Gradually, working at home gets harder

71% of millennials believe that conventional offices will be replaced with most work being done remotely by the time of 2030. It comes as no surprise that virtal offices have become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially for small businesses and startups. The benefits of running a truly virtual office for you and your business are plentiful. We’ll discuss them here, and how JAGA can assist you in setting up and running a virtual office. What is a Virtual Office? If you run your business “virtually” then it exists, anywhere and everywhere; virtually. It allows you as a business owner or freelancer to work where, when and in what capacity you desire not tied down by a specific location. However, any business needs a physical address. Not only for google, mail services and customer enquiries but it is also a legal requirement in some industries and for product-based businesses. Companies like JAGA provide a virtual office to support such businesses, that wish to work from anywhere, but need a physical address when it matters. Virtual offices help business owners with a much needed physical address, access to meeting rooms, mail and phone services – all without paying for an expensive full-time office rental or full-time support team members. Your customers can mail your business, phone and leave a message for your business and have the feeling of a physical office and you get the benefit of their trust and confidence that they’re dealing with a professional and well set up a business. The concept of virtual offices allows for improved productivity, reduced commuting costs, and increased flexibility. The work environment also helps in lowering significant overheads and the overall technology costs. Therefore, it serves to be a highly cost-efficient solution to contemporary working. How can a Virtual Office Benefit Your Business? Will a virtual office setup work for your business? There are several benefits of this working setup for a modern business. Here are some you should know about: A Virtual Office Reduces Your Overhead Costs A study report reveals that organisations spend anywhere between 15 per cent and 46 per cent of the total money on office rent. For a number of businesses, a dedicated office space is more about than just a mere physical location. It is a place wherein the team and clients of the business can reach out quickly, wherein they can conduct meetings and conferences. Virtual office spaces can offer a number of similar benefits. You can still have a corporate address for your business where you have access to meeting rooms and facilities when you need them, but you’re not paying for them when you don’t need them. The money you save through a virtual office setup can help your business remain afloat and grow. Your Business Becomes More Credible and Professional When you have a recognised business address it helps in making your brand more credible, legitimate, and professional in any given industry. When you use a dedicated physical address and contact number on the website, business cards, and email, it helps in increasing trust in clients and prospects. It improves credibility and professionalism as a business while making you highly approachable. If you’re able to add a phone number, and phone answering service to your virtual office package ( like the ones we offer at JAGA ) you’ll be giving your clients and prospects an even more professional and approachable client experience. You May Need A Physical Address For Compliance In some industries, you need to publish a physical address for your business to be properly recognised. If you sell products that require legally compliant labels, that list a true business name and address you may wish to use a virtual office service and print and publish this address instead of your home address. You Won’t Need To Use Your Home Address If you’re someone who’s moved homes a few times in the last few years then every time you move, you need to update your business address and information. This can lead to confusion or outdated information somewhere on your website or contact details. By choosing to use a virtual office service you take away the need for constant updates. Also – you may just not want your home address listed or connected with your business for privacy. A Virtual Office Can Fit In With Your Remote Worker Team If you run a team and have moved the entire team to be remote or hybrid workers (working from home or from a coworking space like JAGA ) then you’ll still need a physical business address for mail, business listings and customer service calls. If your virtual office location also allows for meeting space, like the meetings spaces we offer at JAGA, you can always use it for regular or semi-regular team meetings when they’re needed; serving as much needed social interaction space for your team. A Virtual Office Can Help Expand Your Business A major benefit of a virtual office is that it helps in reducing the risks while you are expanding your business. If you wish to test a new location or region, you can easily ensure the same without any commitment to large-scale office properties or sites. On the contrary, you can easily set up a mailing address in a new location while you continue working from your original location or even remotely. When your business has a regional presence along with a physical address at which you will receive phone calls and mail it can help in expanding your overall customer base. From improving the credibility of your business to increased privacy there are several benefits of virtual offices for your business. Whether you’re based in Canberra, or anywhere in Australia, talk to us at JAGA about our virtual office services. Our prices start at $49 a month and we can help in getting you set up ASAP.

Have you gotten quite comfortable with a flexible work location over the last few years? Haven’t we all. While a number of employers are embracing the all-new way of work, and jumping on the hybrid work model, not all of them are there yet. In case you are looking to negotiate a hybrid work model with your employer, you’ll be more equipped after reading this article. If you work from Canberra, we’d love to see you in one of our two coworking spaces and we are so happy to take you (and your employer) through the various flexible work models we offer. Call our team today on 1800 512 150 to set up an appointment. What is Hybrid Work? In a hybrid/ remote work model, employees tend to receive maximum flexibility having the option of a number of work locations. An employee could work from home a few days a week, from a team office a few days a week, or at a coworking space a few days a week. Hybrid work is also now defined by the flexibility of time (as well as space). A worker can choose to get the work done when they tend to be the most productive (irrespective of time or location). Very much like the JAGA mantra – flexibility is key in hybrid solutions. Hybrid work is being adopted by companies as well as entrepreneurs. Many teams of one, or solopreneurs spent a good chunk of the last few years working by themselves at home and they’re now looking for more variety and social connection, choosing to work from coworking spaces like ours at JAGA at least a few days a week. Why Is Hybrid Work Becoming The Best Option For Employers And Employees? No one could have predicted the sweeping changes the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the world’s workforce. Suddenly, offices were closed and home offices, zoom, and working around our children at home became the norm. Now with the workforce returning to the office (and kids returning to school), some employees are questioning what they really want from a work environment – and employers are questioning whether they really need the big, expensive office space downtown. For an employer, creating a hybrid work environment can see two things happen: Savings and Productivity. According to recent research , remote workers can save a company as much as $11,000 per year (which could up to a 21% increase in profitability). Similarly, employers who work with hybrid workers see greater productivity, and more switched on and happier employees. Happiness and Loyalty: Byproducts Of Hybrid Work To put it simply, a happy worker is a productive worker. And a loyal one! In a study report, it was found that flexibility is one of the major reasons employees are drawn to the idea of hybrid work. It is easier to find a work/life balance in a flexible work environment. It also can save on the stress (and expense) of