Flexible Office Spaces Encourage Clarity Breaks and Creative Thinking

Flexible Office Spaces Encourage Clarity Breaks and Creative Thinking

Human beings are hard-wired to be adventurous and seek what’s just “beyond the horizon.”  We yearn for changes in scenery.  It’s in our DNA. Diverse scientific fields, including anthropology, neurology, and psychology all support the thesis that humans are built to wander and look for new things.  

Changes in Scenery Promote Happiness

Most of us are happier when we are exposed to a variety of environments. In fact, a recent study published in Nature Neuroscience and co-authored by professors at New York University and the University of Miami found that happiness is enhanced when people experience diverse environments.  The study’s co-author Aaron Heller (assistant professor in the University of Miami’s Department of Psychology) states, “Collectively, these findings show the beneficial consequences of environmental enrichment across species, demonstrating a connection between real-word exposure to fresh and varied experiences and increases in positive emotions.” 

Coworking

Where we work is no exception. Introduced in Berlin, Germany in 1995, the concept of coworking and the flexible office space started to take hold around the world in the early 2000s. An interesting blog post by Cobalt Workspace in Baltimore, Maryland reminds us that the coworking industry grew nearly 30% between 2013 – 2018.  Moreover, coworking spaces across the globe are projected to double by the year 2025! On its current trajectory, coworking is positioned to represent about 30% of all office stock in our country by 2030. The growth of the coworking industry has skyrocketed these last two years, as our notion of “the office” has been redefined and we’ve adopted remote work and hybrid work into our everyday vocabulary.  Remote workers and hybrid workers are freer to choose where they work, and this flexibility enables them to satisfy the innate, hard-wired need for change in scenery.    

Clarity Breaks

Many of us may not have realized the positive effects a change of scenery can have on our productivity, creativity, and sense of well-being. Even a small change can relieve monotony, improve our brains’ capabilities, create positive new habits, and boost our mental health. Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS Worldwide) founded by Gino Wickman provides tools to over 100,000 companies that help them achieve and exceed their business goals. One of the fundamental concepts of EOS is the Clarity Break. Clarity Breaks are scheduled times for business leaders away from the office to simply think. Clarity Breaks are built upon the notion that a change in scenery and dedicated thinking time refreshes the mind and have the potential to promote breakthrough thinking. Birmingham local Kenneth C. DeWitt, Expert EOS Implementer™ remarks, “WorkSpace is a perfect place to take a  Clarity Break™, which is critical to the success of any manager or leader in an organization.  I’ve trained over 100 Leadership Teams on strategic planning, strategic execution, and team health.  Getting AWAY from the office, to a quiet place, and working ON your business is critical to your confidence and success.”  

Productivity

If you’ve been working remotely or in a hybrid work environment, you may have discovered the many challenges in learning to balance the need to focus with distraction to maintain your productivity. Unmade beds, dishes in the sink to be washed,  multiple electronic devices buzzing for our attention all distract us from our work. Back in the corporate office, there are other distractions—coworkers stopping by your desk, in-person meetings that seem to drag on, and time spent commuting. While both of these worlds present their unique perks, a hybrid work schedule with a dedicated flexible office space may cure what ails you.  

Your answer may literally be down the street.  Workspace Birmingham is a flexible coworking space conveniently located in Pelham, Alabama with both communal and dedicated spaces to help you get your focus (and your happiness) back. As the research suggests, a change in scenery promotes a happier you. We’d love to invite you to give Workspace a try with a free day pass. Click here to get started today!