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Category: COVID-19

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Wellness and Working From Home: Tips for Cultivating a Healthy Remote Work Life

From the 10-second commute to the endless snacks and pet snuggles, remote work certainly has its perks. However, making sure your home is a great place to work takes effort. Courtesy of UNOVA Coworking, here are some things you can do to improve your professional productivity and personal wellness as you work remotely.

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Set a Schedule

Remote work often translates to more flexibility in your day, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still value in keeping a schedule. Take breaks throughout the day, and have a hard stop at the end of your workday, so you don’t risk burnout or overworking. If feasible, get in the habit of temporarily removing any work-related apps from your cellphone during your off times to help foster a healthy balance between your work and personal life.

Additionally, look for ways to structure your day to optimize your time and effort. For example, it’s proven that taking on larger, more difficult tasks earlier in the day is best for productivity. You can even do a mock commute, which may involve a short walk, bike ride, or drive around the block or to your local coffee shop to help you enter “work mode” and get ready for the day.

Keep It Clean

When your home doubles as your workplace, keep your space as comfortable as possible, so you can focus on your job. If you feel negative energy creeping up in your space, try to declutter or reorganize your surroundings to create a more positive atmosphere. Spend a few minutes at the end of each day cleaning up your desk and work area. Invest in storage organizational furniture to keep nonessential items out of sight while you work to prevent distractions. If you need some extra help keeping your home clean, consider bringing in a professional housekeeper on a regular basis.

Eat Healthily and Stay Active

Working from home likely means you’ve got more time to cook healthy dishes instead of relying on quick microwave meals at the office. Develop a meal plan for each week, and always have healthy snacks on hand. Stay hydrated, and consider getting a water bottle with time markers to encourage you to maintain proper liquid intake throughout the day.

Be intentional about dedicating time each day to moving your body, as sitting for extended periods of time can be harmful to your health. Consider upgrading your regular desk to a standing desk to help improve your blood circulation and physical posture. An under-desk treadmill can also ensure you stay active while you work.

Staying Well While Staying Home

The rise of remote work has led to many opportunities to spend more time at home. As you optimize your remote work arrangement, keep your health and wellness top of mind. For more information on remote work, including how you can benefit from a coworking space in Springville, New York, visit UNOVA Coworking.

Questions or comments? Have any additional tips or resources to share? Reply below or reach out to Julie Morris.

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3 Tips for Perfecting Your Space When You Work From Home

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3 Tips for Perfecting Your Space When You Work From Home

According to recent remote worker statistics, 56% of companies around the globe offer telework options to employees, and those numbers are projected to grow as the world adjusts to post-pandemic life.  This means more people can work from home than ever before.  If you’re one of them, you may feel excited for the opportunity, but anxious about the reality of setting up your home office and making it a space where you can be efficient and productive.  Your house is your comfort zone where you let your hair down, relax, and settle in your loungewear.  So, how do you make it double as your office?  Here are some tips from UNOVA Coworking to make that happen!

1. Designate Your Work Space

The key to being productive when working remotely is having a distinct home office.  Just like a corporate workspace, your home office should be equipped for your professional needs and free of distractions.  Ideally, this space should be a room behind a door, like an extra bedroom, finished attic loft, or walk-in closet.  This way, you can close yourself in during work hours to avoid interruptions and shut the door behind you when the day ends.  If you only have a corner of a common space to work with, then consider getting a room divider that screens your view and muffles sound.

The goal is to make a space that allows you the convenience of a remote job, but also promotes a healthy work-life balance and prevents you from checking emails long into the night when you should be relaxing with your family.

2. Personalize Your Home Office

The great thing about a home office is that it doesn’t have to look like a sterile cubicle.  In fact, the more comfortable you make your space, the more productive you’ll be.  Even if you only telework one or two days a week, you’ll want to design and outfit your office for maximum efficiency.  Some creative and professional decor ideas include:

The idea of furnishing your home office can be daunting, especially if you’re on a budget.  Repurposing old, broken, or thrift store items is a great way to get the vibe you need for the room without breaking the bank.  You can find a quality upholstery service near you to repair and reupholster any pieces that need attention, which is often less expensive than buying a new office set.  Depending on your custom needs, style, and fabric choices, you can have a large sofa re-covered for $1,200-$3,500.  Before reaching out for a quote, be sure to conduct thorough research and do a deep dive into online customer reviews.