a daily commute, which is very attractive to a lot of employees. Employers who work with their employees to find the best hybrid work solution for each person tend to enjoy greater employee retention and loyalty. How Do I Know If My Employer Offers Hybrid Work? A number of companies are moving to a more formal concept of hybrid work now that the pandemic is seeing businesses return to a somewhat normal environment. If you are an employee that wishes to see a remote work or coworking situation as part of your new normal, you can ask the employer upfront about the hybrid or flexible work options available to you. If you are a manager or leader in a business that currently has a few different work solutions available for employees, you could attempt to formalise a hybrid work agreement, taking into account your employee’s locations, schedules and home life. (Similarly, if you are job searching, and there is no mention of ‘hybrid’ or ‘flexible’ in the job posting or listing, you can still request information around it). How to Approach My Employer About Hybrid Work? If you are looking to formalise a hybrid work solution and you’re unsure that you’ll be successful in working out an agreement, it’s worth investing some planning into your pitch! Here are some ideas for negotiation: Pay Attention to Timing If you’ve been an employee for a number of years, then make sure you’re chatting with your leader or boss at a time that suits them and that you have all the stats available about your role requirements, how long you’ve been in the role, what success you’ve been able to achieve in the role and how a hybrid solution suits you BOTH. If you’re applying for a role and you know you absolutely want a hybrid work solution, be upfront about that as early in the recruitment process as possible. Know What You Want Before you commence negotiating any aspect of the job offer, you should be aware of what you want exactly and what you do not want. This can help you in making sure that you are not ending up with a schedule that does not work for you. When you clearly understand what you do (and do not) want, it will help you in figuring out what you are willing to negotiate on. If the hybrid work model is on the topmost priority of your worklist, would you consider a reduced pay for a hybrid schedule or a part-time hybrid schedule? Have a Dedicated Plan And Offer Solutions Based on the specifications, the employer can be open to flexible or hybrid schedules, or they might not altogether. It is crucial that you have a dedicated game plan ready for explaining how hybrid and flexible work arrangements can benefit them. Instead of saying “I want hybrid work”, come into the meeting knowing what kind of hybrid work you’re asking for and how the solution will benefit them. If you’re looking to work from a coworking space 2 days per week and the rest of the time from home, let your employer know which coworking space, how much a hot desk will cost and whether you’re paying, or they’re paying for that. Explain all the costs and the benefits in as much detail as possible. If the company currently rents out expensive office space and they want to get the most bang for their buck and are enforcing everyone comes into work from the office, take them through your local coworking space costs vs the rental costs. They may be surprised how much money a business can save by looking at hybrid solutions. Can a Coworking Space Provide for Hybrid Work? Yes, a coworking space is a perfect solution for hybrid work options. Hybrid work culture sees employers and employees gain the best of both worlds. One of the primary reasons why people enjoy a mix of coworking and working from home is the needed social interaction and planned productivity they gain from working from a space like JAGA. Some employers prefer the idea of their employees working together in a coworking space as opposed to all working from home. Having a mixture of both options could provide employers with a continued sense of team building. Many members of our JAGA family are hybrid workers, spending set time during the week in our spaces, and set time during the week at home or from a team office. We are happy to take any new member through the various flexible work arrangements we have available at our two Canberra coworking spaces: Allara Street and Swanson Court . Click here to book a tour now or call our team on 1800 512 150.

With uncertainties and a seemingly endless news cycle that leaves us asking “What Next?” knowing how to stay motivated at work is more important than ever before. Motivation is crucial for maintaining a positive mindset and momentum to work through your to-do list and goals list. As times become tougher or more challenging than we’ve experienced, it is easy to lose motivation and drive. It can take a toll on your work or business “world”. Why? Because without motivation, it’s hard to reach a ‘productive’ stage. Without motivation, it is easier to allow work and other tasks to fall by the wayside. It will eventually have a negative impact on your overall business. In this article, we’ll share some simple ways to increase your motivation and productivity at work, even during challenging times. Why Am I Lacking Motivation? A lack of motivation (and thus low productivity) can come around suddenly or be a slow burn and it happens for a number of reasons. You may be adjusting to a new mode of work, a new environment, even a coworking space and trying to find the best, most flexible schedule to suit your life. There will sure be road bumps along the way. You could be feeling deflated and unmotivated due to all the noise and news in the world right now. It sure has been a challenging time with many world issues playing out before us every day. Some people are more affected by these world issues than others. When these bigger world issues play out, it’s easy to reflect on your own life and work and feel insignificant? Or redundant even. These feelings, combined with any self-doubt you feel could lead you to feel out of place, and out of touch with your work, clients, business or peers. If you are lacking motivation, it serves us well to think outside the box: think of new approaches to stay productive and healthy (both in mind and body) whilst continuing to work. Also, remember what you are passionate about, why this is your passion and what your passion helps you to achieve. Increasing Your Motivation And Productivity Top Tips To Increase Motivation and Productivity Remember Your “Why” If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s famous Ted Talk on Your Why, watch it now . It will motivate you in ways that you haven’t thought of before and give you the drive to wake up and succeed every morning. You can connect with Your Why every day on some level and keep yourself motivated to strive for your goals. Clearly Know Your Goals Spending time working on specific goals that are going to get you to the next stage of your business or life is essential. You don’t know where you’re going, if you don’t plan for it! By achieving these goals in bite-sized (or big sized) chunks, then you motivate yourself to keep going, keep working, keep achieving. Cut Down the Noise And Distractions Phone calls, notifications, emails (Netflix on if you’re working from home) basically anything that is not relevant to your task can be a major drain on your overall productivity. Specify Deadlines Give yourself a realistic deadline for certain tasks. Working to a specific time or day for completing a project or task can encourage you to ensure it gets done. Most people are driven by a deadline in handing in a piece of work, submitting a proposal or finalising a deal, so make it happen. Make Your Workplace A Happy One Typically, we don’t like to work in an environment that is stressful, uncomfortable, or dreary. The right furniture, lighting, air conditioning, and ventilation tend to have a major impact on the overall workplace efficiency. Modern workspace design and new technology can help in nurturing better motivation and productivity (like our spaces at JAGA ). If you work from a custom-designed coworking space that has thought through the benefits of open spaces, meeting rooms, nooks for socialising and client meetings, then you will most likely be primed for the best productivity. Encourage Effective Teamwork This can be challenging if you work from home or are a solopreneur. However, it’s not unachievable if you surround yourself with a team (even a small one) mentors or peers. If you are part of an existing team, a happier, more motivated team can result in improved