The Work-life Insight
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.
Coworking is here to stay. It was here to stay before the coronavirus pandemic, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has solidified coworking's standing as a preferable workspace solution.
In the early days of coworking, many argued it was nothing more than a movement and trend that would eventually fade away.
Twelve years later, what started as a movement has become a full-blown industry that has entirely disrupted the way people lease and use office space. As demand for coworking spaces has risen and the industry evolved, so has the terminology. Today, many people use coworking, flexible workspace, and workspace-as-a-service to refer to the same thing.
One thing is clear, regardless of the term you decide to use, coworking spaces are here to stay and rise.
Providing a dynamic environment for small businesses to connect and grow, with their beers and coffees on tap, glass conference rooms and team-building activities, coworking spaces have become almost synonymous with indie startups over the past few decades.
Since the mid-2000s, coworking spaces around the world have been gaining popularity among businesses and emerging entrepreneurs, and have established themselves as a different way of acquiring real estate. Top coworking spaces – like WorkSocial’s New Jersey coworking space - offer flexible solutions that match your individual working needs. WorkSocial is the leading provider of coworking spaces, private office spaces, meeting rooms, training rooms and virtual offices, with prime locations in Jersey City, NJ as well as locations in Manhattan and Downtown Los Angeles. They offer a variety of workspaces suitable for individuals, teams, entrepreneurs and small businesses with a wide range of rental options from daily to monthly.
WorkSocial takes pride in meeting the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards which suggest long-term top-line growth, talent retention, cost reductions and consumer trust.
"We believe in redefining your workday by bringing wellness, happiness and leadership into the workplace. WorkSocial strives hard to give everything you need in order to work efficiently, productively, healthily and happily," says founder Natasha Mohan.
The company's services include providing private offices catering from one to 100 people, dedicated desks, hot desks, meeting rooms, boardrooms, training and conference rooms. Other features include high-speed clean internet access from the Microsoft Azure fabric, healthy food and drinks, office supplies, technology support and more.
Founder Natasha Mohan, has many years of experience in the industry and has successfully developed her business into a major local player by presenting a real and trusted alternative to the large international providers. Her mindset is pretty simple, stay curious, be humble and never stop dreaming.
According to Mohan, the most important element of the business is to help people create a shift from getting things done to creating fulfilled careers. "We do it by building a space that brings happiness back to people's workday. Happy people do good work…endorphines, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin."
WorkSocial works with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Google, Facebook, IBM, and JPMorgan. They provide innovative coworking solutions. They have also provided affordable solutions for small businesses and local entrepreneurs.
WorkSocial takes pride in what they do and are highly regarded as not only offering a highly enjoyable working environment for its clients, but also for their employees. They experience little to no staff turnover and consistently receive glowing reviews and a high level of customer satisfaction.
"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 foods. I highly recommend using their services," says one gratified client.
The company has announced a 6,000-square-foot office expansion at 111 Town Square Place in Jersey City in February 2022. Mohan claims a little more than 60% of it is already reserved.
"We love having a diverse group of businesses, agencies, people, and teams use our facility. That's what makes it so special. There is so much important work happening right here under this roof," added Mohan.
When starting and operating a corporate business, it is vital to have a working space which allows your employees to gather and communicate, as well as have a general area where they can get into a work mindset and form a culture of teamwork. What we are talking about here is one of the most important and vital aspects of any corporation: an office space. This is where we come to WorkSocial.
WorkSocial helps to offer beautiful and functional working spaces for corporations and other businesses situated in prime locations. WorkSocial allows their clients to find a tailored office space solution dependent on their own unique requirements, and as such, offers many different types of working locations. These could include the Executive office space, Coworking office space, conference rooms and meeting venues and even virtual training areas. All of these are important for a business and have their own environments and situations where they would suit best. This is part of what makes WorkSocial great, it has a variety of different options to choose from which can be tailored to you and your business.Each of these locations has its own benefits, typically with a number of features that come with its use. These could include on-site WiFi, staffed reception area, a business lounge, free printing/copying/scanning, IT support and even complimentary food and snacks! Some of these would be considered complimentary side benefits of an office space, but some are essential. With WorkSocial aiming to provide these benefits to every client that utilizes their workspaces, they are aiming high and creating a work environment which is accessible and functional for the businesses utilizing them.
Now, onto our personal verdict.
