is a coworking space with two locations in New Jersey, as well as Manhattan, and alliances with a coworking space in downtown Los Angeles , and locations around the nation, designed with the clients’ end goal in mind. Questions like, “How do our clients work and what do they want out of their coworking space?” and “How can they be more productive so they can achieve their business goals and make their dreams a reality?” were the starting points of their concept and those questions still drive the founders to this day, as they continue enhancing and improving WorkSocial to achieve utmost client satisfaction. “Happiness in the workplace” is WorkSocial’s simple yet powerful goal.
A passion-driven "Why" makes WorkSocial a top-of-mind choice
With a brand "Why" that's anchored in finding solutions to personal goals and experiences, everything else about its highly commended overall service follows. Top-notch technologies are implemented at WorkSocial, including DE-CIX as their internet provider that offers the most advanced Layer 2 switching platforms in the industry, allowing instant peering with hundreds of networks via the DE-CIX route servers. WorkSocial’s wireless network is also secured by Cisco Meraki, the leader in cloud-controlled Wi-Fi, routing, and security. The coworking office space wireless network automatically assigns rules and enforces policies for each user class, allowing clients to custom access and control over their network.
The brand's purpose-driven "Why" is at the centre of all these outstanding technologies. Natasha Mohan, WorkSocial's Founder & CEO, shares, "My mission was to help my community find purpose in everything they did. I decided to start at work. So I decided to build a space that humanised their workday. A space with the mission of bringing happiness back to work."
Happiness in the Workplace
WorkSocial's Community Vision of "bringing a community together from different industries so they can learn from each other" and "Happiness in the Workplace, as we grow serving different industries" has granted its high praises from new and repeat clients alike. The company currently has a 4.9-star rating on Google.
Chani Schonblum raved about her productivity at WorkSocial. She shared, "I love WorkSocial! I was looking for an office space so that I could get out of the house (especially during covid with two kids at home) and WorkSocial was perfect as an office space and so much more. My first day here, I was more efficient and productive than 2 weeks at home."
Another one from Kathy Borst commended WorkSocial for their services and amenities. She said, "The WorkSocial team is fantastic! They are professional, kind and courteous. They truly care about making your work experience the best that it can be. The office is clean and the kitchen is always well-stocked with healthy food. I highly recommend using their services.
"Even WorkSocial's social responsibility was highly commended. A review by Richard Rivera spoke fondly about it and said: "What can I say? WorkSocial quite literally puts food on my table when being on disability. I am left with virtually nothing at the end of the month to buy food with. They are compassionate, respectful and treat everyone with dignity." Rivera was on the receiving end of WorkSocial's donations at the height of the pandemic.
CreditBaden Bower News
Why do we need sleep? We know that we don’t feel our best after a sleepless night, but getting enough rest goes far beyond the need for that third cup of coffee by 2 pm.
Sleep is an essential function that recharges the body and helps us remain healthy, and even stave off infections. Unfortunately, when we’re sleep-deprived, the brain can’t function properly and often causes a lack of concentration, fuzzy thinking patterns, and memory loss.
If you feel like you’re not getting enough rest, check out the top reasons you should try to get more shuteye at night and some tips to help ensure you have a good night’s rest.
How Much Sleep Do You Need?
Sleep needs vary from person to person, but most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. That said, around 35% of adults in the US alone don’t get enough sleep.
Top 8 Reasons to Get More Sleep
01. Sleeping Burns Calories
You can burn up to 300 calories sleeping for just two hours. Studies have shown that people who sleep less than 7 hours per night are at a greater risk of weight gain. Also, research has found that people who sleep more tend to eat fewer calories throughout the day.
02. Boost Job Performance
You’ll be a better employee if you get more rest. Even a short nap can help boost job performance by 34%. Studies have shown that getting around 90 minutes of extra sleep can help boost your job performance.
03. Better Athletic Performance
7 to 9 hours of sleep at night can help the body heal during resting hours. Athletes may benefit from up to 10 hours per night. When we sleep, the body heals itself, leading to better performance intensity, more energy, better coordination, faster speed, and better mental functioning.
04. Strengthen Your Immune System
More rest may help you fight off illness. When we sleep, our bodies make a protein called cytokines. These proteins target infection and inflammation, creating an immune response.