productivity. Coworking Community and Workplace Productivity Coworking is the latest trend in both mainstream working and freelancing. It is a type of workplace setting that enables individuals to work together within a common, integrated space. However, members of a coworking community work on their own projects and business. Although workers primarily tend to be independent of each other, they are joined as a dedicated coworking community and as such, coworkers can look forward to consulting, inspiring, and motivating each other through their combined wisdom and strengths. Some of the useful ways in which the development of a coworking community, like our community at JAGA can boost your productivity are: Seamless Flow of Ideas As you continue working with other like-minded professionals, having unique talents and skills, you can easily tap into their knowledge if you get stuck. Moreover, as you will have others to consult within the coworking space, it is easier to come out of a challenging situation – especially if you are a solopreneur. Coworking also leads to learning and brainstorming new things on a daily basis from a wide spectrum of talents and skills around you. Happy Workers = Productive Workers It is estimated that 75 to 90 percent of coworkers admire the personal connections that are made possible with the help of coworking communities. Coworkers tend to feel more engaged and motivated to work at coworking communities thanks to the “group mentality”. They feel less lonely and happier at work – consequently boosting productivity. Innovative and Different Spaces A coworking space (like ours at JAGA) typically have different, innovative spaces built into the design. Hot desks, private offices, meetings rooms, break out rooms, kitchens, quiet rooms, phone booths, podcasting booths, shared spaces – there are a plethora of options to keep your brain inspired and switched ON. Changing up your location can help in increasing your productivity. Improving Work-life Balance Whether you are a freelancer or a solopreneur, it can be hard to maintain a sustainable work-life balance. In some cases, you are expected to focus on your professional responsibilities, but your pets and kids might have specific preferences as well. When you work from a coworking space (as opposed to working from home) you are given the luxury of ‘cutting off’ and focusing on your tasks at hand. Putting in a ‘good’ days work at a coworking space, you are less likely to bring work home with you, thus able to really spend quality time with your family and friends outside of work hours.  We hope these motivation tips help! The world is a little crazy right now, and we’re all in it together. Do we have all the answers? NO. But we can remind you to be gentle with yourself; there will be days when you do not feel like working as much or as hard, or being productive at all. When that happens, give yourself some time, you could be feeling burnt out, lethargic or even sick. If you are in dire need of a break, take one! If you see a pattern emerging and you feel like your work or life is suffering from your lack of productivity, then reach out to a trusted friend, colleague, supervisor or peer and share your concerns.

According to ongoing studies by McKinsey & Company, companies with high levels of racial and ethnic diversity are 33-35% more likely to outperform their industry averages financially. There is no denying the fact that diversity makes way for a stronger, more unified workplace. When a company values and embraces employees, leaders, team members and clients belonging to a myriad of different cultural identities, ages, ethnicities and genders they can look forward to increased innovation, creativity and profits. It also helps in promoting improved employee performance, happiness and loyalty plus a stronger team culture. Inclusivity should be regarded as a crucial step to successfully support a diverse team – one that is capable of welcoming and valuing every team member. However, what does having an inclusive workplace mean? And what does it mean for your company and team? What Is Diversity In The Workplace? “Diversity” means a range of differences, generally, there are four different types of diversity: internal, external, organisational, and worldview. Internal diversity includes things like race, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities. These are traits a person does not choose for themselves. External diversity includes things like education, appearance, location, socio-economic status and religious beliefs. These are things that a person is not necessarily born with. Organisational diversity can include job function, job hours, workplace location and pay rates. These are things that a workplace has more control over than an individual. Worldview diversity takes into account each individuals concept and view of the world around them. It includes political views, outlook on life and the world, the way an individual approaches every day, their morals and judgement. These views can change over time and are not set in stone. Diversity in the workplace means you are creating an environment full of a different range of people with varying backgrounds, views, values, personality traits and cultural identities. You are creating a hub or hive of employees, leaders, team members and clients that each brings a unique perspective and view to the table. What Helps a Workplace To Create Inclusivity? In a recent survey, it was reported that around 80 per cent of employees feel that inclusion is an important factor in selecting an employer. Creating a workplace that fosters inclusivity takes leadership direction and a dedication to an ongoing mission to build and maintain an inclusive environment. This is not a ‘set and forget’ concept. In its essence, you are bringing it to life. Before you think of adopting inclusivity in any workplace, you should understand the basics – how people tend to experience inclusion (and unfortunately, exclusion) and the essential traits of a truly inclusive workplace. Here are some aspects that help to create and nurture an inclusive workplace: A Sense of Belonging The overall sense of connection and belonging will help the employees to feel they are part of an environment, company and culture that knows and values them. Having a Proper Voice When employees have the sense that they have a ‘voice’ in the company, are valued and heard – they are most likely to share their opinions with others. More opinions means more ideas and more chances for growth and innovation. A Sense of Uniqueness Just like connection and belonging, employees, members and team should be able to feel unique and unafraid to express their uniqueness. They should have a sense that the company cares about their individual experiences and strengths and they feel safe to share their uniqueness. Feeling of Value Who doesn’t love feeling valued? Sometimes even simply telling a team member they are valued is enough to make them feel seen, heard and appreciated. Feeling valued leads to greater workplace satisfaction and loyalty. Learning and Development Having clear and ongoing access to advanced learning and development opportunities shows your team you care about the growth, aspirations, and ideas of each unique individual. Setting up an annual learning and development fund for each team member is a great way to demonstrate this. Allowing team to come to the leaders with ideas on how they can learn and develop their skills is also essential. A Collaborative Environment Irrespective of the department or role, a collaborative environment helps in breaking down barriers when creating a truly inclusive workplace. The onus on creating a collaborative environment comes from the leadership team. What meetings, events and initiatives can be created to foster more collaboration across your teams and departments? Access to Resources Helpful resources like diversity support from managers and leaders help in your team knowing that the company is committed to supporting each team member, no matter what their personal identities and diversities may be. Strategic Alignment Does your company have a diversity and inclusivity strategy? Is there a leader in charge of that strategy and is the strategy shared with the team? A proper strategy that outlines in detail the diversity and inclusion plan, is an excellent first step in talking through how your workplace can become a leader in diversity and be known for nurturing a truly inclusive culture. What Does Inclusivity in the Workplace Mean in 2022? In 2022, a truly inclusive workplace is one wherein