Restorative resolutions: balancing work and wellbeing

As we dive headfirst into another New Year, there’s likely one thing top of your mind (or, perhaps, buried at the bottom): resolutions. Well, you’re not alone. Around half the population commits to life changes at this time of year, with more than three-quarters of goals focused on improved health. It makes sense. Health, fitness and nutrition are essential building blocks for the rest of our lives, contributing huge gains to our productivity and happiness. The real question is: how do we make these potential gains a reality? 
 
Personal development forefather Jim Rohn once said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” He believed success is little more than a few simple acts of discipline practiced every day. Framed this way, it sounds easy. But simple acts can quickly become complex. Despite our best intentions, community engagement and environmental factors play a vital role in our success when it comes to health and fitness. We’re much more likely to have a good workout if it’s part of a group, and much more likely to go to the gym if it’s nearby. 
 
The latter is known as the proximity principle, a concept that states the closer we are to something, the more likely we are to interact with it. That’s why open plan workspaces lead to longer, more meaningful face-to-face interactions with co-workers and why working from home requires more effort to go to the gym. It’s also why having your wellness space and workspace in the same place can transform your routine – helping establish that all-important “discipline” Rohn talks about. 

The closer the better: proximity and community

Over time, society has established a culture of convenience. Home streaming, delivery apps, tap-to-pay. Convenience has become a driving force in our everyday lives – and goes some way to explaining the psychology behind the proximity principle. It’s all about reducing friction between you and the thing you want to access, transforming intention to action. This is perfectly demonstrated when we look at how little we use sports facilities when it’s inconvenient for us to get there. 
 
In Sweden, participants were shown to be 1% less likely to exercise per one kilometre distance they lived or worked from a paid sports facility. The closer you are, the more likely you’ll use it. This is why promising yourself you’ll commute 30 minutes to the gym or a fitness class after work proves difficult – and why many New Year’s health and fitness resolutions fall short. Distance creates a barrier that requires some serious motivation or, at times, guilt-tripping to surmount. And it can be exhausting. 
 
The solution is two-fold. First, set realistic goals and establish a routine of convenience that puts healthy habits within reach. This might include pre-planning (like meal prepping, class booking etc.) and building a fitness schedule you can stick to. Second, look at your workplace. On average, we spend 30 to 40 hours a week in our offices and co-working spaces. It makes sense that finding the right workplace and routine contributes greatly to our health and wellness goals. 
 
Not only should we be looking for workspaces that put decent fitness facilities at our fingertips – from desk to downward dog in a single flight of stairs – but we should be seeking those that offer the best community. Working alongside people that encourage movement breaks, stretching and micro-exercises helps establish a healthy in-office routine, while colleagues with a similar wellness philosophy are more likely to join us for classes, workout with us and hold us accountable for shared goals. 
 
Of course, you can’t always choose your colleagues. But when it comes to health resolutions, it's easy to see how working from home full-time – which can be isolating, enforce bad habits and require a gym commute – differs greatly from working at an integrated co-working space with an on-site gym, fitness classes and a wellness community. It all returns to those two key principles: proximity and community.

Beyond fitness: holistic workplace wellness

Though physical health and weight loss remain a top priority for resolution setters, a broader definition of ‘health’ balances the physical with the mental. As many of us have learned from personal experience, the two go hand-in-hand. This is especially true in the workplace, where regular desk breaks and increased body movement have been shown to improve performance and productivity, while helping regulate stress. 
 
In fact, there’s a direct link between workplace fitness and productivity. If you take on one-hour fitness sessions during working hours, your productivity will increase in relation to your muscle strength and cardio fitness. Similarly, workplace yoga programmes reduce perceived anxiety and stress, improving output and satisfaction. 
 
It's no great surprise, then, that taking breaks throughout the day is less about putting off work, and more about investing in your performance. In occupational health, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule for how this looks. Some people benefit from micro-breaks of up to two minutes every half-hour, while others prefer five minutes off every hour. One seemingly consistent theme is the need for a lunch break of at least 30 to 45 minutes to recharge. This can be enhanced with a physical activity, like walking, or a relaxation exercise, like meditation, resulting in lower fatigue and improved concentration in the afternoon. 
 
Approaching breaks intelligently can also work wonders for our creativity. Walking, for example, boosts our creative output by more than half, with the likes of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg known for their ‘walking meetings’. If these pauses in our workday are taken advantage of – alongside nearby fitness facilities and a supportive community – it’s a proven recipe for wellness success. Bringing us all one step closer to making our New Year’s resolutions a reality. 

A day in the life: building the right routine

So, what does the ideal work routine look like? Naturally, it varies from person to person – but there are a few healthy habits that stand out. If you’re working from a co-working space that has an on-site gym and wellness facilities, here’s how your day might look. 
 
7.30am – Wake up a little groggy, grab a coffee at home and book the last spot for the morning yoga class online.  
8:00am – Arrive at the co-working space to meet your colleague or fellow co-worker and head to the rooftop fitness studio for your class together. Feeling re-energised post-workout, grab a shower. 
9:00am – Check out the weekly events calendar in the open-plan kitchen – and sign up for the group cooking class – before settling down for some deep work.  
11:00am – Enjoy a five-minute group stretch break with your colleagues (and rehydrate).  
1:00pm – After more deep work, it’s time for lunch. Take a 15-minute power walk around the block with a co-working friend, before joining your colleagues for communal dining. 
3.30pm – Team plank time: same time, every day. Hold a plank for as long as possible and keep your colleagues motivated. Try to beat the company two desks over – again. 
5:30pm – Finish up some emails and wind down for the day, making the most of your ergonomic standing desk.  
6:00pm – End your day with a non-alcoholic cocktail at the networking event in the auditorium, where you troubleshoot your latest project and leave feeling inspired. Get ready to do it all again tomorrow.  
 
The perfect workday is all about balance; building an enjoyable and ownable routine that allows you to shift between wellness goals and optimised work performance. When managed correctly, the two work seamlessly to better your physical and mental health, while also improving productivity. It’s these simple acts of discipline, practiced every day, that compound into greater wellbeing – and greater success.

Getting the edge on wellness: an integrated workspace 

At The Social Hub, we take the proximity principle – and our sense of community – seriously. To help you build a winning routine, our co-working spaces are designed with a 24/7 gym on-site, offering access to group classes like yoga, Pilates and HIIT workouts. You’ll be invited to regular community events, including networking sessions, meditation classes and productivity talks, and given access to healthy fresh snacks and meals. Everything is organised around your work – and close to your desk – so you can make the most of your time in a flexible workplace that provides the supportive structure you need to live a healthy life. 
 
Naturally, this kind of workspace attracts like-minded people. Our members range from next-gen digital nomads and freelancers to entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups, each sharing a progressive mindset. There’s a sense of purpose and togetherness at The Social Hub that rubs off on everyday habits, supported by people who care about wellbeing – making it all the easier to maintain your own. Our workspaces offer complete freedom to prioritise your wellness however suits you best.

Take your first step towards healthier habits

Ultimately, your resolutions don’t require greater willpower – they need better structure. When you build your wellness journey around convenience, proximity and a supportive community, everyday acts of discipline become all the easier to manage, putting your goals well within reach. It all starts with a first step: optimising your environment and making small, sustainable changes that compound over time. After all, you’re only as happy as your health allows – so why not make every day count? 
 
Discover what happens when your workspace supports your wellness, not just your screen time, at The Social Hub.  
 
Choose your co-working membership today. 
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