5 Reasons Why Working From Home Kills Productivity

5 Reasons Why Working From Home Kills Productivity

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While the trend of working from home has been a reality for the past few months, it may come as no surprise that levels of productivity rise once you ditch the remote workspace. Working from home can lead to distractions, isolation, and can even create bad habits that affect your future goals.

#1 – You are isolated from a community

 

Some of the most important factors in an office environment are the ability to communicate with other individuals while also having connections with other colleagues and peers. Working from home hinders your ability to further connect and network with others. 

 

#2 – It reduces your motivation to work

 

When working from home, the line between work and play begins to relax as there is less of a routine, causing a tiff between a healthy work/life balance. A lack of productivity will cause your workload to grow and ultimately create an unhealthy environment for success.

 

 

#3 – Bad habits are easy to accumulate when working from home

 

Some simple bad habits can add up and end up causing problems with productivity. Examples like being unhygienic, having the TV on in the background, or wasting company time can seem like small issues but when packed together, can cause many problems.

 

#4 – Isolation can lead to deeper problems

 

As we’ve recognized from this past year, isolation can not only lead to not being productive but can also lead to mental health risks. A lack of feedback, encouragement, or even the random bathroom break socialization can hinder development in the workspace.  

 

#5 – Too many distractions

 

In opposition to the point above, there is a lack of isolation from family members (or pets) in the house, causing further distractions that you would not occur in an office environment.

 

Forge Coworking

 

One solution to alleviating these problems is to join a coworking space. Forge is a coworking space in downtown Birmingham in The Pizitz. We can alleviate the pains of working from home by providing you a safe and sanitary environment for peak productivity. In a recent survey of Forge members, 100% of members saw an increase in productivity as well as 76% of growth in their business. Join the community and let’s build Birmingham together. 

 

Learn more about Forge Membership

3 Years of Forge: Reflections From Our Founder & CEO

3 Years of Forge: Reflections From Our Founder & CEO

Forge News and Updates | 2 comments

Last week Forge celebrated its third year in business.  I can vividly remember those first few months after our doors opened: the future seemed so far away.  Three years have come quicker than I ever imagined.  Forge has grown, experienced growing pains, watched our member’s businesses thrive, expanded our location and operated in a pandemic.  A lot has happened in three years!  As I slow down and look back to where we started and where we are today, a few reflections come to mind.

 

 

 

1.  After three years of hard work and many sleepless nights, I still love this business and this industry just as much as I did the day we opened.  The things that initially drew me to the coworking industry are more important now than ever!  

 

 

I have always believed in the power of community, and the separation we experience in the pandemic has only emphasized that!  For the last six months we have all been forced to work from home and our day to day interaction with people has been taken away.  The most common frustration I hear expressed by entrepreneurs and small business owners is isolation and loneliness, even when they love the work they do.  Forge fosters the power of connection.

 

 

2. Understanding industry norms in your business is important. As a new business owner, you cannot have this perspective on your own.

You have to surround yourself with mentors in your industry who can provide perspective on the ups and downs in your business.I have a group of coworking space owners that I meet with monthly.Our meetings provide a safe place to discuss the difficulties we face. Each meeting I leave encouraged that the problems I experience others do as well. This perspective builds confidence in the work that I do.

 

 

 

 

3.  Know your numbers! 

One of the first exercises I did to prepare for the impact of COVID was  to create a new financial forecast for the rest of 2020.  Honestly, it was very disheartening to look at how our growing business might take a sharp turn on our growth trajectory.  But having a clear picture of what to prepare for created confidence to operate boldly.  This exercise took the anxiety out of what might happen.  

 

 

4.  The Birmingham business community is awesome! 

The more people I meet, the more I realize just how special this community really is.  As I share experiences with business owners in other cities, I am reminded of our unique environment.  It is a privilege and honor to run a business in this city for this city.

Itching To *Go* To Work Again?

Itching To *Go* To Work Again?

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Our friends at Bham Now recently published a story about all of the upgrades we’ve made at Forge! Read on to see the changes to our workspace.

 

 

 

If the luster of working from home has worn off, you need to know about all the upgrades Forge, the cool coworking space just above The Pizitz Food Hall downtown, has made to keep everybody safe. Want to see for yourself? Book a tour today.

 

 

 

Forge really has thought of everything to make coworking safe and fun for everyone. I talked with Kim Lee, Founder and CEO and Kelsey Sizemore, Marketing and Community Manager, to get all the details, including 20% off for any Bham Now reader who signs up for a full-time or dedicated desk membership. 👇🏽

So many reasons to *not* work from home

 

 

 

 

Pajama bottoms and sports bras aside, there are *so many* reasons any of us might be itching to get back into a more professional setting.

In fact, Kim and Kelsey said over the past month or so, more and more people have hit a point where they’re wanting to go somewhere—even if it’s just for part of a workday or workweek. Forge is the perfect solution.

 

 

Take a look at all the ways Forge has upgraded

 

 

1. Clear safety protocols leave nothing to chance

 

 

 

Forge came up with these Health and Safety Procedures a while back and have tweaked them to keep current with the times.