Sleep deprivation can hinder the production of these protective cytokines.
05. Heart Health
Studies have shown that inadequate sleep can increase your risk of developing heart disease by up to 13%. In addition, people who don’t get enough healthy sleep are also at a higher risk of high blood pressure.
06. Improve Brain Function
Sleep deprivation affects your concentration, problem-solving skills, memory, and mood. Our brains need enough sleep to function correctly. If you’ve ever felt groggy or irritable after a sleepless night, you know it can be hard to make decisions the next day.
In contrast, good sleep can maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory.
07. Help Fight Depression
Did you know that poor sleep is tied to depression? Sleep is essential for our overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Other mental health issues, including anxiety, are also strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders.
08. Better Social Interactions
Sleep affects our emotions and social interactions. Without enough rest, it’s hard to regulate emotions and interact socially. This is likely because it’s more challenging to control emotional outbursts in social settings when we're tired.
Additionally, chronically sleep-deprived people are more likely to withdraw from social events and experience loneliness.
Tips For Better Sleeping Habits
Simple lifestyle changes can help you get more rest at night. Try the following tips to help get your body into a better nighttime routine.
- * Go to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends.
- * Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature.
- * Invest in a good-quality mattress, a comfy pillow, and cozy bedding.
- * Don’t use your phone before you go to bed.
- * Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol in the hours leading up to bedtime.
- * Exercise during the day to help you wind down in the evening and prepare for sleep.
If you’re still struggling with sleep after trying these at-home remedies, consider talking to your doctor to rule out a medical condition or side effect from a medication. Just like you prioritize eating healthy and working out to maintain your wellbeing, it’s time to give a good night’s rest the attention it deserves.
Around 9.5% of American adults ages 18 and over suffer from a depressive illness every year.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting over 264 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Depression can impact how individuals think, feel, behave, and interact with others.
But what does depression look like? Depression can show in various ways, but there are a few common signs to look out for. Knowing common symptoms of depression can help you recognize if the specific feelings you’re experiencing are related to depression.
Five Telltale Signs of Depression Everyone Should Know About
Please keep in mind that depression isn’t a one-size-fits-all mental health condition. Signs of depression will often vary from person to person, and symptoms are usually based on the specific type of depression you have. That said, even people with the same kind of depression may experience different symptoms. Below are five common symptoms of depression. If you experience any of the following symptoms for the majority of the day for more than two weeks, it may be a strong indicator that you have depression.
01. Persistent Moodiness
While everyone has good and bad days, it could be an issue if you notice the ‘bad’ days significantly outweigh the good.
Again, being in a sour mood now and again is normal. But heightened or unexplained irritability could be a sign of depression. For example, if you can’t shake off a bad mood or little things make you feel more agitated than usual, it’s a red flag.
02. Changes in Appetite
For some, depression may cause a drastic change in appetite. Some people with depression may eat more, while others may experience a decrease in their appetites. A change in appetite can have adverse side effects on your overall well-being. If you’re gaining or losing weight and think it could be related to depression, consider medical treatment.
03. Loss of Interest in Things You Used to Enjoy
This is one of the most significant signs of depression. When you live with depression, activities that you once enjoyed, like meeting up with friends, hobbies, or going out to eat can seem arbitrary or pointless.
While it’s natural to lose interest in certain things as we age, if you feel like you can’t muster up the energy to meet up with friends or do the things you used to enjoy, you might be depressed.
04. Inconsistent Sleep Patterns
Are you getting too much or too little sleep? Another warning sign of depression is wanting to sleep or stay in bed all day. Many people who suffer from depression have a hard time sleeping at night, and by morning, they don’t have the desire to get out of bed.
Too much or little sleep can lead to moodiness, headaches, and more severe clinical depression.
05. Feelings of Worthlessness
Feeling useless, unworthy, and hopeless are all telltale signs of depression. It’s important to remember that everyone has these moments of feeling sad or low, but feeling this way always is cause for concern. If you’re depressed, you might constantly be feeling undeserving or inadequate in multiple areas of your life, including your work, school, social, or love life.
Depending on the severity of depression you’re experiencing, suicidal thoughts may also come up. Suicidal ideation is an immediate cause for concern. If you or someone you know has expressed suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. This is a 24/7 free lifeline for confidential support from trained professionals. There is even an online chat if you’re more comfortable that way!
