Research suggests that landscape wall art can reduce stress and improve productivity in the workplace. Unfortunately, many staff have no artwork to view in their workplace.

For 35 years I worked in a variety of offices for 5 different employers. I recall that I never was able to view any artwork from my office desk. It was only when I began working for myself was I able to have the opportunity to hang artwork in my office.

Local landscapes of Norwich, Norfolk and Suffolk is the artwork that provides me with inspiration. They make me feel happier and provide stimulation for brainstorming and problem solving.

I also find that viewing photos in the distance allows my eyes to refocus. It is a welcome break from using the computer screen and reading documents. It also helps to reduces eye strain, fatigue and headaches.

You can help you workforce to become more reflective, imaginative and inventive by obtaining some of my local landscape photographs. Feel inspired to make you workplace dazzle.

Norfolk and Suffolk Landscape Photographer

Based in Norwich and operating as David Woodcock Photography I provide workplaces and homes with a variety of Norfolk and Suffolk landscapes. They include sunsets, the Broads, seascapes, Spring scenes such as bluebells, the golden hues of Autumn, snow scenes, woodlands, windmills, lighthouses, beach huts, piers, towns, flora and fauna plus much more.

You can buy my images in a variety of sizes from Photo4me as:-

• Prints
• Framed Prints (with a variety of wood finishes and acrylic glazing. The wood comes from sustainable sources)
• Canvases (100% polyester and ready to hang with pine frames)
• Acrylics (10mm thick and supplied with wall fixings)

Photo4me provides high quality products, a fast and efficient service, plus a 30 day 100% money back guarantee. You pay over a secure network. By using Photo4me you get a wide choice of products. This is far more than I could ever provide by myself. I also know that your order is being processed immediately, whilst I am providing my other photography services. I receive a small commission for each image sold.   

If you require digital images for your website, you can purchase any that are in my Photo4me profile, directly from me. Please get in touch. Details on how to contact me are on my website. Please see the link below.

Post written by David Woodcock (David Woodcock Photography)    

Considering that employees spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours at their place of work, it is crucial for their working conditions and atmosphere to be adequate. Sitting in uncomfortable chairs and squinting at the screen can cause headaches, back pain, eye soreness, and can also heavily influence their ability to concentrate, as well as their efficiency.

A workspace your employees need, no matter if it’s an office, warehouse or any other type of space, is not only one filled with gadgets and motivational posters but one that is optimal for both their physical and mental health. You needn’t strive to please everybody but you definitely need to maintain some health standards, so with that in mind, here are a few essential elements to consider which will positively influence your employees’ well-being. 

Plants improve air quality and boost mood

Besides pups and kittens, plants are the next best mood lifters you can introduce to your office space. First and foremost, they improve air quality, which is especially essential in spaces that you cannot ventilate by opening the windows. Besides that, studies have shown that employees are 15% more productive in offices with house plants because they motivate them to actively engage with their surroundings rather than just sit and type in silence. 

Plants reduce anxiety and stress levels and when it comes to the choice which plants to purchase, it is important to take into account the amount of light you can provide them with or, otherwise, you might find quite a few employees comparing themselves to the withered plant.

Open-plan layout prompts collaboration

Open-plan spaces might not be applicable for all businesses but for those which rely on the collaboration between team members, it is the optimal solution. Every idea, misunderstanding, and tasks can be shared or resolved on the spot which makes the teams more efficient and the projects completed faster. 

Naturally, these kinds of offices can be loud at times but you can establish some rules together with your employees so that perhaps if more than two or three people have something to discuss, they can go to the conference room or determine a time during the day when these kinds of collaborative impromptu meetings are welcome. Also, it would be the best if those working together sit desk to desk so that they can make use of this proximity and not send emails back and forth.

Proper lighting supports wakefulness

If your work space is abundant in natural light, all you need are blinds to regulate glare and your employees will see properly and won’t be drowsy throughout the day. However, you would have to combine artificial and natural lighting as most spaces have to because of their work schedules.

Each employee needs to get enough light so every workstation needs to have proper overhead lighting. This is especially important in warehouses and other industrial rooms where people don’t work with bright screens all the time. Luckily, there are specially designed industrial warehouse LED fixtures that provide every employee with optimal work conditions. Of course, all such lights are made up to lighting, safety, cleanliness and installation codes in order to keep everyone safe. If the lighting is insufficient, the employees will have problems reading and concentrating, and they might also report eye soreness and back pain from leaning over their work.