3. Find a New Space

Your studio apartment may have been perfect when you left home every day to go to work, but now that you’re a remote employee, you may feel cramped, anxious, or overwhelmed in your small space.  Major life changes require modifications, so if your living quarters no longer suit you, it may be time to move on.  If you’re interested in purchasing a new home, make sure to research the housing market in your area before making any big decisions.

If you can create a space in your home where you feel comfortable, motivated, and empowered, you’ll have no problem tackling the challenges of telework and becoming a top performer in your company in no time.

And if you ‘re looking for community (or need to put a little distance between you and your work), try a coworking space, like UNOVA!

Questions or comments?  Have any additional tips or resources to share?  Reply below or reach out to Chelsea Lamb.

UNOVA Coworking believes in fostering community to help spur the growth of small businesses and organizations in and around Western New York and the southern tier.  Feel free to reach out with any questions!

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How to Nail Your Reopening Marketing Campaign

When the pandemic struck, businesses everywhere asked themselves – how do we adapt? For some companies, transitioning was a simple matter. Others, however, had to take some time to figure out the best route forward. Closing up shop temporarily is a wise move. It gives you the chance to wait and watch the market, see what’s working (and not working) for other companies, and craft a solid plan for your company’s future.

serious ethnic woman at rural shop doorway
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Now that you have your plan, it’s time to reopen. Letting customers know you’re back in business can be a serious challenge. With a careful strategy to manage your day-to-day tasks so you can dedicate your full attention to this process, you can eliminate some of the overwhelm. Here’s a look at how to create and launch an effective reopening campaign:

Make Sure You’re Prepared

Your business can’t afford a misstep right now. Before you reopen, make sure you’re truly ready. Not only will faltering on your reopen cost you money, but it will also leave a bad impression with clients. You have to inspire confidence with this campaign, and being fully prepared will help ensure that.

If you’ve moved your company to fully remote, are you certain your employees are ready? Security risks are different (and sometimes unpredictable) when employees work from home. Make sure your employees know good digital security practices, such as not sharing their work device with family members. Never assume your employees already know, or that these practices are obvious – it’s better to give them redundant information than to miss something. 

You should also evaluate your budget before you reopen. Most companies took a pretty major hit at the start of the pandemic, and you need to make sure you have the funds you need to succeed. If you don’t, don’t panic: There are a ton of public and private resources out there for businesses affected by the pandemic. See what kind of aid you can get to keep your company going.

Focus on Digital Connection

Right now, one of the most cost-effective forms of outreach businesses can use is digital marketing. The great thing about this marketing avenue is it’s so flexible. You can invest in highly targeted ads and capture a specific audience; you can put in SEO groundwork and build a social presence; and you can combine these efforts to incredible effect.

If you have money to spare on advertising, look into targeted ad services. These are extremely effective because they go directly to the audience that needs your product. You’re not casting a wide net and hoping you’ll catch the right eyes – you’re money goes straight to ads that reach potential customers.

Low budget? You can still make a big impact on your company’s success through content marketing. If you don’t already have a blog, now is the time to start running one. Don’t just go in blind, however. Take some time to research your competitors, pay attention to industry trends, and craft a content marketing plan that will work for your business. High-quality content marketing can make a huge impact, without spending a ton of money.

Communicate With Clients Directly

Finally, spend some time connecting directly with clients and customers to let them know you’re reopening. This could mean making use of your email or mailing lists, or making phone calls to connect out loud. There are benefits to either approach – you can reach more people with a mailer or newsletter, and you’ll save yourself time. That said, you can never be confident that people are actually reading what you send them.

When you make a phone call, you get the chance to make a more personal connection with clients. Plus, you get information back this way. Phone calls can help you get a sense for whether or not clients have moved on, what they’re looking for in the current market, and how you can stand out in your field. However, there are only so many hours in a day, so you should prioritize the most lucrative clients, or the ones you think will give you the best information.

Running a reopening campaign can be a major challenge, but it’s well worth it. An effective campaign will bring back old clients, attract new ones, and show the world you’re ready to take on today’s challenges. And the best part is, it will set you up for a bright future.

Questions or comments? Have any additional tips or stories to share? Reply below or reach out to Naomi Johnson at Lifebasedbusiness.net.

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Keep Your Client Base Healthy Throughout the Pandemic and Beyond

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The success of your remote work and/or small business hinges heavily on your ability to keep up a consistent stream of income. This ultimately comes from steady clients, which speaks highly of your ability to keep them. And of course, as your business grows, you need to be able to increase your client base, as well.

That said, this is a tricky endeavor, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, which is why you also need to leverage tech tools in the spirit of social distancing. The following resources will undoubtedly be of use.