people with all types of ‘differences’ feel welcome, valued for their contributions and safe to express themselves. It is a place wherein people with differences – both visible and invisible differences – get access to the same opportunities for advancement, learning, development and growth opportunities. A truly inclusive workplace assumes that everyone is capable of doing an excellent job – irrespective of their unique differences. A workplace that values diversity and actively fosters inclusivity is the way of the future. How Can You Start to Encourage Inclusivity in the Workplace? Educating Managers And Leaders About What Inclusivity Means To Your Company Every initiative starts with the leaders. The managers and leaders of any company looking to create an inclusive workplace should have access to the company’s inclusivity strategy and are actively looking for ways to enhance and better an employee’s experience. Whether this means scheduling dedicated cultural training and diversity workshops, conducting comprehensive inclusivity evaluation of the workplace (then acting on the findings) or having a proper employee feedback flow on how the workplace can do better is important. Rethinking Workforce Policies How long has it been since you reviewed your inclusivity policy? Maybe you don’t have one created yet? The policies could range from performance management to recruitment. Some ways through which you can model the company policies for a highly diverse workforce are: Facilitating the hiring process to include candidates from different community-based outreach programs, hiring consultancies and online avenues. Ensure that the employees are receiving access to leave for holidays that might not be covered in the official holiday calendar, but are important to their cultural and religious beliefs. Ensure that your company is paying its employees on the basis of job title and skill (and not gender, education or other). Have Your Team Get On-board with Inclusivity Practices Leaders are expected to be purposeful about including others who observe things differently. The narrative should be aimed at continuously highlighting distinctively positive experiences that people from all identities, backgrounds, orientations, and faiths bring to the company and culture. It is also important to encourage your team, clients and leaders to practice the respective traditions and culture within the workplace. This is one of the best ways to show your team that the company respects them and their identities and demonstrates they are safe and respected at the workplace. To ensure an inclusion-based culture, it is important to start at the beginning. It is important to advocate, preach, and promote that inclusivity is an integral component of the company’s values and it’s more important to live into it. Make sure you showcase your diversity via your company’s websites, social media channels and in-person during interviews so that potential team members, clients and partners remain aware of your inclusivity policies and diverse workplace. At JAGA we encourage our team, leaders and members to bring their best, most authentic selves to work. No matter your background, culture, orientations or other unseen diversities we will champion you and include you in our company’s values. We believe in an inclusive workspace, full of members with rich differences is the best workspace we can offer to our members. As such, our workplace is a safe one and we see members with a variety of internal, external and worldview diversities. Speak with us today about how you can join us at either of our Canberra locations: JAGA Allara Street and JAGA Swanson Court.

Have you started freelancing on the side then decided “hey, this could actually be a business!” and need to get serious? There are several aspects to consider when you need to choose between freelancing or running a small business. You need to think about who your target audience will be, what services you can provide for them, whether you want to work solo or bring in a team, what are your long term future goals, and where you see yourself in five years time. It may seem overwhelming, but these are the questions that can help determine how you “brand” yourself. What is a Freelancer Vs. A Business Owner? Looking at whether you set yourself up as a freelancer vs. a business owner, here are some important points to consider:  Do you want to work alone or are you looking to hire employees? If your business grows quickly, will it be a good thing OR are you willing to do away with new opportunities and grow at your own speed? Are you prepared to go through complicated paperwork, financial challenges, and legal filings that come along with establishing and running a business? Or, would you rather not pay attention to these, keep it simple and concentrate on delivering quality work to the clients? You might assume that freelancers and business owners are on the same line. As a matter of fact, both roles have distinct risks, responsibilities, and goals. A freelancer works individually as a contractor for different clients paying by the project or by the hour. The goal of a freelancer is to fill in the available time by securing tasks that pay well and serve to be dependable sources of work. In most cases, freelancers do not require any formal registration or business license with the government for operating. However, it is always a great idea to check with your state’s rules as well. The best part is that freelancers get to work at their own will – preferably at a coworking space. A coworking space is the perfect set-up for freelancers who are dedicated to working on their own projects but don’t want to be by themselves at home. If your home is not suitable for a home office, or you do not have the space or inclination to work from home or out of a cafe, a coworking space is ideal. To read more about the benefits of coworking, click here. On the other hand, a small business owner might start out working alone. However, he or she might eventually consider hiring employees while building the business into something major for ensuring constant and stable growth. Small business owners emphasise less on the delivery of the desired products or services – that remains up to the employees of the business enterprise. They are more focused on running and growing the venture. Small business owners are also expected to deal with employee issues, regulations, and business taxes throughout the journey. Funding the business also remains a major challenge as business owners start out. On the other hand, freelancers tend to operate with minimum overhead. When Do You Make the Switch from a Freelancer to a Business Owner? As a freelancer, how do you know when it is time to transition to the next stage of being classified as a “business owner”? This is a tough question! Here are some tips that will help: Analyse Your Goals and Priorities If you genuinely dream about waking up whenever you want, working from anywhere you choose, and having your own selection of clients – then being a full-time freelancer is the ideal solution. Assess the Right Time If you started freelancing without understanding your niche, you might have come across new interests through several trials and errors. As such, you can also accelerate your freelancing operation to focus on something that interests your niche and double-down to make it a more serious venture. Your Growth Can Decide For You Are you finding that you have more clients than you know what to do with and need help in fulfilling all the requirements? You might be on your way to full blown business leader and need a team to help you. Ways to Become More Professional As A Freelancer If you’re happy to be a stellar freelancer, there is nothing to say you can’t have a very stable and profitable career. Especially if you take a few extra steps that most freelancers don’t take. These steps will allow you to stand out in your field and be seen as a leading freelancer, or ace for hire, in your field. Here are some ways to boost your professional career as a freelancer: Develop Your Online Presence You can create a strong digital presence on multiple platforms. Additionally, you can also design a professional website to call yours. When you nurture a strong network, it offers you access to prospective clients to allow your professional experience to excel. Work from a Professional Address While the notion of working from home might entice you as a freelancer, still having a dedicated professional address to work from can be the cherry on the top. Preferably, choose from working from a coworking space to avoid the overall overheads and boost productivity. Treat Yourself as the Boss Whether or not you register a company, you can still be your own CEO. Freelancing, as a career, allows you to be your own master in whatever you do. Network and Develop Your Professional Community This comes hand in hand with working from a coworking space as the built-in network of like-minded people are waiting for people just like you to join in! New work, connections with prospective clients and professionals are made daily in such communities. Whether you are comfortable with calling yourself a freelancer, and loving the freelancer way of working and living OR you know you are destined to build a business around your skills and ideas, and want to grow into a business owner, you are exactly where you need to be right now. The world is changing in how we approach work and life and at JAGA we’re all for it. Work situations and work locations to suit a flexible schedule is something we are very passionate about and we invite you to come and visit our two Canberra locations: Allara Street and Swanson Court to see them for yourself.