Well-equipped workspace motivates creativity 

Depending on your business niche, a ‘well-equipped’ workspace can mean many things but it doesn’t necessarily mean over-the-top devices and software tools that employees might not even use. Work tools should facilitate workers’ daily tasks and not complicate their lives with unnecessary and lengthy procedures.

A well-equipped workspace is also equipped with ergonomic chairs, desks, and keyboards which protect your employees’ health. Also, it can include the little things (which actually mean a lot on a psychological level) such as handy branded notebooks you can give each employee as a gift. You can have this token of attention bearing your logo made hassle-free, and besides making the employees feel more like a part of the team, they might also be inspired for great ideas and solutions.

Quiet rooms help employees to recharge

Sometimes your employees have a lot on their mind with a deadline looming in and they need a few quiet moments to regain their composure. Taking a break is generally the healthiest way to deal with stress so if they have time for a quick break, it would be best for you to provide them with space where they can rest in silence or think about something other than work.

Depending on the available space, you can offer them one room, preferably with a lot of natural light they can use to unwind. You can have some plush armchairs for them to relax their muscles or even a sofa they can rest for a few minutes. The colors of the walls shouldn’t be too bright but calming and these few moments spent in silence will help them recharge their batteries and get ready to go back to the task and nail it. 

Wrapping up

To achieve the best possible results, your employees need proper lighting, ergonomic furniture and airy, fresh spaces (a stuffy room will not have a positive effect on their wakefulness). If you provide them with a space where they can communicate their ideas quickly or recharge their batteries, you will soon see a large increase in productivity and employee satisfaction. 

About the author: Lilly Miller is a freelance writer, who focuses on the latest business trends, commercial design, and environmental issues. She also loves to experiment on daring new home decor trends and write about it as a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator blog. Settled in Sydney for the time being, Lilly shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney. You can find her hanging out on  Twitter.

Shared workspaces, or otherwise known as collaborative workspaces, are spaces that are shared by multiple people for different purposes. Shared workspaces are perfect for companies that don’t need a whole office space all the time, for example, if they have a lot of remote workers. They provide the perfect space for freelancers, home workers and small businesses to work, chat and collaborate with each other or just enjoy the benefits of working in an office environment.

In the past few years, ergonomics has started to get recognition as an essential business tool. When implemented correctly, office ergonomics provides many benefits for employee health, as well as productivity. To make your shared office appealing to potential users, you should make sure ergonomics are considered and correctly implemented when creating the shared office space.

What is correct ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science of fitting a workplace to a user’s needs and requirements, it aims to increase efficiency and productivity while decreasing discomfort. Sitting at a desk all day can increase the risk of pain and injuries for office workers, so it is essential to make sure workstations are created for the user.

When it comes to shared workspaces, it can be a challenging task designing a space that’s going to suit all employees – especially when this can change day-to-day. Ergonomics training is a great way to develop skills and knowledge in how to create an ergonomic workspace.

Keep reading to learn how to create an ergonomic workspace that can be adapted to those that work in it.

How to implement correct ergonomics in a shared office space

When looking at ergonomics, it is crucial to consider all areas of the workstation and see how they can be adapted to be more suited to a user.

1. Chairs

No chair is going to be perfect for everyone who sits in it, but there are certain things to look for that can be adjusted by individual users to suit their personal needs. Choosing ergonomic chairs that can be adjusted and changed is the best option – make sure to select a chair that has adjustable height, seat depth and tilt.

A good ergonomic chair allows you to move, movement helps boost blood flow – good blood circulation is vital in keeping us healthy.

Back and neck pain are a common problem for office workers, so making sure a chair has adequate lumbar support is important to ensure the lower back is correctly supported. The curvature of the chair should match the curve of your back as this helps reduce slouching which in turn will help alleviate back pain.

2. Monitor, keyboard and mouse placement

Depending on whether you have computers and computer equipment available in your shared workspace, it may be important to think about how the placement of them may affect users of your workspace. Monitors should be placed so that when a user looks straight ahead, their gaze will be in line with the top of the monitor. As everyone is of different heights providing monitor stands or having desks with adjustable heights can solve the problem.