WorkSocial is one of the best office space providers out there due to the modern and functional workspaces they provide, and the useful amenities provided by them to the clients utilizing their services.The actual spaces provided have modern designs which definitely give off the ‘vibe’ of an office corporate space, without being too traditional and still allowing for an aesthetically pleasing environment. Furthermore, the amenities provided make the space accessible with free WiFi and IT support, as well as side benefits. To top this all off, the offices are located in prime locations which presents opportunities for business and work for any corporation.
Added onto this, WorkSocial is minority and women owned, and its client base is largely made up of minorities. Consequently, WorkSocial works to empower these communities and develop connections which can grow into budding and formidable companies in the business world. Through their office spaces, minorities are given a central location for development and growth.Overall, we believe WorkSocial is a great choice for any business and should absolutely be utilized.
The coworking space industry is growing by leaps and bounds, averaging 23% annual growth since 2010. With pandemic restrictions finally easing and people looking to break free from the work from home grind, this growth seems permanent. As such, WorkSocial is emerging as the leading brand in this space. With their innovative and affordable coworking solutions, WorkSocial is the premium choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
WorkSocial is the most well-known flexible office space provider, with locations in Jersey City, NJ, Manhattan and numerous partner l ovations throughout the US. Its spaces feature a startup vibe and atmosphere, active, energized and more mature than some of its competitors.
WorkSocial takes pride in adhering to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, which promote long-term top-line growth, talent retention, cost reductions and consumer trust. They have broad initiatives to conserve energy, reduce waste, improve working conditions and enforce ethical business practices, among other things.
Additionally, the company’s operations are aligned with programs that benefit the environment, employees, local communities and shareholders.
“We want to create environments where people and businesses come together and do their best work. We are constantly reimagining how the workspace can help everyone be more motivated, productive and happy,” said WorkSocial founder Natasha Mohan.
Natasha said that the company’s mission is to help their community find purpose in everything they do. “We build a space that humanizes people’s workday – a space that brings happiness back to work,” added Mohan.
Aside from building a community of productive and happy people, WorkSocial can quickly configure a space to fit the particular needs and vision of a business, making it one of the more flexible options in an already flexible industry.
The company’s services include providing private offices, dedicated desks, hot desks, meeting rooms, board rooms, training and regeneration rooms. Other features include high-speed internet access, healthy food and drinks, office supplies, technology support and more.
“We provide a range of cutting-edge technology to our clients, including 24/7 technical assistance and high-speed internet connection from DE-CIX and CISCO Meraki. Our clients have the full authority to have custom network solutions,” said a spokesperson.
With hundreds of customers in the country, WorkSocial is proud of its skilled and friendly team, one of the key factors that have earned the company so many happy, satisfied clients.
WorkSocial is a minority and female-owned and managed company that places importance on social equity. Their team is 95 percent female, ethnically diverse, and on a weekly basis bands together to feed the local community at the St Joseph’s Homeless Shelter in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Features
Associated Press
WorkSocial’s latest launch provides versatile, state-of-the-art amenities for modern-day digital creatives, combining in-office facilities with remote working technology for an agile, adaptable office environment.
The announcement details an extensive array of benefits for established enterprises and startup ventures alike. WorkSocial is committed to providing an inspiring base for creative business endeavors, marrying sociability with forward-thinking technologies for 21st-century professionals.
According to ThoughtFarmer, a hybrid workplace is a business model that combines remote working with a traditional office setup. The unprecedented events of 2020 meant that companies across the US were forced to adapt to new ways of doing business, embracing technology and flexible remote solutions to ensure their survival. Hybrid working allows employees a better life/work balance and enables businesses to lower their overheads, only requiring reduced office space on a month-to-month basis.
WorkSocial offers stylish office space for co-working with streamlined booths, conference rooms for meetings, and excellent amenities such as fast wifi, complimentary drinks and snacks, and printing facilities. With premises in popular centers such as New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Jersey City, and Parsippany, NJ, WorkSocial provides executive-level comfort at affordable rates.
Other benefits for WorkSocial members include an upmarket business address, optional secretarial services, call screening, and mail forwarding. Keeping overheads low while creating the right impression for potential partners and investors is a hard balance to strike for many startups. WorkSocial provides the ideal virtual office space for both nascent and more established ventures.
Additional services include an onsite public notary, optional private working spaces, optimized security, a firewall by CISCO, easy access, transparent pricing, corporate branding, VPN integration, and much more.
