Updated: May 28, 2024
Work that challenges you without all the stress, mental energy for hobbies and pastimes, and a flexible schedule that offers enough time with your loved ones.
That’s the dream work-life balance we all want—right?
Many professionals are searching for that elusive “balance” to find happiness and fulfillment in their day-to-day lives.
In fact, one study found that 72% of employees say that work-life balance is very important to them. The same survey revealed that, after salary, it’s the most important consideration for job seekers.
So, how can you help your people achieve true work-life balance in a world of remote and hybrid work?
While it might surprise you, coworking spaces might be the answer.
Beyond the Buzzword: What Is Work-Life Balance?
You hear the term a lot—and know it’s important—but what really is work-life balance?
A good definition comes from Gartner’s Human Resources Glossary, which describes work-life balance as:
“An aspect of employee well-being related to the employee’s ability to manage both personal and professional responsibilities with adequate time for rest and leisure. Each individual may define his or her work-life balance differently.”
This leaves us with three key ingredients to work-life balance:
- Ability to manage professional and personal responsibilities.
- Time for rest and leisure.
- Flexibility to determine individual priorities.
Achieving these things requires a combination of time and stress management, productivity, and selecting desirable and enjoyable elements of your professional and personal life.
Work-life balance will ultimately look different to everyone, but understanding what you’re aiming for can help you get there.
Choosing the right workspace is a key component of crafting a life that works.
5 Ways Coworking Supports Work-Life Balance
Opting for a coworking space—whether it’s a “hot desk,” private office, or team suite—has multiple direct benefits on your work-life balance. Here are five to know about:
1. Dedicated and Separate Workspace
The appeal of working from home in your comfortable clothes and casual environment wears off for many people.
Professionals often feel it’s hard to achieve work-life balance because you’re not separating the two, and it all takes place in your home.
Instead, a coworking space offers a separate and dedicated workspace.
A short commute, getting dressed to leave the house, and a comfortable work environment all separate your work and personal life—physically and mentally. This makes it easier to “turn off” your work brain and engage in other personal pursuits throughout the week.
2. Enhanced Productivity and Focus
Coworking spaces are designed for effective, focused work and often boost productivity in a way home offices can’t. They’re meant for professionals to optimize their workday and achieve their goals.
Here at Launch Workplaces, we’ve designed every element of our workspaces to help you do your best work. This includes features and amenities like:
- Spatial diversity: Bookable meeting rooms, lounges, shared kitchens, phone booths, and a variety of seating options allow you to find the space that works best for you throughout the day.
- All-inclusive membership: Scanning, faxing, high-speed internet, refreshments, and more—it’s all included so you can streamline your experience (and your bills).
- On-site staff: Our friendly and helpful staff are available to help you make the most of your day-to-day experience. They handle the logistics, so you can handle your workload.
3. Flexible Memberships and Work Hours
A key tenant of work-life balance is flexibility and having some autonomy over your schedule to set it up in a way that best suits your needs.
Coworking spaces like Launch are designed for flexibility. From various membership options to daily drop-ins, you can select the option that suits your or your team’s needs. Further, because most memberships operate month-to-month, you can scale your workspace up or down as needed.
Thanks to flexible operating hours and member access, you can also choose when you work. This helps support work-life balance and enables you to build a routine that works best.
4. Social Connection and Networking
One reason workers find remote work-life balance difficult is the lack of social or professional connections. While Zoom and other online tools enable efficient communication, it doesn’t always replace important face-to-face interactions.
Coworking spaces naturally facilitate both social and professional connections to grow your network. This happens through:
- Informal conversations in shared spaces
- Organized social and professional events
- Spaces that facilitate in-person team meetings
- Networking opportunities
Having more interpersonal interaction is one of the main advantages of joining a coworking space and can help boost your work-life balance by offering more fun and community.
5. Health and Wellness
The last way coworking spaces enable better remote work-life balance is by supporting health and wellness—physical and mental.
Some of the previous benefits, like better productivity and increased socialization, obviously benefit your health and well-being. There are some other ways coworking spaces do this, too:
- Increased mobility: Commuting (especially walking or biking), sit-stand desks (we have them at Launch!), and walking around an office are all great ways to increase your mobility through the day.
- Gym or wellness room access: Many coworking spaces—including multiple Launch locations—have gym or wellness room facilities. This makes it easy to sneak in a workout or take an active break as part of your daily routine.
- Comfortable environment: Aesthetic workspaces, natural light, ergonomic seating, and a comfortable environment can help support your overall well-being. You’ll enjoy being at work when it’s a nice space, which contributes to overall work and life satisfaction.
While it has its benefits, remote work also has its downsides. For many professionals, achieving a remote work-life balance is difficult and elusive. Joining a coworking space can be important in overcoming these challenges and experiencing a positive work-life balance.
If you’re interested in a workspace that helps you optimize your work life and personal life, you’ll find it at Launch. Contact us today to book a tour at your nearest location.