Again, keyboards and mice should be positioned and used in a way that can help reduce pain or injuries in the hands and wrists – common injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Even though you can’t control how people use and position their keyboards or mouse, you can make sure to buy ergonomically friendly equipment and provide guidance on how to use and place the equipment.

Important tips:

1.    Make sure both keyboard and mouse are positioned in front of the user to avoid unnecessary stretching. The upper arm should not be elevated or extended while using a mouse.

2.    The keyboard should be angled so users can easily reach all keys easily without having to uncomfortably bend the wrist.

3. Desks

Our daily lives often involve moving from one seat to another, therefore meaning the majority of us have more of a sedentary lifestyle, which can be damaging to our health and wellbeing. Although exercise is always good for you, a run or gym session after or before work may not be enough to combat the damage caused from prolonged sitting.

Having sit-stand desk, however, can help reduce the amount of time we spend sitting throughout a day. Standing desks can be altered so the user can choose to either sit while working or stand. In recent years, a lot of research has gone into the benefits of standing desks, and it has been found they help increase productivity, lower blood sugar levels, reduce back pain and improve mood and energy levels.

4. Desk Accessories

Numerous desk accessories can be purchased to make a user more comfortable while working at a desk. These include:

1.    Footstools

These are a great option to make chairs more ergonomically friendly and comfortable for those who have shorter legs, as they allow the seat to be positioned so the user can correctly place monitors while ensuring feet are resting on something. They can also make sitting more comfortable in general – they help decrease discomfort by increasing circulation as well as reducing pressure on the lower back.

2.    Document holders

These can be helpful for someone who has to either type up information from paper documents or reads off sheets of paper often. They allow you to place documents in a way that reduces the amount you have to turn the page to read the text – this helps reduce neck and shoulder pain and can increase work speed.

3.    Wrist rest

Wrist rests sit just in front of a keyboard and help increase the level of comfort and support for the wrist and the lower palm of a hand. When a user is typing, a wrist rest will help support the top of the wrist and help ensure it is positioned correctly.

Written by: Becky Morris

As employers, we’ve seen an increase in the number of flexible workers, freelancers and lone-workers joining the workforce today. This increase has created a massive boost in the demand for shared working spaces.

These spaces promote independent or collaborative working from individuals or teams. While working alone has its advantages long periods of isolation can be detrimental to your mental well-being. Co-working spaces allow you to go in daily, sit at a desk and interact with like-minded people in a structured atmosphere.

Although these spaces provide many of the amenities of a traditional office, they’re more focused on designing spaces that encourage team-working and community sprite. Today, the self-employed dominate co-working spaces. A major attraction to these spaces is the cost effectiveness and flexibility.

Types of co-working spaces

There are four main types of co-working spaces. Depending on your work, you might find some of these better than the other.

Coffee shops and cafes:

The original form of co-working space was coffee shops. We’ve all been to Costa or Starbucks and noticed someone furiously typing away on their laptop. Once these companies realised this trend, they started offering more. Free Wi-Fi, free refills and more to encourage people to stay longer.

This trend did work for a while. But as the demand for dedicated working spaces grew, global co-working chains like we-work and Jelly entered the market.

Pay-as-you-go spaces:

These are community based spaces geared towards remote working. While they weren’t designed for this, they present the opportunity to interact and network with like-minded people.

Global co-working chains:

You can find these types of co-working spaces in major cities around the world. Created and designed to offer the ultimate co-working experience. A disadvantage these spaces is their focus on profits. This leads to hard-selling customers to commit to longer term contracts which defeats the whole purpose.

Independent co-working spaces:

These spaces are normally smaller than the global co-working chains. They’re targeted at smaller sized business and offer more varied services. Because these spaces are smaller, it’s easier to get to know the people around you.

5 benefits of co-working spaces

Flexibility:

A major advantage of co-working spaces is flexibility. Renting or buying an office building comes with its on limitations. You’ll have to worry about utility bills, infrastructure, long term leases and more. But, with co-working spaces, you wouldn’t have to worry about any of these. They allow you to rent spaces on a more flexible bases so you only pay for the duration needed.

Isolation:

Like we touched on earlier, loneliness plays a big role in mental well-being. Interaction is an important part of our daily life and shouldn’t be taken for granted. While co-working spaces encourage individual working, you’ll be around people with the same interests and lifestyle, making it easier to network.

