Remote Sucks
Dear Trellis,
My company moved to being fully remote and I hate it. I don’t see anyone in person or get out of my pajamas. I’m lonely and can’t focus and take too many nap and snack breaks, but I also can’t seem to motivate to do anything about it. Help!
Unmotivated in San Francisco
Dear Unmotivated,
I hear you! Especially with the kind of weather that’s been hitting the Bay Area, the idea of leaving your comfy home and cozy cup of coffee sounds hellish. But here’s the thing - your productivity and mental health are on the line! I’m gonna share some stats that point the way towards less loneliness and more productivity. I run a coworking space so this advice will be slanted in that direction, but most importantly I’ll share some tips on how to get over your hurdle of fighting inertia.
Coworking Makes People Happier
In a thorough poll conducted in 2018, 89% of coworking users claimed to be happy, and 83% to feel less lonely as a result of using a coworking space.
Working in a coworking space makes people feel like they are a part of a community 86% of the time, which is consistent with another study that found that most coworkers are happier after joining. (DeskMag) (smallbizlabs)
Coworking Leads to High Productivity
84% of coworkers say they are more motivated when working in a coworking space. 82% of coworkers report expanding their social network in a coworking hub. (Ergonomic Trends)
About 68% of coworkers claim that working in a coworking environment greatly improves their ability to concentrate. (Smart Works Office)
69% of coworkers claim to have picked up new skills while coworking. (Zippia)
So what can you do?
Behavioral change is really effing hard. Your challenge in getting out of the house is real, and something millions of folks are dealing with around the world. The pandemic made home the new normal, and even if that isn’t best for your productivity or mental health, the hurdle to make any behavioral change can feel insurmountable. Everything is an obstacle.
I went down a rabbit hole of research and studied dozens of behavioral change methodologies. I won’t burden you with all of it, though feel free to read about the top five theories of behavioral change here. The important thing is to make it so easy, you can’t not do it. Which means make it silly and small, and as a bonus, make yourself accountable to someone else so you don’t skip out on your commitment.
Think Small and Silly
What is the smallest action you can take to achieve your goal of getting out of the house? Commit to a shower. A shower! Easy. You haven’t even left the house. You are still warm and dry, but one step closer to heading to your local coffee shop, friend’s house, or coworking space.
After your shower, instead of throwing back on the PJs you’ve been living in, put on an outfit you feel confident in. Still comfy, but not jammies. This helps signal your body that it’s work time AND that you care about yourself.
Lastly, make plans with a friend. This external accountability is crucial, it’s why personal trainers and coaches have jobs. Make plans to spend one hour at a coworking space with a friend, or grab a coffee together at a local spot. Put it on your calendar, write it on a post-it on your mirror, and GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
You do it once, it gets easier to do it again. The first time is the biggest lift, so make it silly and easy. At Trellis, we offer hourly coworking to keep that barrier to entry super-low. Come for an hour and, if you get motivated, stay longer. Once you’ve rebuilt the habit of leaving home, you can think about a once-a-week membership or even (yikes!) joining a space full-time. Your waistline, productivity, and sense of belonging will all thank you.
Rebecca