2. Nooks help you keep your distance while getting things done

 

 

 

Not only can you block out distractions in one of these new little nooks, but they come with their own remote control so you can select the mood lighting that suits you. Also, note the cleaning supplies above the power strip. Sort of like a mint on your pillow in these mid-pandemic times…

3. Different size meeting rooms allow for privacy

 

 

 

Sometimes you just want to be able to step into a room with a colleague and shut the door for a conversation you don’t want the world to hear. Private meeting rooms are perfect for those times.

 

 

 

Need to have a team meeting but your office is closed and Zoom just won’t cut it? Forge has new team offices that can accommodate groups of 5-6 with plenty of room for people to spread out.

 

4. Forge makes the coffee for you 🙌🏽

 

 

 

Part of the new safety protocol at Forge is a centralized full-service coffee station. Plus, this is a nice treat for anyone who’s been making their own cup of coffee for the past 5+ months.

 

 

5. Make client calls—or dinner reservations—in your very own phone booth

 

 

I have to admit, these private phone booths are my absolute favorite upgrade. Now the people who are on sales calls for much of the day, or those of us who need to do a quick interview, have somewhere secluded to go. ❤️

 

Forge has 3 membership levels

 

1. Dedicated desk, starting at $325 / month
2. Full time, starting at $189 / month
3. Community, starting at $99 / month

 

The community membership is new, and designed for people who don’t necessarily need to come in every day. You get professional mailing capabilities, the member rate on meeting room space and day passes, and access to HR benefits including healthcare, retirement, HR services and more. Pretty sweet for a small biz working to keep expenses low.

 

Find all the details on membership here, and book your tour so you can see for yourself.

 

What people who work at Forge have to say

 

He’s been a member since Day 1

“As a sole proprietor who’s been in business for over 15 years, I have been in every type of office set up imaginable. Forge, to date, has been the best.

Working alone can be isolating, but Forge offers a great community environment at an affordable price right in the middle of downtown Birmingham.

If I have a deadline, I have the ability to focus in on my work without distraction in my private office. There is also a vast array of businesses sharing this space…several of whom I have hired to help with marketing/ web site development, strategic plans, and accounting.”

John Wilson of Golightly Landscape Architecture

These two joined more recently

 

“Working at Forge has been a great escape from my home office. The space is modern, well designed, has a great community and I love that it overlooks the Pizitz food hall.”

Michael Crider of Semco

“Forge has been a great turnkey solution for our company. We were up and running on day one. We also enjoy the energy of a shared work environment while having the privacy of a dedicated office.”

Perry Still of HNS Partners

 

Book a tour now so you can see all that Forge has to offer for yourself.

The New Normal at Forge: Health and Safety Procedures

The New Normal at Forge: Health and Safety Procedures

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We have been working hard over the last several weeks to develop a set of Health and Safety Standards that will ensure that everyone feels safe and comfortable as we come back to working at Forge.  Our number one priority is to make Forge a safe and healthy working environment for all of our members.  With that being said, a few changes to the way are all used to working at Forge had to be made.

 

General Guidance

  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
  • If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze/cough into your sleeve or arm.
  • Stay at home if you are sick or someone in your household is sick. If you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 please stay away for the CDC recommended time of 14 days.
  • Maintain a distance of 6 ft. from other members as best as you can.
  • Wear a face covering or mask that covers the nose and mouth when social distancing is not possible, as mandated in the state of Alabama.
  • Members and guests will be asked to check in at the front desk when they arrive at Forge.

 

 

Cleaning Procedures:

  1. Forge staff will conduct regular cleaning and disinfecting of shared spaces and high touch points.
    • A cleaning log will be posted in the kitchen and bathrooms for transparency and your peace of mind!
    • Forge Staff will disinfect high touch points at 8 am, 10 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm every day.
  2. Disinfecting wipes will be made available in each phone booth and cubby. Please wipe down the booth and door handles after each use.
  3. Nightly cleaning services will continue.
    • If you have a private office and you do not want the cleaners to enter your office to remove your trash, please let us know.

 

 

Coworking Procedures:

  1. We have arranged seating and set up signs to help maximize use while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Please do not move or rearrange furniture.
  2. Please use the provided signs to indicate your work station.
    • When you arrive at Forge please take a sign from the supply table, and once you have chosen you workstation place it at on the table so that it reads: “This workspace is currently being used”
    • When you leave for the day, please flip the sign over so that it reads: “This workspace has been used”
      • This will let other members know someone has used that space.
    • Forge staff will clean and sanitize each workspace, and remove and sanitize the sign signaling to other members that the space is now available!
  3. Please limit your movement within the space by using one workspace for the duration of your day.
  4. When social distancing is not possible, members are encouraged to wear a face covering or mask that covers the nose and mouth, according to the statewide mandate.  While using shared spaces, please wear a mask or face covering that covers your nose and mouth according to the statewide mandate. If you take your mask off while at your workspace, please remember to put your mask back on if you get up to go to the bathroom, use the kitchen, or visit the front desk – any time that you may be unable to maintain a 6 foot distance from other coworkers.