Structure:

Co-working spaces offer a place to work that is lacking in the number of distractions available to you at home. When working from home, it’s easy to get distracted by the TV, pets, your bed, family members or even the mail. With these spaces, you’re able to keep your work life separate from your home like creating a healthy work-life balance.

Productivity:

Seeing people around you working hard on their businesses gives you the motivation to do the same. An office environment creates a mind-set that contributes to increasing productivity.

Networking:

Shared spaces puts you in contact with individuals relevant to your business. You can’t get this working alone. You could potentially connect with people at different levels of their career. This presents you with an opportunity to pick their mind or even to see your work from a different point of view.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in or what city you live in. Co-working spaces are now available in every major city around the country. There’s no need to stay at home in isolation when you can be extra productive in an environment that encourages flexibility and connectives.

In a world where the vast majority of the population turn to major search engines to answer their every question – including where to source the products and services they’re looking for – small businesses need a robust digital marketing strategy in order to survive in the market place.

Most small business owners recognise how important it is to be discoverable in the digital era, yet many do not pay enough attention to increasing their exposure online. To rise above all the noise and the competition, small business owners need to be embedding SEO tactics within the heart of their digital marketing strategy.

Here are just a few reasons why you should be making SEO a priority rather than an afterthought for your business.

Increased Exposure In Search Results

Appearing on page 1 – and particularly in the top 3 results – of the Google results pages for relevant keywords is the Holy Grail for any business. The majority of internet users will not look any further than page 1 when searching, so you need to be on it! If your competitors appear there and you do not, then they will get the business every time.

Another reason your business needs to be at the top of the rankings for its niche and location is that people tend to place more trust in the search engine results that appear at the top of the page. This may seem unfair, but actually those top 3 coveted spots are reached organically and are almost always filled by the businesses who have earned their place by consistently providing great content.

A search engine’s main priority is to deliver the fastest, most relevant and trustworthy results, to give people the best possible user-friendly experience. A thorough, customised SEO campaign will massively improve your chances here.

Improved Brand Awareness

The more relevant keywords your business ranks highly for in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages), the more people will become aware of your brand over time.  There are numerous SEO techniques for optimising keywords, which will help to boost your visibility in those all-important search rankings.

Another thing to consider when it comes to branding is your online reputation. Customer reviews can be brutally honest, which is why these also play a part in your search engine rankings, and why your business should always be focused on providing the best possible service to every customer.

Ranking highly makes potential new customers more likely to trust your business over the competition, and creates a knock-on word-of-mouth effect whereby people are more likely to share and see your links on social media sites, etc.

More Authority In Your Niche

To become an authority in any niche, you will also need to gain people’s respect as well as their trust, and become knowledgeable about many issues to do with your line of business. These are vitally important factors for the continued success of any business.

Blogging is a perfect SEO method to assist small businesses with this. When a business blogs regularly and knowledgeably about specific aspects of their product or service – providing excellent and informative content for the reader, whilst also delivering on their promises in the real world – then trust, respect and subsequent authority can gradually be built over time.

Businesses can also use blogging to appeal to people’s social conscience – for example, if you run a packaging company, you might write a blog post about recycling to demonstrate that you know how the packaging you produce can be disposed of in ways that are not harmful to the environment.

Or a business might create a blog post to arouse people’s curiosity about something in their local area – for example, you might run a trivia piece that will be of particular interest to local people.

Once people start sharing the post, it will attract others onto your website who otherwise may not have visited. They will then be more familiar with your brand, and the next time they are looking for the product or service you provide locally, your business is likely to be first and foremost in their mind.

More Accurate Customer Research

Any small business that does not take advantage of Google Analytics is missing out on potential new custom. GA can track valuable information about the people who visit your site, which can then be analysed to help you hone your offer and your marketing campaigns.

This analysis means that your digital marketing strategy will be founded on pure facts rather than guesswork, making it easier to discover your target market.

Information that can be gleaned about your site’s visitors through analytics includes the key words they use, their geographical location, how long they spend on each page, what times of day they are most active, and much, much more.

Once you know who your customers are and are able to understand how they behave online, you will be able to tailor your product or service offer to what people actually want more effectively.

A Faster, Cleaner Website

A properly optimised website will attract people who are already looking for your product or service when it appears at the top of the search engine rankings, but how do you ensure that they will remain engaged on your site once you have them there?