What Happens Next?
Do any of the above symptoms sound familiar? What you’re experiencing may be depression. But always remember that depression is a common, treatable mental illness. If you think you’re experiencing any type of depression, talk with your doctor. If needed, your primary care physician may refer you to a mental health professional. Additionally, there are plenty of online resources where you can speak to a professional on Zoom or video chat rather than going for an in-person meeting.
The future workplace will look different as post-pandemic data confirms three things – a steady increase in the number of people shopping online, more people choosing sweats over trousers, and more organizations moving to hybrid return-to-work models. A hybrid work model is drastically different from the traditional work model and offers employees the flexibility to work remotely and onsite through the week. With 51% of employers favoring the hybrid work model, a thoughtful and meticulous back-to-work approach is critical to retain and attract talent.
5 Ways To Optimize Your Organization’s return to the office
1/ Provide training
It is impossible to fulfil expectations that have not been set. Therefore, spend time and attention into communicating how workflows, communication schedules, performance expectations, and reporting structures need to be accommodated. It’s equally important to invest time to train managers on measuring performance fairly and equally irrespective of their location and time zone.
2/ Plan ahead
Ambiguous ‘return to work’ policies lead to several problems, starting with workplace discrimination. To illustrate, higher-paid professionals will have the finance and flexibility to be ‘more visible’ in office, while professionals with children will not be able to compete. Or, because employees have been interacting less since the pandemic, they may just go into the office on days when they are feeling more lonely, thus sabotaging productivity for the rest of the team. To combat this, map a workplace strategy by designing a guide that outlines the type of work environment that should be used for certain types of tasks. Ensure every team member is accountable for working remotely or onsite at designated times.
3/ Maintain equality
‘Going back to the office’ is not the same as ‘going back to business as usual,’ especially if only half the team is onsite. Managers run the risk of reverting to traditional ways of monitoring productivity based on presence and trust, which can inadvertently lead to organizational discrimination and imbalance. Here, it’s important to focus on equalizing employee experience. You can do this by making information on employee visibility and employee benefits for offsite and onsite resources easily accessible.
4/ Stay updated
When at work, there are several opportunities to learn more about the organization and the team by simply observing them. You may overhear watercooler conversations about an upcoming announcement or you may happenstance upon the information while making your way to the canteen. When it comes to remote working, the ‘workplace buzz’ needs to be communicated in a clear, concise manner over secure channels so as to convey information effectively. Information can be communicated using materials such as handbooks, FAQs, training resources, terms and conditions, and so on.
5/ Be sensitive to the new normal
The ‘new normal’ has to be defined from an organizational perspective as well as an individual perspective. Pre-pandemic performance expectations are no longer relevant. To get your team on the same page as your organization, give your employees a voice via surveys or focus groups to aid in the execution of your hybrid work model. Follow it up with extensive training and guidance for both managers and employees to assess themselves, their behavior, and their actions to ensure they align with the organization's goals.
Conclusion
Alternative work models may seem daunting at first, but with the implementation of these five tips, your team will be able to adapt, adjust, and find success in building a foundation as a hybrid team. Whether you choose to indefinitely work remotely, return to the office full-time, work from a coworking and shared office, or adopt the hybrid model – whatever the model you choose for your business, it’s ultimately your tools, tech, mindset, and communication methodology that determine your success.
FAQs
There are three return-to-work models to consider -
(a) Full-time: Reopen completely, requesting every employee back onsite.
(b) Fully-remote: Continue working remotely.
(c) Hybrid: Get some teams onsite while the remaining resources work from home.
Every model has its own pros and cons, but the hybrid approach comes out leading on top with over 50% of employees preferring a mix of working from home and office.By simply going ALL IN! If management is not completely invested in a hybrid workspace, the model is bound to fail. A united and consistent leadership front is necessary for this model to succeed. In this age of multiple-choice, ever-evolving work models, change is the only constant and businesses that embrace hybrid work environments are the ones that provide autonomy to the workforce.Take extra care to maintain seamless communication between remote and onsite teams. While at it, continue to ensure they have access to all the technology needed. Also make sure your remote team, onsite resources, and managers collaborate on the same platform, with increased face-time if necessary.
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