In any business, there is no denying the importance of effective communication amongst team members, leaders, clients and leads. Whether you look forward to sharing the vision of your company or developing your strategy for the next twelve months or even pitching projects to investors or clients – you cannot go far without organising a proper meeting. While meetings are crucial, the environment in which they take place is equally important. Face-to-face meetings are back in style as we all are now suffering from Zoom overdose. There is so much more an in-person meeting can give to you and your guests. As we investigate the reasons why hiring a meeting room is a MUST in 2022, let’s consider the following points. What A Professional Meeting Room Does For Your Business Whether you typically work from home, hotdesk at a coworking space or rent a small business office with a team; you will gain value from renting a meeting room at different times, for different reasons. The biggest advantage of hiring a meeting room is that it allows you to conduct your business in a highly professional setting. Whilst your local café or coffee shop might appear appealing, the noises, customers and space can be quite distracting and unproductive (not to mention unprofessional). When you make use of a dedicated meeting room, one that is clean, spacious, with all amenities on hand it will offer your clients and partners a great impression. It will also help in providing the right atmosphere to manage your business dealings. Some of the main reasons we see our meeting rooms hired: 1. Team meetings If you have a team that works remotely, it will serve your team building and communication to have everyone together, at least one day per quarter. Even if every quarter is a stretch, getting the team together for an annual planning meeting is a must. 2. Client meetings Your clients demand a certain level of professionalism. The fact that you have a space available to meet with your clients will give them a sense of trust and security in you and your business. 3. Pitches for new business and projects When you are pitching for new business or discussing a project that needs funding, you will want a professional and polished space to showcase your information and use AV equipment to discuss the benefits of your project. 4. Workshops and paid events If you are putting on a workshop for paying clients who are there to learn and develop their skills, listen to expert advice and have invested in a ticket, they expect a certain level of comfortable surroundings. 5. Board meetings A meeting room hire for a board meeting is a perfect solution when different board members are coming from different locations and offices. When you hire a meetings room at JAGA we are able to organise catering and AV equipment, anything you require for your board meeting. 6. Photoshoots If you run a professional services business from home or from a hot desk but you want to get some branding photos created for your business, you may consider hiring a meeting room for the day. Here are some more reasons why you should consider hiring a meeting room: Change Your Space - Generate New Ideas When your team are asked to continually perform similar functions in the same office space every single day, they are less likely to feel creative and energised. A set office routine might appear safe. However, it tends to inhibit creative thinking. When you hire a meeting room that can accommodate your entire team and have it set up for a creative, idea-filled day to set the plan of the business for the next 6 – 12 months, it can help in offering a completely different experience for your team. Create A Professional Image Your clients, partners or potential clients will be impressed by the fact that you have a dedicated meeting room for your conversations. When you conduct business in a well-organised and modern environment, it helps in the creation of an image of distinction and professionalism. When you hire a meeting room, it offers access to a clean and well-maintained area for conducting business. It is quiet in comparison to the overall chaos of a coffee shop. You will be capable of presenting a highly professional image. It is an additional benefit when you are working with colleagues and clients. Your clients will have a long-lasting impression of the overall professionalism of your business. Ample Productivity Without the distraction of a chaotic office environment, messy home office or a coffee shop, you will find it easier to be highly productive when you host meetings in a purpose-built meeting room. As people enter the conference room that you have rented for your business, they will know exactly what to expect – to get down to the business at hand. Everyone aims at focusing on the discussion and tasks at hand instead of distractions that could have occurred in another environment. You are also capable of conducting your meeting for as long as you want when you have access to a dedicated environment for the same. Help your clients, team or partners stay focused and on task! You Gain Privacy Unlike a typical public setting for your business meetings, private and dedicated meeting rooms for rent, give you confidence that all your confidential information will be private and secure. Some meeting rooms for hire are equipped with soundproof technologies for much-needed privacy. Meeting rooms for hire are also known to offer access to a password-protected and dedicated Internet connection for ensuring that all your online activities remain secure and safe. Access to Advanced Equipment Most team strategy discussions, team planning sessions and client briefings need access to state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. If you purchase this equipment for the sole purpose of a meeting a few times a year, the costs can add up (plus you then need somewhere to store the equipment in between meetings). Purchasing and maintaining such high-end hardware components becomes impractical and uneconomical for a small office or startup setting. A dedicated rental meeting room can offer access to such advanced equipment along with the presence of a trained staff member to offer instructions on how to operate the same. When you hire a meeting room along with the AV equipment, you gain all the major benefits of the technology when you need it the most without any clutter, hassle, or additional costs. Other Amenities Meeting rooms available for hire at JAGA can include custom catering, refreshments during the day and use of our award-winning spaces and facilities for you and guests. If the meeting is stalling, or you can sense your guests need a change in scenery for an hour, head to our cafe area for a caffeine boost! If you’re hosting a group session that requires some brainstorming, send a few groups to the break out spaces we have available. The choice is yours. Sometimes it can be difficult to convince your team members or clients to physically attend a business meeting. Especially post 2021 where we’re all so used to Zoom. However, when you offer them a highly convenient and comfortable space away from the familiarity and distractions of the standard office meeting rooms, you will be creating a highly dynamic, productive, and efficient environment. To understand which meeting rooms we have available for rent across our two Canberra locations: JAGA Swanson Court and JAGA Allara Street , please contact our team today on 1800 512 150 or click here.

