How virtual coworking is redefining remote work: as seen on hostingadvice.com
By Micah Yongo
•
Mar 26, 2024
No more soul-draining commutes, one-size-fits-all workspaces, or having your lunch stolen from the office fridge? No wonder 95% of professionals today see working from home as the ultimate company perk.
But while drumming up pitch decks and budget reports from the comfort of your sofa may sound like the ideal work-life, Hostingadvice.com journalist Jordan Sprogis has written about the hidden challenges of working remotely; and how FLOWN’s virtual coworking platform is helping remote workers beat isolation, find focus, and tick off their work tasks without the stress.
As she puts it, FLOWN is the virtual coworking platform ‘all remote workers need.’
What is virtual coworking?
Virtual coworking is the practice of performing a task in the virtual presence of others. If you’ve ever experienced the added sense of motivation from working alongside an accountability partner, or in a library or coworking space, you’ll recognise the effect virtual coworking can have.
Whereas a physical coworking space or accountability buddy require aligned schedules and a commute, virtual coworking allows you to access and work alongside an online coworking community wherever you are, whenever you need.
You simply join a video call, share what you hope to achieve with other remote workers like you, then get started. Sounds weird, but it works. The act of working in the virtual presence of others who are doing the same triggers a bunch of psychological cues that help you to focus more easily, hunker down to your task, and get things done.
‘Humans thrive in communities,’ Sprogis writes. ‘It’s ingrained in our DNA to seek companionship and support. Without a sense of community, we suffer.’
Virtual coworking uses this social aspect of human wiring to marry community with productivity, providing the ideal environment to bury procrastination and concentrate on tasks — whether its housework, work tasks or anything else.
With a recent university study showing the powerful benefits of virtual coworking with FLOWN, the question is why exactly does virtual coworking work so well?
The benefits of virtual coworking
Building a work-life away from the office comes with a unique set of challenges. The blurring lines between personal and professional life, the increased difficulty with ‘switching off’ at the end of the workday, and higher levels of isolation — Just a few of the hidden pitfalls that scupper the productivity and wellbeing of the modern remote worker.
Add to that the loss of those water cooler chats with co-workers to let off steam and it’s no wonder burnout, distraction and procrastination are becoming increasingly common experiences among the WFH crowd. Without tools for managing this, even the most introverted among us can find ourselves languishing beneath the weight of loneliness, mounting tasks and dwindling motivation.
Although remote work has benefits, it’s also a lonely place to be without the right resources… isolation can easily translate into decreased productivity and a lack of accountability.
Sprogis explains how virtual coworking platforms like FLOWN help:
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Why FLOWN feels like going back to the office... Without actually going back to the office
The power of body doubling
FLOWN’s virtual coworking environment combats isolation by enabling users to work alongside other remote professionals in real-time focus sessions. The mere presence of others can enhance concentration on individual tasks, known as “body doubling.”
FLOWN uses body doubling — the practice of working in the presence of another person. A favourite of ADHD coaches, this practice helps those with and without ADHD to ground their attention so that they can concentrate more easily. FLOWN takes this concept into the digital realm to provide a virtual co-presence through facilitated virtual coworking sessions called ‘Flocks’.
Each Flock is designed to drive accountability, focus and completion, but what sets FLOWN apart from other virtual coworking platforms is the emphasis on community.
‘FLOWN helps recreate the spontaneous interactions and connections that occur organically among colleagues in an office setting. Users can browse each other’s profiles and projects, leave comments, and send messages, fostering a sense of camaraderie.’
Alongside online interactions like these, members can also connect with one another face to face at the start of some Flocks, either verbally or via the chat feature, emulating the positive cues and dopamine hits you’d usually get from working in an office. This structured social element is more impactful than you might think, as dopamine helps to fuel the brain’s ability to focus and feel motivated. As Sprogis puts it, with FLOWN, ‘there’s more than just coworking spaces.’
Virtual coworking isn’t just about work
You can also join Recharge sessions, which are live sessions that help you plan your work and offer handy meditation, at-desk exercises, and workshops. Or, if you prefer, hop onto the pre-recorded Anytime content, which is perfect for those who want to browse the library and work at their own pace.
In today's fast-paced world, where the boundary between work and personal life increasingly blurs, the rise of virtual coworking platforms like FLOWN offer a beacon of hope. Not only do they provide an antidote to the isolation and distraction that can plague the remote work experience, but they also help to reintroduce a sense of community and collective productivity that many miss from office life.
As we navigate the challenges of working from home, tools like FLOWN serve as crucial bridges, connecting us not only to our tasks but also to each other to extend the benefits of virtual coworking far beyond mere productivity.
By tapping into our innate need for community, for being part of something larger than ourselves, FLOWN's approach combines the power of body doubling with the warmth of spontaneous interactions to reimagine how we can work together while apart.
By now it's clear that flexibility and remote work are here to stay. Yet, as this transition unfolds, the importance of addressing the psychological and social aspects of work becomes increasingly evident. Savvy businesses and professionals are realising that to successfully work away from an office isn't just about getting tasks done; it's about feeling connected, supported, and part of a vibrant community. This is why, for them, FLOWN has become the ultimate solution — it doesn't just make remote work possible; it makes it enjoyable, sustainable, and fulfilling.