About WorkSocial
Founded by CEO Natasha Mohan, a successful entrepreneur with a background in business management, the company has been providing state-of-the-art hybrid working solutions since 2015.
A spokesperson says, “Enterprise co working and shared office space is driven by the fundamental spirit of entrepreneurship. We believe in redefining your workday by bringing wellness, happiness, and leadership into the workplace. WorkSocial provides access to everything you need in order to work efficiently, productively, healthily, and happily.
“With the launch of its updated hybrid workplace solutions, WorkSocial is taking office space into the 21st century for a new generation of entrepreneurs in the Hoboken, Grove St, Paulus Hook, Weehawken, and West New York area.
Source:
asiaone
Article credit – MARKETERSMEDIA
Stress, anxiety, and tension are at an all-time high. In the US alone, over 40 million adults have an anxiety disorder. More people rely on breathwork to help improve their overall mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. If you’re curious about breathwork, here’s everything you need to know about intentionally changing your breathing patterns.
What is Breathwork?
While breathwork might seem trendy in 2022, it’s not new. Breathwork has its roots in yoga, and people have been practicing different breathing techniques for thousands of years. Breathwork is essentially different breathing techniques, programs, and exercises that help you focus on your awareness of your inhales and exhales. The basic idea is to release toxins, negative feelings, and stress when you breathe out and nourish your mind, body, and soul when you breathe new air in.
The Benefits of Breathwork
Research on breathwork is promising. When you focus on your breathing and give your body & mind a chance to press the reset button, you may experience both physical and mental health benefits of breathwork.Physical health benefits of breathwork may include:
- Balanced blood pressure
- Chronic pain management
- Better sleep
- Decreased PTSD symptoms
- Stronger respiratory function
- Improved immune system
- Release of stress hormones from your body
Mental health benefits of breathwork may
- Less depression and anxiety
- Heal emotional pain and trauma
- Better mental focus
- A decline in addictive behaviors
- Higher self-esteem
- Increased self-awareness
- Better outlook on life
- More contentment and joy
Breathwork Practices
There are several breathwork methods. Each technique focuses on conscious breathing. However, what you are struggling with and what you seek should help you determine which breathwork practice is right for you.
To get started, here are three beginner breathwork techniques to try.
The 4-7-8 Breath
Best For: When you feel overwhelmedThe 4-7-8 method slows the heart rate and nervous system. Use this technique when you feel anxious, angry, swamped at work, or have trouble sleeping.
How to do it:
First, take a deep breath out to empty your lungs of air. Then breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and exhale out of your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat at least four times to feel the effects.
The 4-4-4-4 Breath
Best For: When you feel tired, distracted, or unmotivatedThis technique is like a secret weapon in the office. The 4-4-4-4 approach slows the heart rate and heightens concentration. Practice this method when you’re feeling sleepy, groggy, or unfocused. You can do it in the morning or in the middle of the day when you’re losing focus at work.
How to do it:
Start by emitting all of the air from your lungs, and hold your breath for 4 seconds. Next, breathe through your nose for 4 seconds, then hold your breath for 4 seconds, then exhale out of your nose for 4 seconds. Repeat for around five minutes to feel the effects.
The 5-5 Breath
Best For: When you’re angry, sad, or triggeredCoherent Breathing or the 5-5 method slows down your breathing. This technique can be used anytime during the day you feel like you need a sense of calm or you feel yourself getting worked up.
How to do it:
First, focus on the natural rhythm of your breath. Then, breathe in for 4 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat this for 1 minute. Next, repeat for 5 seconds, then 6 seconds, and if it feels good, expand to 10 seconds. Practice this method for at least five minutes to feel the effects.
What Happens to the Body During Breathwork?
Individuals who regularly practice breathwork describe feelings of deep relaxation, clarity, and alertness during and after breathwork. In addition, many people find that they feel more energized and continent after a session. Some people also report feelings of physical sensations, like tingling or vibrations throughout the body.
Other Types of Breathwork to Consider
Everyone has a unique preference, need, and goal for practicing breathwork. If you’re considering joining a breathwork class or incorporating breathwork during a therapy session, you may benefit from the following techniques.
