4 Ways to Make Your Coworking Space Fun & Engaging
The productivity and well-being of a worker can be greatly influenced by their space — hence, the necessity to balance a professional environment with recreational amenities for remote workers or freelancers. And, because coworking is more than a workspace, it’s essential to include elements that support socializing, creativity and the community as a whole.
The following recommendations are rooted in the main principle of coworking — flexibility. To that end, these suggestions support the members’ welfare on breaks, as well as during work hours, so you might find them useful whether you’re a coworking operator or a team manager.
1. Create Themed Workdays
Themed workdays can be a fun way to combat dull feelings that can be accumulated over time. For example, introduce classic days like “casual Friday,” “pet-friendly” days, or “throwback Thursday” and see how participants react to them. It doesn’t need to be a tiring initiative as the option to be in comfortable attire can sometimes be enough.
Additionally, if you’re offering snacks, theme them from time to time to keep the enthusiasm going. From childhood delicacies to holiday classics, you can’t go wrong.
These themes can build anticipation and foster community spirit, thereby improving the overall energy of the workplace. Experiment with small adjustments and see what the participants enjoy most.
2. Host Regular Social Events
During a fast-paced and busy schedule, remote workers can find themselves struggling with isolation, among other things. As a result, both casual and formal gatherings play an important role in workers’ professional and personal development.
Specifically, board games, movies, or volunteering are casual occasions that promote a feeling of community and informal networking. Plus, these gatherings can help members work on their soft skills without the usual work pressure. This can then lead to better communication, cooperation and confidence.
Meanwhile, formal events — such as seminars, industry awards or networking dinners — provide scheduled occasions for skill development and knowledge exchange. Employees can also meet industry experts and get different perspectives, thereby promoting professional success.
3. Incorporate Interactive Spaces
Interactive settings facilitate relaxation and foster creativity, which is important as it can be difficult to switch off during breaks. For example, workers enjoy game rooms, a small garden or even a gym. Features like these lower stress levels, boost morale and promote a positive work culture focused on well-being.
Of course, interactive spaces are an asset for work tasks, too. So, incorporate features like smart whiteboards, virtual reality technology, or interactive touchscreen displays to support brainstorming sessions and troubleshooting. You could even add even modular furniture to accommodate different work styles and group sizes.
4. Organize Fun Workshops & Classes
Another entertaining way to break up the monotony is to set up a fun workshop that isn’t directly linked to the industry.
Popular hobbies, such as arts and sports, are a good place to start, but you can always survey members to better gauge the needs of your team. After a long, draining period of focused work, an outdoor team sport — like volleyball or basketball — can be a great way to blow off some steam. Or, if your team seems to be disconnected or struggling with a creative block, offer an art class, a visual craft, a book club, plastic arts or even cooking classes.
Coworking is inherently fun and engaging, but that’s the whole point, right? Give some of these tips a try whenever you want to kick things up a notch. Then, just watch how they bring your coworking members closer together and improve the productivity of your teams.