The more sophisticated the internet becomes, the higher expectations people have, and it is vital that small businesses consider user experience when designing and adding content to their website.

These days, SEO is about much more than optimising for search engines. It is just as much about improving user experience too. After all, as we have already seen, a good user experience will naturally and organically lead to higher rankings anyway.

Your website needs to be fast, clean, well-structured and uncluttered to entice a casual visitor to stay for longer. SEO optimised websites load faster, are easy to read, a breeze to navigate, and display correctly on all devices – all of which leads to increased page views, lower bounce rates and more conversions.

Wrapping Up

Small businesses that want to perform competitively, experience growth, and see good returns on investment should consider SEO an essential part of their digital marketing armoury.

Of course, we all know that “content is king” and consistently good, useful content should always be the primary consideration – after all, there is no point investing in SEO if your content lets you down.

However, when used in combination with great content and other digital marketing tools, SEO can increase traffic to your site, improve the credibility and visibility of your business, and help you to gain valuable insight into your customers – all of which will increase your chances of gaining more sales.

Working in an open office environment can be extremely crowded, particularly with frequent interaction with colleagues and potential flow of germs and infection floating around the environment in close vicinity. Although open working environments can promote regular interaction with colleagues and fellow co-workers, you’d have to do that little bit extra to make sure you remain healthy. Studies have shown in the past that open offices are more likely to call in sick compared to regular offices.

Here are a few tips that you can consider to ensure good health working in an open office:

Stay Clear Of Sick Co-Workers

Germs can travel extremely quickly, especially in closed environments. This can come from anything such as a sneeze, cough and saliva. To prevent catching the germs, try to stay away from your fellow colleagues who are showing signs of illness or getting a cold. Offer them a tissue and hand sanitiser just make sure that they don’t spread viruses about.

Wash Your Hands Regularly

If there’s one way to easily get rid of germs, then the traditional wash of hands can go a long way. A simple rinse of the hands won’t do the trick though, be sure to use soap and scrub thoroughly. Bacteria and viruses are known to linger on damp surfaces so drying your hands correctly is key to stopping germs spreading.

Be Kind To Your Immune System

Don’t put your body through unnecessary stress and a poor diet as it can lead to your immune system becoming weaker. Take every step possible so that your body’s natural defence system remains strong. Promote a balanced diet, try to exercise regularly and get a good night’s sleep so your body is able to recharge from the day’s work. Nutritional foods and drinks with high levels of Vitamin D can help tackle germs in the system.

Try To Treat Yourself ASAP

If you feel signs of a cold coming on, don’t leave it until you fall ill to treat it. Get to it before it escalates! Take some remedies early doors that can help to treat the flu quicker and reduce the risk of it spreading to your fellow co-workers.

Change Your Working Environment

If your employer is flexible with working, make the most of working from home or choosing a different area to work in. Perhaps bring a laptop to work and then work from a cafe instead or somewhere else off-site. Also, consider the environment itself and potentially make recommendations to your boss about adding a few features to help; ask them to check the ventilation system is working okay or add plants to the floor the decor of the office. They’re known to increase wellbeing in the office due to processes that occur within plants.

There are many benefits to working in an open-office but the health risks can also increase. Considering these steps will surely help with how you feel in and around the office and will have you less likely to take them sick days off! So, rather than spending days out of the office being cuddled up in your bedroom, you can be taking days off for a holiday instead.

The most successful companies tend to be the ones with the happiest employees. Employees typically spend long hours in the office whereby they have become extremely accustomed to the office surroundings in which they encounter on a day-to-day basis. As the saying loosely goes, it’s not about the number of hours you put into work, it’s the amount of work you put into those hours.

With this thought in mind, as an employer, it is important to ensure that the productivity levels within the workplace are as high as they can be as this is vital in keeping your company alive and thriving. Whether you are working from home or in the office, here are some easy steps you can follow to increase productivity in the workplace.

Improve Lighting

It may not be an obvious step to take but lighting actually plays a crucial role in a workers day to day performance and attitude. Not only does natural lighting look better, but there is actually a strong correlation between natural light and employees quality of work, energy and sleep. Greater exposure to natural light improves the mood and energy of workers which has a positive impact on focus and productivity.

Studies show that people who work in offices with lots of window space sleep an extra 46 minutes every night meaning they are better rested and in a better frame of mind for work.