Look in the Right Places:

Be Specific to Your Industry/Expertise:

Stand Out from the Competition:

Create a Professional Environment:

Ultimately, having clients will undoubtedly keep you financially healthy throughout the pandemic (and maybe even beyond). As a bonus, being busy at work will also give you the purpose and distraction that will help you cope at this dark time. So, make the most out of your skills and the tools available to you to maintain and even add to your client roster. It’s for your own good.

Questions or comments? Have any additional tips or resources to share? Reply below or reach out to Derek Goodman at Inbizability.com.

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We (Re)Open Today, June 8th!

We’ve missed you!

We’re open and ready to help you
get work done.

Whew!  Nothing quite like putting the phrase “working alone sucks” to the test!  We know that many of you need to get back into an environment that is more conducive to your productivity, and that’s where we can help.

UNOVA officially reopens today, Monday, June 8th under Phase 2 of the NY Forward guidelines.  Our goal remains safety, so we have created a few new policies and procedures intended to help maintain a safe workspace for you and your fellow coworkers.

Reopening Procedures

Upon returning to the space, we will provide you with Welcome Back instructions and a personal hand sanitizer which will reserve your desk for the day.  In return, we require the following:

  • A signed return-to-space acknowledgment
  • Daily screening and check-in
  • Use of masks and social distancing measures

Stop by to check out the procedures, and reach out with questions.

Updated Website

We fully took advantage of the PAUSE and re-created our entire website! We hope it shows you and new members all the ways we can help you get work done, including our brand new reservable Zoom Room with webcam.  Check it out!

*NEW* Simplified Memberships 

You spoke.  We listened.  Check out our new, simple membership levels. They include the most used resources in our space, at prices you can afford.  Each membership (other than Day Passes) allows for 24/7 access to the space and use of our included amenities:

As always, if there’s something else you need, we’re willing to work with you and your organization to create a membership type that works for you!

Well friends, that’s all for now. We realize that your time and money are more valuable than ever, and we want you to know that we are here to support you.  Please reach out with any questions, ideas, comments, or concerns.  We are with you in this and are confident that we will get through it together.  

U NO longer have to work alone.

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Join UNOVA in the Springville Strong! Selfie Scavenger Hunt

UNOVA is participating in the Springville Area Chamber of Commerce Springville Strong! Selfie Scavenger Hunt!

Stop by 29 Mechanic St from May 18 – May 30 for a chance to win one of three $50 gift cards!

Grab a sign, snap a selfie, and show off your community spirit!

You’ll find the signs and instructions in the vestibule of UNOVA. All you have to do is take selfies with the signs at the participating locations and create a collage of the completed sentence:

“We are Springville Strong! We persevere in tough times and grow stronger together in our commitment to each other and our community.”

Other participating locations include Bertand Chaffee Hospital, Emerling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, M&T Bank, Springville Animal Hospital, Springville Hardware, Springville Pharmacy, Tim & Bonnie’s Pizza, and the Springville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Feel free to reach out for details!

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5 Ways to Take Action from Home

Like most members of the UNOVA Coworking community, we are staying home to help flatten the curve of the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19. However, staying home can lead to restlessness, loneliness, and a general feeling that you are powerless against this pandemic.

You can change that, though! Here are 5 different ways to help you feel empowered (and help others!) in this time of social distancing:

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Addressing Community Concerns Surrounding Coronavirus

Right now you can’t go anywhere without hearing about COVID-19. As businesses and schools are closing and many public events are being cancelled, we too are navigating the impacts of coronavirus and taking careful precautions to protect our coworking space members.

To keep our space open, operating, and healthy for our members, we have implemented the following:

  • The space is open to members and otherwise closed to the public. During this time, there are no drop-ins or tours accepted without prior notice.
  • We are diligently performing daily wipe down of surfaces, doorknobs, and light switches with disinfecting wipes.
  • Spaces are stocked with wipes, hand sanitizer, antibacterial hand soap, antibacterial dish soap, and tissues.
  • Paper towels are provided near all sinks.
  • Kitchens are stocked with disposable cups, silverware, and plates.
  • We have adequately spaced all desks and work stations at least 6 feet apart to abide by the NYS social distancing guidelines .
  • We are abiding by CDC recommendations to wash hands for at least 20 seconds (sing the Shout Song or the chorus to your favorite rock ballad).
  • We’ve ensured our cleaning company is using disinfecting processes and will clean more frequently.

Most importantly, we require coworking space members to stay home if anyone is not feeling well or showing any cold or flu symptoms.

UNOVA wishes everyone good health and stay safe.

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