- Holotropic Breathwork
- Rebirthing Breathwork
- Clarity Breathwork
- Biodynamic Breathwork
- Integrative Breathwork
- Shamanic Breathwork
- Zen Yoga Breathwork
- Transformational Breathwork
In an effort to make organizations more diverse and inclusive, leaders across the globe are adopting unconscious bias training (UB training). UB training or UBT helps reduce bias in behaviors and attitudes - often based on gender, age, and race - about people’s character traits and talents.
For example, your team lead using a phrase you don’t prefer could be the result of a past experience with an ex-manager from your previous organization, leading you to nurture unconscious biases or false assumptions about your current team lead. Why does this happen? It’s because our background, moral values, cultural environment, and personal experiences influence the choices we make. With these ideologies in place, we begin to create unconscious opinions without even realizing it, which negatively impacts hiring, promotion decision-making, and future engagements with customers and fellow coworkers. In fact, as per a survey conducted by Deloitte, 68% of employees reported that experiencing or witnessing bias at the workplace affected their productivity.
Unconscious bias is simple, you just need to take the time to understand the definition of unconscious bias, the types of biases, and ways to avoid it in the workplace.
What is unconscious bias?
Unconscious biases are essentially learned stereotypes. Often these stereotypes are unintentional, deeply ensconced within our value system, and have the power to influence our attitude and behavior. For example, if your car breaks down, chances are you’re most likely to approach a man rather than a woman for assistance. While this unconscious bias may seem harmless, problems may arise when it makes its way into the workplace.
Types of unconscious bias
There are 5 different types of unconscious bias. Let’s understand how to tackle them in the workplace.
1. Affinity bias
Affinity bias is the tendency to like other like-minded people. These similarities can be based on gender, age, race, and more. Affinity bias is most often seen during interviews.
How to avoid: Organizations should work towards hiring a diverse staff to promote inclusion.
2. Perception bias
Perception bias is the tendency to make snap judgments based on assumptions and stereotypes that are often wrong. These judgments can be based on gender, age, height, and more. For example, when you host a party after work, and you deliberately refuse to invite a fellow employee because you believe they do not have the same interests as the rest of the group.
How to avoid: Request peers for input on any preference tendencies.
3. Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek confirmation about pre-existing assumptions and ideas, even if it means ignoring good ideas. Confirmation bias is also known as cherry-picking, or simply doing whatever it takes to win an argument.
How to avoid: Keep an open mind to new ideas and build awareness of this bias.
4. Halo effect
The Halo effect is when a single positive attribute has the power to influence our assessment of irrelevant factors. In simpler terms, the Halo effect is the tendency to think that everything about a person is great simply because you like that person. This cognitive bias can lead to animosity in the workplace, especially when favored employees are on the receiving end of more perks. For example, when your co-worker is always perceived in a better light regardless of what they do because they have a closer connection with their team lead than others.
How to avoid: Think about the decisions you’ve made about people without giving them a second thought. Question your decision. Was it favoritism?
5. Gender biases
Gender bias is similar to the Halo effect. The tendency to favor one gender over another is called gender bias. According to a recent survey by Headstart, 42% of women in the United States have encountered gender discrimination in their workplace.
How to avoid: Gender bias can be avoided when employers think about whether a gender swap matters with respect to the position at hand.
Conclusion
Each bias is unique in its own way. Business owners have the power to raise awareness of unconscious bias by encouraging interaction among people from different groups. A coworking and shared office is one such space where diverse groups of people, freelancers, corporates, remote workers, and other consultants work together in a communal setting. This not only helps reduce stress levels when around people who are different from us, but also widens social networks and promotes diversity and inclusion.
FAQs
1. When do unconscious biases happen the most?
Believe it or not, unconscious biases can happen anytime, anywhere without you even realizing it. However, the two common times when unconscious biases happen the most are during the hiring process and during promotions decision-making.
2. Is unconscious bias illegal in the workplace?
Unconscious bias is different from employment discrimination and as such, is not illegal in the workplace. It’s also because employee discrimination happens consciously whereas unconscious biases happen without us even realizing it, making it harder to recognize and address.
3. Why is unconscious bias training essential in the workplace?
Unconscious bias training helps raise awareness that unconscious bias exists, thus helping combat the future influence of unconscious bias.
Sources
www.headstart.io/insights/gender-bias-in-the-workplace-why-does-it-still-happen/
www.easyllama.com/blog/unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace
www.togetherplatform.com/blog/unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace
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