Unfortunately, most workplaces have little to no natural light resulting in the performance of employees being compromised. If incorporating natural light into the workplace isn’t possible then there are was to overcome this hurdle without too causing any hassle. Investing in so blue-enriched light bulbs is said to be a great way of reducing fatigue and increasing energy levels. Warm toned lighting promotes calmness and relaxation which is a great feature to have in meeting and break rooms.

Create a Clean and Comfortable Space

Whether you realise it or not, your eyes are constantly scanning your environment and sending signals to your brain whether they be positive signals or negative signals. These signals have significant impact on your overall mood and state of mind. If your environment is visually cluttered and unclean, this causes your brain to take in an overload of negative information causing you to feel stressed and demotivated.

If your area is attractive, comfortable and pleasant then you will naturally feel better. This applies to your home and your workplace. Replacing old or damaged furniture for contemporary furniture as well as investing in some office plants and updated equipment will be highly appreciated by your employees and increase their levels of motivation and productivity.

Research shows that decorating an office with aesthetically pleasing features such as plants can increase productivity by up to 15 percent. Spider plants remove carbon monoxide from the air which creates more oxygen, a method to have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels therefore energizing the brain enabling it to stay more focused.

You can also jazz up your office space with pictures, candles, flowers or anything else that you know will put a smile on your face.

Communication

Being consistent with your interaction and communication with your employees is key when it comes to their motivation and performance. A great way ensure that you do this is by offering employees regular feedback on how their work is making an impact into the broader business objectives.

Incentives and rewards are also a good idea to encourage employees by giving them something to work towards and giving them the opportunity to work harder if needs be without demotivating or giving destructive criticism.

Stay Hydrated

It should come as no surprise that staying hydrated is an essential part of living. Providing your workplace with a bottled water cooler is a healthy and productive mini break for your employees.

Taking regular breaks is proven to increase productivity levels and so having a bottled water cooler gives employees a good excuse to have a walk around, take their eyes off the screen and stay hydrated. It is also scientifically proven that the hydrogen and oxygen molecules that make up water improves brain activity.

The basics of dressing appropriately for networking event are to simply, look smart, professional with styled hair. But sometimes ticking off these key points might not be enough to get yourself noticed by a lucrative opportunity. Being memorable is an integral part of attending a networking event and here is some dressing advice to keep you as a talking point of other people’s experiences.

A Timepiece

It doesn’t need to be the most expensive watch in the world, but this accessory always makes for a good talking point at networking events. Being able to start a conversation off by complementing their watch can soon turn into a full discussion about your watch, so going out and getting a dress watch or something eccentric may land you in someone’s good books after the function.

Smell Good, But Not Too Good

Whether it’s perfume or aftershave it’s important to smell nice during the function but not to overdo it on trying to smell nice. It can work as a negative if someone finds your aroma overbearing and it works best to keep it minimal when it comes to your scent.

Fitted Always Works Best

A fitted suit always stands out more in a crowded place and also highlights your intention behind your choice of clothes. A fitted trouser also helps to accentuate your shoes and with the right pair of brogues or heels, your overall look will be professional yet stylish. If the plan is to wear a dress, a complementing jacket helps to add sophistication to the look, and keeping the colours matching is another way to show you corporate intention.

Accessories

Similar to wearing a watch, accessories are one of the best ways to get noticed at a networking event. Accessories such as ladies designer belts, pocket squares, handbags and ties work as a memorable addition to your outfit, and it’s also a great way to show off a part of your personality.

Look Natural

It might seem like an unusual thing to bring up, but some do make the mistake of going overboard with hair products, makeup and nails for a momentous occasion. People at networking events want to see who they will be working with on a daily basis and the more you can get that across, to more likely you are to see success. It’s important to look nice but just don’t go overboard with it.

Black is Always the Safe Option

Networking events are hosted all around the world, and the dress code and formality of them continually changes depending on the event. If you ever feel unsure on how to dress, a black suit or dress is always the safe option where you can highlight the outfit in different ways rather than taking a big leap of faith on a bold outfit choice and standing out in a negative way.

Designer

It’s not essential if you’re on a low budget, but wearing a designer shirt, jumper or blazer always provides other a natural sense of your confidence and success. It’s always good to have a few designer labels in the wardrobe for special occasions, and it gives you a little extra confidence.

Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer for many different business publications. With a range of knowledge in the business and insurance sector, she is an avid researcher and writer in the field. Having worked with a number of different businesses, including Gorvins, Natalie is now a freelance writer looking to specialise in the topic.

For most people, being a freelancer from home is a great thought – no morning commute, freedom to choose what you want to work on and you get to stay at home in your sweatpants all day. However, the reality is worlds apart; working from home is a dangerous prospect for the majority of freelance workers.

Your home is the place where you, typically, come to be you. You can relax, unwind and enjoy your time at home after a long day at work, so do you really want to make your home into your workplace, too? Many people create a home office or a space in a quiet room where they can work from, but this comes with its own problems and issues.

When you are a freelancer, you have to put yourself and your work first and often working from home can have a negative impact on this. Co-working spaces are becoming bigger and better than ever, so here are 5 reasons why co-working spaces may be the best thing for your freelancer career.

Separate Your Work And Home Life

Many people think that freelancers have the best of both worlds when it comes to working from home. They get to relax in their own comforts whilst earning money, but working from home can be extremely difficult. There are plenty of distractions which may have a lasting effect on your productivity levels and steal away your time if you don’t keep on top of it.

One of the most commonly distributed pieces of advice for freelance workers is to create an office area within the home, but sometimes this simply doesn’t work. Whether you are a stay-at-home mum who juggles chores with your work or if you work alone all day, having your work and home in one place can become exhausting.

Creating a physical break away from your home life and work can be hugely beneficial. Having your own space within a co-working environment can allow you to stay focused and do your work without the usual home interruptions, such as the phone ringing or distracting background noises from the TV. You also get the chance to collaborate and network with other freelance workers and create professional relationships.

Tackle Isolation

No matter if you are a creative designer or a marketing consultant, if you are a freelance worker then you will know that it can be quite a lonely role sometimes. Working from home can quickly make you feel isolated, especially if you don’t force yourself to take a break from your work. Whether you start an hour later in the morning to fit an hour in at the gym or take a break in the afternoon to take your dog for a walk, doing even just one thing a day where you get to chat to others will make you feel better.

One of the best benefits which comes from working within a co-working space is the ability to simply just be around similar people. Whether you use this opportunity to bounce ideas off of someone else or even just engage in small talk whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, these small things add up to create a better working attitude for yourself.

Increase Your Productivity Levels

Many freelancers, startup companies and even large corporations use co-working spaces as a place to innovate and promote productivity and growth. Many freelancers who use co-working spaces say that the working environment motivates them and offers exposure to a diverse collection of co-workers from other companies and businesses.

As well as this, freelance work and co-working spaces offers a more flexible structure which helps people to balance their work and daily routines, meaning that those who use the co-working spaces are able to work in a way which suits their needs. Most spaces are clean and organised, which is vital when it comes to focusing on the work in front of you. Cluttered office spaces or offices with chaotic views can be visually distracting and, whilst you might not always be aware of it, something will always be in your eyeline to distract you.

You’re More Accountable For Your Discipline

Having both accountability and discipline is a huge skill to tackle when wanting to become a successful freelancer. Working in a co-working space provides you with clear boundaries between work and home whilst also offering you with inspiration in the form of other professionals. By sharing your plans and thoughts with others, you’ll become more accountable for your progress.

Many co-working spaces come with opening and closing times, such as 9am-6pm. Knowing that you have working hours each day is something that most freelancers miss when thinking back to previous jobs as, when working from home, you’re more likely to give yourself a little longer to finish a task or call it a day early when you’ve had enough.

Find New Opportunities

A lot of different business is done within co-working spaces. Almost every other freelance worker you see within a co-working space will have clients or people relying on their services, and those people will more than likely be interested in what you are offering, too. If one of their clients is looking for someone with your skill set and you have been chatting with them frequently, then they are likely to come to you with new referrals from clients or business projects and leads.

If someone, for example a photographer, is looking for someone to help with their food blog or project either last minute or in advance, then chances are that they will scope out local co-working spaces for talent and freelance workers first, rather than put a call out on the internet.

Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer for many different business publications. With a range of knowledge in the business and insurance sector, she is an avid researcher and writer in the field. Having worked with a number of different businesses, including Gorvins, Natalie is now a freelance writer looking to specialise in the topic.