95 per cent of people state that they procrastinate occasionally. Yep, we all do it. It’s too easy not to! But what happens when you’re working towards specific goals and really need to get the work done? That’s when you need some tools to combat procrastination and work more productively. JAGA is here to help. What is Procrastination? You know when you really need to do *something* but you just keep finding other things to do instead? Like online shopping, booking that restaurant for Friday date night, watering the plants, searching for a book club to join – you know the important things in life! Procrastination is your brain putting up stop signs in front of the big juicy projects you have on your list because they’re probably hard or scary and our brain is programmed to help us enjoy the fun things in life, not the hard things. Researchers reveal that individuals who are master procrastinators see higher levels of stress. Maybe from fear of still having that *thing* on your list or making it out to be a bigger challenge than it actually is. In this post, we’ll aim to arm you with 6 Surefire Ways To Beat Procrastination and work through your to-do list with purpose and power. Beating procrastination is incredibly important in a coworking environment so you can focus on your individual work without being distracted by the space, people and amenities around you. Top Causes Of Procrastination Understanding what causes procrastination can help you use relevant strategies to overcome it and achieve your full potential. While everyone tends to procrastinate occasionally, chronic procrastination can be a different thing altogether. We all put off things for different reasons, it’s normal and in most cases can be the result of too much pressure at work or too many things on your list (so you’re not sure where to start). Some of the most common reasons to procrastinate: Fear of failure (What if I do the thing, and it’s wrong?) (What if I can’t do it?) Perfectionism (I don’t want to do it until I know it will be perfect) Fear of criticism (I don’t want to do it then have others mock it) Depression(I won’t do a good job at it anyway) Avoidance (I’m just going to ignore that one for now) Task aversion(I’ll stick to the easier things for now) Lack of energy (I can’t focus on that today, I’ll do it tomorrow) Decision fatigue (I’m not sure if this is the right thing to focus on?) Trouble in focusing (What was I doing?) Too much on your list (Was I doing that? OK I’ll add that to tomorrow’s list) Waiting until the last moment (That’s due today? Ok I’ll do it now) Difficulty in defining goals (Where does this fit on my priority list?) Most of us are prone to at least one of these thoughts once a day! When you can start to see a pattern in your thoughts and understand why you are procrastinating, then you can start to beat it or at least take active decisions to combat it. Top Ways to Beat Procrastination Procrastinating doesn’t mean you are lazy. It could mean that you don’t have a clear idea of your priorities or you’re so overwhelmed with items on your to-do list you need some help to get through it all. Most of the time taking no action can be the result of fear of failure, decision fatigue or having trouble focusing. However, you can only put off things only for a specific time period. Especially if you’re a business owner, freelancer or solopreneur and the work (stops) when you do. So in order to work effectively, using methods to overcome procrastination will give you back precious hours in your work week! Most importantly, procrastination saps our energy and time and most likely you end up feeling frustrated and drained when you realise how much time you’ve wasted avoiding a task. If you wish to minimise the overall stress due to not getting your things done, here are some solutions to try: Create a Proper Weekly To-do List Create a Proper Weekly To-do List Prepare a realistic to-do list and ensure that you have timings around each action item. On this single piece of paper, avoid cramming every single task (because this could lead to overwhelm). Think about the 5 – 10 most important weekly tasks and include timed deadlines as this helps you in being reminded when your task is due. You can think of preparing a to-do list every day, week, or even month. It will ultimately depend on the number of tasks you have to complete. We recommend starting with a weekly to-do list which you can easily break down into daily tasks. Begin with Power Moves It might appear overwhelming at first but “do the hardest things first”. This is because the hardest task is going to be the one that you had been avoiding all this time! You will feel SO much better knowing that big task that’s been hanging over your head is finally done. If this task is a big, audacious task it might help to break it up into bitesize tasks that you can work on each day of the week. At the end of the week, you’ll be five steps closer to achieving your goal. Most of us are great at preparing the ‘to-do’ list. Even ticking off the easiest tasks of the entire day feels so relieving and better. Every to-do list will have a few of these bigger “Power Moves” on the list, this is where you can really take hold of your week and take control of your procrastination. Break Down the Entire Workload When you break down the entire workload into smaller amounts that are manageable, it will stop you from significant procrastinating. When you have multiple deadlines or a complicated project to complete, you might start feeling anxious at the mere idea of the total workload. Therefore, you can break every step down. Create a proper checklist for every major task. You can break down as many parts as you can. It will help in motivating you and reducing your chances of procrastination. When you see everything on your list you can also see who you can delegate certain tasks to and even put a priority list together. Ensure a Proper Routine When you have a proper routine for everything you do daily or weekly, it will help you in avoiding procrastination. Therefore, if you observe that you do most things during the morning hours, establish a proper routine for it. You can even leverage the benefit of the moments you feel the most energetic to tick off a majority of things on your to-do list. This ensures that your day starts in a productive manner. Avoid Distractions (To An Extent) “Put your head down and focus!” – easier said than done! Distractions are part of our everyday. We’re all attracted to the bright, shiny lights so it’s hard to zone out 100% when our brains aren’t designed for it. When you go into a “getting things done” mode with a healthy respect for the ebbs and flow of the day you won’t get too down on yourself when you do get distracted. You can do simple things, like turn the phone off notifications, close your office door, turn off social media and focus – but will you say NO when someone offers you a coffee, or wants to have a chat? Probably not and that’s ok. Put Time In For Play And Fun Working through that to-do list is not just about the work. Give your brain a rest, put the time in for play, get out for a walk, have a coffee with friends, get some different perspectives and relax. You’ll find that your work flows easier and you’ll procrastinate less when you have some scheduled (and not so scheduled) breaks. How Can Coworking Beat Procrastination? When you have a separate working space – away from home, like in the case of a coworking environment, it can help in separating your personal life from the professional one. It becomes easier to focus on the work you need to get done from your hot desk or private office without the temptation of cleaning the house, Netflix or napping! Coworking spaces are designed for workers – they have the best of both worlds; spaces to refresh, refuel and relax or meet with clients, plus spaces to put your head down and get the work done! In fact, a recent coworking study showed that 64% of people sharing an office with a coworker have improved on completing their tasks on time, and 68% say they are better focused. Talk to us today about touring one of our Canberra coworking sites; JAGA Allara Street or JAGA Swanson Court and seeing what a difference JAGA can make to your worklife.

