Tagged: remote work
8 Places to Work Remotely in Winnipeg
- by Andrea Danelak
The pandemic thrust remote work into the spotlight: an idea most businesses hadnât seriously considered before their teams were forced to turn dining room tables and basement corners into makeshift offices.
While much of the world has returned to business as usual, some habits have stuck. And if weâve learned anything as creatives, itâs that sometimes, you just need a change of scenery to get inspired.
And so, without further ado, here are eight of our favourite places to work remotely in Winnipeg.
But first, a note about why Starling Social is remote [and always will be]...
We know remote work isnât possible for every company, but it is for many, and we don't understand why more companies donât embrace it.
Starling is a completely remote company, and not only does it offer more opportunity for work-life balance, but it also supports our sustainability goals and fosters a greener future for everyone. [Hops off soapbox.]
This isnât a sponsored list or a complete guide, just a few of our go-to spots we keep coming back to.
Unique spots to work remotely in Winnipeg
The Forks - 1 Forks Market Road
The Forks is considered one of Winnipegâs top destinations, with good reason. History, arts and culture, shopping, entertainment, food… What more could you ask for?
All of that makes it a great spot to work remotely. Maybe you like being at the centre of it all and park yourself and your laptop at The Common all day, Tall Grass Prairie cinnamon bun in hand. Or perhaps you prefer a quieter spot to get away and focus, found on The Forksâ second-floor seating area.
On warmer days, grab one of the outdoor chairs by the river and enjoy a change of scenery while you work—and maybe a bit of people-watching, too.
Kilter Brewing Co. - 50 Rue Deschambault
Bet you werenât expecting a brewery to pop up on the list, were ya?
Some of our team members are big fans of this St. Boniface staple, and itâs not unusual for a few of us to co-work together in this lively space punctuated with loads of greenery, fun seating options (hanging chairs, anyone?) and good vibes. (This blog post may or may not have been written there.)
And no, we arenât imbibing while we work—Kilter also brews coffee and serves non-alcoholic bevvies like kombucha and mocktails. If you swing by the taproom on certain days of the week, you can grab special Happy Time deals, too (check their website for details). Plus, free Wi-Fi!
The Leaf - 145 The Leaf Way
Itâs been proven that exposure to nature enhances mental health—so much so that some psychologists have started prescribing time in nature as an additional support for mental well-being.
All the more reason to venture to The Leaf, Assiniboine Parkâs indoor horticultural attraction.
After youâve mosied past Canadaâs tallest indoor waterfall, a butterfly garden and tropical plants galore, head to the Mediterranean biomeâs seating area, where you can take in the sights and smells while you work. We love visiting during the long winter months when weâre craving warmer temps and lush greenery!
Little Sister Coffee Maker - 539 Osborne St.
Community is always on the menu at Little Sister, both at their 539 Osborne location (our fave) and at 470 River Ave.
On top of serving up delicious caffeinated beverages, Little Sister is all about bringing people together and inspiring conversation and creativity. Weâll happily raise a latte to that!
It can fill up fast, especially with other remote workers settling in, but the drinks and overall ambiance make it well worth the wait.
Winnipeg Public Library - Multiple locations
OK, OK, so the library may seem like an obvious choice, but hear us out.
There are 20 library branches across the city, which offer free WiFi and quiet spots to work with computers, tables and even meeting rooms (plus loads of other benefits). Why not pick up the latest psychological thriller while youâre there?
Actual coworking spaces
TableSpace Coworking Co. - 196 Osborne St.
Located in Osborne Village, TableSpace is a cornerstone of the Winnipeg coworking scene. Whether youâre a freelancer, entrepreneur or anything in between, this shared workspace offers flexible membership plans to suit your needs. You can even rent a dedicated desk or private office.
If youâre just dropping in, a day pass gives you full access to the space, including WiFi, a shared kitchen and free coffee and tea. The community vibes are strong—you never know who youâll run into while youâre there!
Launch Coworking - Multiple locations
Looking for a coworking space that adapts to your schedule and your budget? Launch Coworking is a great choice.
With plans ranging from just one day a month to full-time access with 24/7 availability, itâs perfect whether you need a casual spot to check emails or a consistent workspace to grow your biz.
Youâll find their coworking spaces conveniently located in Southside, the Exchange District and near True North Square in Winnipegâs downtown area. Uh, and did we mention thereâs beer on tap?
Createful Spaces - 359 McDermot Ave.
Founded in 2023, this Winnipeg co-working space was built to foster creativity, collaboration and community. The name combines âgratefulâ and âcreate,â reflecting its focus on the power of creativity and value of real connections.
Createful offers designated desks, shared and private offices, and event space. Whether youâre a solo creative or part of a growing team, it's a practical, well-designed place to work and connect with others.