 

 

Kitchen Procedures:

  1. Please limit the number of people in the kitchen to 2 and follow the spacing guidelines provided on the floor.
  2. Please wash your hands immediately when you enter the kitchen and/or use a pair of disposable gloves. Dispose of the gloves upon exiting the kitchen and wash your hands.
  3. When selecting a snack or drink, please only touch what you plan to take and take whatever you touch!
    • Continue to send your snack purchases to Kelsey or Katelyn via Slack or email.
  4. We are enforcing a strict policy of nightly cleanings of the fridge so please bring only what you need for the day and take everything with you at the end of the day. This includes any food containers, drinks, condiments, etc.
  5. We will spot check using the nest so please follow these procedures to help make everyone at Forge feel safe!

 

 

Conference Rooms:

  1. Conference rooms are only available for bookings until further notice, please do not use a conference room without making a booking.
  2. Please follow new capacity guidelines when booking and using the conference rooms:
    • Cahaba Room: 2 people maximum
    • Vulcan Room: 4 people maximum
    • Podcast Room: 2 people maximum
  3. A buffer time between conference room bookings has been implemented so that Forge staff can clean and sanitize the room between use.
  4. The pow wow room is now only available for use as flexible office space rental by day, week or month.
    • All open offices will also be available for day rental.
  5. Forge conference rooms and flexible private offices will be open for non member bookings. The same capacity and cleaning protocols will apply.
  6. Please limit guests you may bring to Forge to one at a time, unless using the Vulcan Room for a meeting.
    • If bringing a guest into the shared coworking space, please notify us via Slack or Email so that we can “check them in” in a contactless manner or come by the front desk when they arrive so we can check them in. We will need the name and email of each guest.
    • You are responsible for ensuring that your guests comply with the Health and Safety Procedures listed here.
  7. While we will clean and sanitize surfaces in conference rooms between bookings, it is your decision who you share a conference room with and whether or not you wear mask while using the room.

 

Contact Tracing at Forge:

 

If any member feels sick and especially if they display symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and/or loss of taste or smell, we ask that you do not come in to work at Forge. We encourage all members to follow CDC Guidelines if you are sick.

 

If you have been in Forge 2 days prior to developing symptoms or testing positive for Covid-19 please contact Kim Lee via email (kim@workatforge.com) so that we can follow contact tracing protocols. We will notify any members who were also present in the space at the same time during those 2 days. We will not share the names of any members who test positive to the Forge community.

  • Forge will not share the names of any members who test positive to the Forge community.
  • If we deem necessary, Forge may close for 24-48 hours after notification of a member testing positive in order to allow staff to clean and disinfect the space, after which we will reopen. We will notify all members if this if it occurs.

 

We will follow CDC Recommended Cleaning if someone tests positive.

 

We will continue to monitor any developments and will update these guidelines and procedures as needed. We will communicate any changes to members. We appreciate your understanding and compliance. Let’s get through this together!

Immune-Boosting Recipes from Mealvana, a Meal Planning Startup

Immune-Boosting Recipes from Mealvana, a Meal Planning Startup

Forge News and Updates | 0 comments

Free meal planning that helps you eat healthy, save time and cook adventurously? Sign me up! That’s exactly what Forge members Xuan Huang and Alex Zotov have been working on with Mealvana. We recently saw their blog post about Immune-Boosting Recipes and wanted to share it for our readers as well. You can read the original post here!

 

“Earlier we published a series of blogs that discussed our immune system and what nutrients are contributing to its function. This blog is a continuous effort to put together a compilation of recipes that are high in immune-boosting nutrients: vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, folic acid, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, iron, and pre-/pro-biotics.  

 

Recipes will be added often – so come back to visit this page. You can also go to our recipe page for more recipes, follow us (and like us!) on Facebook and Instagram.  

 

BREAKFAST:

 

  1. Berry smoothie & Granola – introduce yogurt, turmeric, and ginger into your smoothie for added benefit of probiotics and antioxidants. This granola recipe is rich with nuts which are high in vitamin E. 

 

 

 

2. Avocado toast with balsamic maple glaze. Avocado is among our favorite foods. It is high in vitamin E and though it is the highest fat-containing fruit, its fat is largely unsaturated fat. 

 

 

 

 

LUNCH & DINNER:

 

  1. Asparagus & salmon – this power combo gets you covered with all immune-boosting nutrients, even with vitamin D, which is naturally lacking in foods.

 

 

 

 

2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Some people love Brussel sprouts; some don’t. If you love them, enjoy this recipe with a twist of sriracha sauce and almonds. If you don’t love them, maybe this recipe will change your opinion toward this super nutritious food. 

 

 

 

  1. Israeli Couscous and Sautéed Mushrooms with Herbs & Simple Baked Cod. Both mushrooms and cod are high in selenium and vitamin B6 while mushrooms are also high in vitamin D2. We like these two recipes for the use of herbs and spice: sage, rosemary, fennel, and saffron.