It is predicted that the total number of coworking spaces all around the world will rise to 26,000 by 2022. Compared to 8000 coworking spaces only a few years ago, in 2015, this is incredible growth. Why? Because the world is demanding more flexibility and more options for work. The modern workspace is shifting to a highly flexible model. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner, remote worker, digital nomad or you’re a company worker looking for more flexibility, coworking is an offer to consider. Setting Yourself Up for Success While Coworking Coworking success depends significantly on some core values that you and your coworking space should share. When investigating coworking spaces, take a look at how well they cultivate the following values: Belonging Coworking spaces are committed to creating a sense of belonging among their members. The sense of belonging helps in bringing the best out of the members. Without a sense of belonging, a coworking space serves just like any other typical office space. Nurturing In a coworking space (and especially here at JAGA) we believe in nurturing our Members. We aim to help provide them with opportunities, resources and relationships to lead them to ample growth; both personal and professional. The entire concept of a coworking space depends on the notion of nurturing. At a share office space, coworkers tend to help each other in growing through the spirits of cooperation and collaboration. Community Amongst its members, a coworking space instils a sense of community. It helps in bringing members close to each other. Moreover, it also helps in creating an ambience for encouraging the spirit of shared productivity, creativity and commitment to growth.  According to Deskmag’s coworking survey, people choose a coworking space based on it having an enjoyable atmosphere (59%), to interact with others (56%), and to build a sense of community around themselves (55%).* * Source: Deskmag A Typical Coworking Day Does a “typical” day at a coworking space exist? Well, a typical day at a coworking space for an average worker means you’re ‘in house” for anywhere from four to eight hours. You can add in some breaks for coffee, lunch and a walk around to get some light, stretch your legs and have a chat. Members of coworking spaces tend to belong to a diverse crowd. 60% of coworkers globally are under 40 years of age, freelancers makeup 46% of members and typically women make up around 44% of coworkers.* With a coworking space, the name of the game is flexibility. So if you want to treat your coworking space like a traditional office, come in at 9:00am work with an hour lunch break and leave at 5:00pm you can do that. If your hours are based around school drop off and pick up times you can do that too. If you love a late start and late finish, that’s up to you (with most coworking spaces open 24/7* Source: Deskmag Tips to Gain the Most Out of Your Coworking Experience Whether you are a freelancer, part of a remote worker team or own a small business here are some ways to gain the most from your experience at a coworking space: Explore the Available Options Just like a standard office, every coworking space will have a unique and specific culture. Before you settle down on a space, you need to be sure that your values fit well with the culture of the coworking space you’ve signed up to. A good first step is to book a tour and have a manager present the coworking space to you and take you through all the amenities. A coworking space should provide access to ample amenities for you to enjoy and enhance your every day. For example, at JAGA our amenities include: A dedicated kitchen Coffee room space Printing facilities Reliable, highspeed wifi Meeting rooms Conference and workshop facilities Relaxation Spaces Wellness Room Shower facilities Bike rack facilities On-site parking 24/7 Access Close access to cafes and shops Daily Cleaning A connected community of like-minded coworkers Events for our community of members To gain the most from your coworking experience make sure you take advantage of the amenities and know what is available for you! Take Part In Networking Events Once you’ve immersed yourself in coworking life, a great way to enhance your experience is to take part in the organised events. Coworking spaces regularly host networking or socialising events, put on for the benefit of their members. Events can include presentations from key industry guest speakers, social mixers, holiday parties, themed workshops, or even Friday movie or knock-off drinks. These events pose a great opportunity to get to know and connect with your coworkers. Also, the events do wonders in expanding your own personal and professional horizons. Many collaborations, referrals and work recommendations start from connecting at a networking event. Aim To Be Social One of the biggest benefits of coworking is the sense of connection it creates. While many people choose coworking to work independently, the environment naturally brings opportunities to engage with others and feel part of a community. In a coworking space, you can strike up conversations with people from entirely different industries and backgrounds, often leading to fresh perspectives, new ideas, and unexpected inspiration or collaboration opportunities. For those who want the flexibility of working on their own terms, without the isolation that can come with it, coworking offers the best of both worlds. Understand And Get To Know The Management Most coworking spaces have a dedicated community manager for managing community-related tasks, welcoming new members and organising member events. A community manager can help you in understanding what amenities are available for you, how to make the most out of your experience, what events are coming up and even connect you with existing members that may be a great buddy for you. Plan For Productivity Just like any other working space, there can be certain distractions to your productivity. The good news is, coworking spaces are shown to actually boost your productivity. Call it a hive mentality or maybe a healthy worker-bee vibe, but when you make use of the space around you and the tools available, you will be able to get more work done in less time when you are coworking. Amazing. The bottom line: Coworking is here to stay! Unlike a conventional office set-up, a coworking office space delivers ample flexibility and is a perfect solution for any freelancer, hybrid worker, remote worker or digital nomad. With a wide range of amenities at your disposal PLUS a collective of like-minded individuals for you to connect with, your coworking experience is waiting for you. Contact our team today to inspect either of our two Canberra locations: JAGA Swanson Court and JAGA Allara Street. We can’t wait to welcome you to the family.