In case there was any doubt, Winnipeg has no shortage of cool spaces to set up shop for the day. These eight spots prove working remotely doesnât have to mean working alone or staring at the same walls every day.
We hope this list gives you a few new faves (or reminds you of some old ones). And who knows—maybe weâll see you out there, coffee in hand, gettinâ stuff done. If you see a member of the Starling team out in the wild, make sure to say hi!
How to Successfully Work From Home While Social Distancing
- by Alyson Shane
Wondering how to successfully work from home while social distancing?
If you said âyesâ, youâre not alone. Itâs only Tuesday, and many people across Canada and in my community here in Winnipeg are struggling with working from home for the first time as businesses close down to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Itâs a weird time, so I wanted to take a break from our typical marketing-focused content to share a few personal tips on staying focused while working from home.
Iâve been working from home for six years and manage the Starling Social team remotely. I love working from home, but Iâll be the first to admit that it isnât always easy. This is especially true during these strange, trying times.
So if you're new to remote work and want some tips on how to successfully work from home, check out these suggestions to say sane and productive:
1. Establish how youâll communicate
Before I get into the personal stuff, letâs start by focusing on how youâll get work done.
In my experience, the biggest time-waster and source of anxiety when working remotely is not having a process to discuss, assign, and manage tasks and projects to completion.
At Starling Social, we use a combination of four tools, listed below:
- Gmail. All formal communication is done by email.
- Zoom. To discuss projects that are too complex for email.
- Trello. Trello is how we keep track of multiple projects, due dates, and deliverables on an ongoing basis.
- Each client has a Board, and each project has a Card that gets assigned, tracked, and completed for all collaborators to see.
- Google Drive. Everything we do - blog post drafts, spreadsheets, strategy documents, all of it - is stored in the cloud.
- We use Google Drive to track edits, changes, and updates to all our documentation. This reduces confusion and keeps email to a minimum.
2. Get into a morning routine ASAP
The act of going to and coming home from the office plays a big part in being able to separate our work and personal lives in healthy ways.
Find something in your morning routine that you can use to transition from waking up to focusing on being productive mentally.
Whether thatâs a long shower or slowing down to enjoy making your coffee, find something that you can use to transition from âwaking upâ to âworkingâ at home.
My morning routine is pretty simple: every morning I brush my teeth, shower, get dressed, and wash my face. I listen to a couple of podcasts (Up First and What a Day) to catch up on the news while I get ready. Each podcast is about 15 minutes, so I work a 30-minute âcommuteâ into my morning. By the time the podcasts are over, Iâm sitting at my desk about to start my day.
My office is right next to my bedroom, so I could slob over to my desk in my PJs every day if I wanted to. But the days when Iâm most productive are the days when I follow my morning routine.
Trust me on this one!
2. Keep âregularâ work hours
Treat your workday as a workday and keep regular work hours. If you usually work 9 - 5, stick to those hours as much as you can.
Being clear on when youâre available sets the expectation you arenât on-call 24/7. It also has the added benefit of keeping your brain in a familiar pattern, which helps with staying focused.
The team and I keep 9 - 5 hours for our clients, but I like to be at my desk for 8:30 AM so I can get a jump-start on the day - and it usually means I can wrap up early if I get through my to-dos for the day.
3. Create a separate workspace
Working from places where you typically relax and unwind makes it harder to focus and be productive in those same spaces.
I have an office with a door that I close when Iâm not working. It helps me separate my professional and personal lives and helps m focus because mentally, I know that if Iâm sitting at my desk, Iâm working.
Having a "workspace" can also be helpful for communicating with kids about why you're not able to spend time with them even though you're home all day.
If you donât have the space for a separate office, at least avoid working from your bed. Most people who work in bed tend to do it before falling asleep, which can reduce melatonin and decrease the quality of your sleep.
3. Drink water
Studies have found that staying hydrated can increase your productivity, so donât slip on staying hydrated while working from home.
When we work in an office, getting up to refill a water bottle is a chance to take a break. We can be social, stretch our legs, and allow our brain to focus on something else for a few minutes as we walk to and from the water cooler or kitchen.
At home, we donât have the same natural distractions or reasons to wander, so weâre less likely to stay hydrated.
One trick Iâve been using is to add a few slices of cucumber to a water bottle and keep it on my desk. Having it in armâs reach means I sip more often, and when all thatâs left in the bottle is cucumber slices, I refill the bottle.
The idea of cucumber slices languishing in the bottle makes me feel icky, so I naturally refill the container to keep them hydrated right away. This self-hack has helped me drink an average of 4 - 6 glasses of water a day - way more than I used to!