Coworking is fast becoming the chosen ‘non traditional’ method of working for all types of ‘non traditional’ workers. This is a subtitle for your new post. Whether you’re a remote worker, digital nomad or freelancer wanting to work alongside other professionals, coworking fits the bill. Finding a local coworking space also serves to be a great way for retaining a sense of stability and routine while travelling to another city or country. First, let’s understand who are remote workers, digital nomads and how are they different from coworking members. Plus, what are the benefits of coworking for all types of workers? Who Are Remote Workers? A remote worker is an employee (employed by an organisation) but works outside the typical office environment. It could imply working remotely from a local coworking space, from home or in some city across the globe from where the headquarters of the organisation is located. As technology continues to advance, the concept of remote working is becoming increasingly common. Remote workers are now seen across a wide range of industries and their numbers are on the rise. Who Are Digital Nomads? If you are ready to work off your laptop from wherever you are in the world, then you’re ready to become a digital nomad. Digital nomads are “nomadic” in nature – they like to move around. In some cases, digital nomads prefer working from a particular place for a certain time of the year. For example, if you’re a ‘sun chaser’ and hop around the world chasing summers, working as you go, then you’re a digital nomad. You may also have set areas and times you work. Some digital nomads spend half a year in one location, half a year in another and they follow this pattern year after year. You could also have the luxury of choosing to pick up and take off whenever you get sick of a particular place or location OR you’re a travel industry expert and your whole business revolves around your nomadic lifestyle. Who Are Coworkers, or Coworking Members? Coworking members are individuals who typically work most days in a coworking space. They pay for the services, space and amenities of a coworking environment and get to come to work every day with other coworkers [as opposed to working by themselves at home]. The definition of coworking is when workers assemble in some neutral area for the purpose of working together, sharing space and amenities, yet independently. It’s different from a conventional workspace because members in a coworking environment usually do not work for the same company. With coworking, you have improved flexibility as you are not required to sign a long-term contract and can choose to pay month to month to use the facilities. Coworking attracts small business owners, solopreneurs, freelancers, creatives and some remote workers who are looking for a space other than the loungeroom, amenities that they may not have at home, more social connection and a possibility of expanding their professional network. Benefits of Coworking for All Types of Workers It’s estimated that by the time of 2024, the total number of coworking spaces across the globe will simply double to reach over 40,000. Coworking environments are becoming a big part of the future of ‘work’. Companies, individuals and organisations are all jumping on the coworking train, for good reason. Not only does working from a coworking space help in significantly reducing the operating costs of a business, it also serves as a much needed social interaction for individuals and has a host of other benefits for members, no matter how they label themselves. Here are some benefits of coworking spaces for digital nomads, remote workers, and self-employed freelancers: #Meeting Other Inspiring Professionals at Your Coworking Space In contrast to the group of employees working in an office, in the conventional sense, a coworking space serves to be the professional home for individuals with all types of talents and jobs. Coworking breeds collaboration and you will be introduced to different types of professionals, that could help you professionally and could also need your services! When you are around other like-minded professionals who may be coding websites, designing marketing strategies, writing novels or organising corporate events, it could be a massive boost of inspiration for you personally and professionally. #Coworking Spaces Are More Inspiring Than a Traditional Working Space It’s a proven fact that switching up your work environment to something different than what you are used to may just give you the best inspiration you’ve ever had. This is the reason why modern coworking spaces usually come with additional features like meditation rooms, social kitchens, outdoor deck space, zip lines, couches, hammocks, and high top tables. If you’re the kind of person who is easily bored and needs new spaces to inspire them, a coworking membership may be for you. Different workspaces can also help to make you more productive. [Have you seen our digs? Yep, they’re award-winning. Check them out here ] #Some Coworking Spaces Are Open 24/7 Are you a remote worker who needs to tap into a team zoom call 2:00am your time? It happens. Sometimes remote workers or coworkers work on a different schedule than the traditional 9 to 5. Coworking spaces open 24/7 give you access to all the amenities and space you love, at the time you need it. #Coworking Spaces Can Boost Your Social Interactions Coworking spaces around the world are starting to see innovative events being created for the benefit of members. Everything from Friday afternoon knock-off drinks to movie nights, yoga mornings, tax time information sessions and yearly planning sessions. Some of our favourite events we’ve seen lately include a table tennis tournament and a sip & paint night. Events and activities like these offer a sense of community to individuals who may be used to spending a lot of time to themselves. Even better, you can learn something new and make new friends. #Coworking Makes It Possible to Work Remotely and Travel In case you are wondering how to work remotely, and travel at the same time, coworking can be your ideal solution. In most major cities across the world, you’ll be able to find coworking spaces. You can sign up for daily hot desking or a monthly membership if you know how long you’ll be in a certain area. Coworking offers a convenient solution to work remotely, in an insta-worthy space with full amenities, while travelling at the same time. As we all adapt to new ways of working, investigating non traditional work settings, like coworking spaces could just be the unique and different solution you’re looking for. To investigate JAGA Swanson Court and JAGA Allara Street , talk to us today and book in a tour. Remote workers, Digital Nomads and Coworkers – we welcome you all.