4. Take breaks and stretch
Working from home can easily lead to sitting at your desk for eight hours straight, hunched over your keyboard like Gollum from The Hobbit if you arenât careful.
I take multiple 5 - 10-minute breaks throughout my day. Sometimes itâs just to go to the bathroom or refill my water, or just to wander through the house to pet the cats and check the mail.
Whatever it is, Iâm moving around and away from my desk.
If I have time, I try to work a little yoga into my afternoon. Yoga with Adriene is a great YouTube channel with easy, 10 - 20-minute yoga videos designed to do at home, and in some cases, even at your desk.
Hereâs one of my favs for you to try:
5. Manage your time with the âPomodoro Techniqueâ
I use this tactic to stay focused when working on something that isnât grabbing my attention or when I have to finish something, and I donât want to get distracted.
The technique uses a timer to break work into intervals of 25 minutes each, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for âtomatoâ.
I like this technique because it encourages breaks, which, as we just talked about, are essential for productivity and your mental well-being. The 25-minute breaks also feel attainable and tend to go by pretty quickly in my experience.
Not sure where to start? This was the first pomodoro video I tried, and itâs still my favourite, but you can find a big list of them here.
6. Make your workspace somewhere you like to be
Hereâs the truth: as long as weâre practicing social distancing, this is where youâre going to be spending a lot of your time. Why not make it an enjoyable place to be?
Hereâs an example of what my desk setup looks like at home.
My office is in the basement so unfortunately I canât grow any plants near my desk, but I make up for it with big pieces of art and extra lighting.
I burn incense, I have photos of my friends on the wall, and I choose desktop wallpapers featuring bright colours that inspire me (my wallpaper is a cenote in Belize - sigh!) All of these things make my desk a positive, inspiring place for me to get work done.
If you have a desktop setup to share, tweet it at me! I'd love to see it.
7. Work when youâre most productive
The key to working from home is to figure out when youâre most productive and do your best to focus on the most important tasks during that time.
If you have kids at home due to school closures, consider when you can get the most done in-between taking care of them.
For example, you know youâre at your best first thing in the morning, try to get up and get as much done as you can. Then, if you have to manage the house, focus on the kids, or if you just need to take a damn break (donât we all?), then youâve got the essential things out of the way.
If you can, talk to your employer about working âflex timeâ so you can be there for your family while also scheduling in the time you need to get work done.
8. Review and plan ahead
If having a morning routine is how I ease into the workday, planning out my next day and reviewing anything I have coming up is how I put work down.
If you donât already use one, I suggest getting a day planner to use while you work from home. I use a Day Designer and swear by them, but if youâre looking for a cheaper alternative, any daily planner will do.
At the end of my workday, I allot 5 - 10 minutes to reviewing the next dayâs meetings and tasks and adding anything I didnât finish to the next dayâs to-do list. I typically have 3 - 8 âhighâ level tasks that I break down into smaller deliverables.
Hereâs an example of what I mean:
- Finalize spring ad campaign development
- Resolve comments in GDoc
- Approve ads / send back edits
- If approved, send to client for final review
Breaking down my high-level to-dos into smaller tasks feels more manageable. Iâve also found that breaking down my thought process this way helps me understand my workflow, which helps me be more productive in the long-term.
This technique helps me "put down" my work mentally so I can focus on other things. It also feels great to sit down at my desk every morning and know what I can expect from my day.
Be gentle with yourself
Itâs OK if you donât feel like you can work at breakneck speed right now.
Weâre all going through a strange experience together, and beating ourselves up for ânot working hard enoughâ is the fastest way to tank our productivity and burn ourselves out.
One of the things working from home teaches us is to listen to our bodies. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed and have the time, take a catnap and come back to what you were doing later. (Odds are nobody noticed you were unavailable for that 20 minutes, anyway.)
Learning to be productive while working from home can be challenging at the best of times. If youâre struggling, donât judge yourself. Be honest with your employer or team and figure out a system that works - weâre all here to support each other right now.
How to Successfully Work From Home While Social Distancing: Final Thoughts
With any luck, the social distancing weâre doing to stop the spread of COVID-19 will be short-lived, and our lives will go back to normal sooner than later.
In the meantime, be kind to yourselves and others. Working from home sounds glamorous until you realize it usually means not leaving your house for days at a time. That lack of social interaction can wear on people.
Please: regularly send messages to friends and loved ones. Schedule FaceTime with people you know who are self-isolating, or at home doing social distancing. Be honest with yourself and others about your mental health.
If you feel overwhelmed, want more advice on working from home, or just need to chat about how youâre feeling, DM me on Twitter. Iâm always here if you need someone to talk to.
Stay safe, and donât forget to wash your hands.
xox,
Alyson & the Starling Social team
