Square Works, Author at Bristol Creative Industries

In a time where hybrid or fully remote working is becoming increasingly more common, it is really important to be able to make the most of your work environment. Sitting at your desk all day may seem like the best way to complete all of your tasks for the day, but there is only so long a human can focus before productivity begins to take a nose-dive. There are lots of small, easy changes you can make to your working day in order to ensure you are as motivated and productive as you can be, whilst still looking after your wellbeing. Here are our 5 favourite tips for increasing productivity at your desk!

1. Leave your desk

Sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it? Well, plenty of studies have shown that taking regular breaks away from your desk increase your productivity when you are back at your desk. Give your mind a break from your workload by taking a walk, grabbing a coffee or just getting some fresh air, which is proven to massively increase focus.

2. Stay hydrated

It is really important to stay hydrated, both in and out of the office. Increased water consumption improves energy levels and the quality of your sleep, both of which will have an impact on the quality and speed at which you complete your work. Whilst a cup of tea or coffee will aid rehydration, it is a good idea to keep a bottle of water at your desk so that you can drink throughout the day.

3. Look after your space

Think about what motivates or inspires you, without distracting you. Studies have shown that having pictures of loved ones, plants or other small personal belongings provide a quick mood boost and can increase focus. Ensuring your desk space is personalised to you but not cluttered is a good way to make the workday run a little smoother. Staying on top of organisation and storage also reduces the time you’ll spend hunting for that file or favourite pen, which can lead to further distractions!

4. Break it down

If your to-do list is seemingly never-ending, it’s easy to feel demotivated and like you aren’t actually achieving anything. Breaking down big jobs in to smaller, more manageable tasks creates an easy plan to follow, as well as a huge feeling of accomplishment when you complete everything on your list for that day. Setting yourself smaller goals for the day mean you don’t feel overwhelmed, and you might find yourself surpassing your targets, which will further add to your sense of achievement.

5. Keep connected

So you’ve tried everything, been for a walk, had some water, looked at your office plants, but your workload still seems to be increasing and you can’t seem to get going? Talk to your co-workers, or the other people in your office, whether it’s on zoom, email, or face to face, the chances are that if you are experiencing a dip in productivity, they may be able to help. Either by reminding you of what the end goal is for your task or project, or by helping you manage some of your workload, the people around you are all part of your support network, and being able to engage with and offer assistance to your colleagues can have a feel-good effect on you as well.

For more great tips or resources that help increase productivity in the workplace, we like SnackNation’s blog: 34 Ways To Be More Productive At Work

In November, we attended the Bristol Property Awards at Ashton Gate Stadium, after being nominated in the Workspaces category.

We are incredibly proud to share that we have once again won the award for Best Workspace in Bristol at this year’s Bristol Property Awards!

We have been finalists in this category three times, and with two wins under our belt, there really is no doubt that we represent the very best in flexible working in Bristol.

The judges had this to say: “Always a step ahead of the game – massively growing its membership and had its best year to date. A clear sense of what they’re trying to achieve.”

Thank you to our wonderful team who work so hard to make Square Works a success, and thank you to our members who form our incredible community. We can’t wait to see what successes 2025 brings for us at Square Works!

To find out more about us and to take a tour, contact us today.

This article was written by Kenz Meadows, Lead Editor of Squarely Magazine. Squarely is The Square Club’s lifestyle magazine; as a member of Bristol’s Best Co-working space, you are able to pick up a complimentary copy! Find out more here.

Best known for the annual Oktoberfest bacchanal, Munich is a patchwork of old and new. The neon signs for gambling halls above an independent Birkenstock shop, monastic breweries and a world famous Glockenspiel just round the corner from the H&M make knowing where to look a bit of a headspin. But knowing where to go is a much easier task to manage. The rich tradition of monastic brewing and the beerhalls Oktoberfest celebrates are just as delightful an experience without the nearly six million international tourists the festival reliably draws each year.

Of course, the guidebooks will tout the most renowned beer halls like the Hofbrauhaus, that are sure to be on everyone’s list. While the beer halls still largely employ table sharing, seating multiple parties at the same table, walk-ins are not typically something this particular hall accommodates–not even in the off season. So, reserve your steins well in advance.

I spoke with Membership Manager, Pelin Yüksel, at our reciprocal Famtain Club, in the heart of the Altstadt–or Old City. A native to Turkey, she had an outsider’s perspective on Munich and how the club fits in to the city’s social scene. “Munich is very business-oriented — I think people have a hard time turning off and having fun. In response, Famtain focuses on being a social club–presenting opportunities for our members to relax, enjoy themselves, and socialize outside of an office environment.” And if you’re foregoing your office watercooler for social engagement, you could do worse than the Famtain. It drips with lush colours, delicate hand-painted wallpaper and extremely inviting furnishings. I could have easily overstayed my welcome. The restaurant has a revolving menu of seasonally appropriate dishes, offering fusion cuisine with effortless expertise.

As regards to Oktoberfest, Yüksel is pleased to offer our members all the same access to amenities their own members receive. However, if the beer halls are hard to get into during the off-season, they’re impossible to reserve for the festival. Book now. Better yet, book yesterday. And be sure to reach out to the Famtain Club when you do, it doesn’t hurt to have an in when arranging your own autumnal jaunt.

If, like I did, you feel compelled to brush up on your high school German speaking skills, I would recommend really committing to it. Nearly everyone in the city spoke enough English to reveal my German for the exercise in futility that it is. While plenty of nations embrace and admire tourists making the effort to speak the local language, I did not get the impression this was one. I would absolutely recommend getting out of the city for an afternoon. I took the train out to Hoehenschwangau, grabbing fresh pretzels and bottles of beer at a stop along the way. Watching the countryside roll by you, warm salty baked good in-hand, is enough to make anyone seriously consider a rural Bavarian lifestyle change.

While the castle was impressive, I was disappointed by the tour at Neuschwanstein Schloss. The quark donuts from a stand down the hill from the castle were ample consolation after the expensive English audio tour though. Back in Munich, the museum I enjoyed most was the Alte Pinakothek. The expansive collection was home to more than a few masters even I, a novice in fine art, was surprised to see in person. My highlight from the trip was absolutely the food, but specifically the food purchased off the cornucopia of vendors in the Viktualienmarkt. Don’t miss the pickles. Seriously.

Since 2019, Square Works has become the byword for luxurious serviced offices and co-working in Bristol. We started with the aim of building a community where professionals could work, network, relax and socialise in an environment that offered the very best – from an exciting events calendar to a light and airy workspace that members can truly enjoy.

Situated on the beautiful Berkeley Square, a ten-minute walk from the city centre, Square Works is spacious, airy and filled with contemporary art and natural light. This unique workspace is spread across three elegant Georgian townhouses, with a range of conference and meeting rooms, communal spaces, kitchens and a fitness suite.

As a BCI member you can get 10% off memberships and meeting rooms at Square Works, contact our reception at hello@squareworksbristol.com to take advantage of this offer.

We’re excited to announce that Square Works is now home to a stunning new mural, painted by none other than local muralist and illustrator Dave Bain.

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting local creatives Dave Bain and Jess Knights to paint a mural in the outside area of Square Works. We wanted a bright and fun mural that tied the collaborative and creative community of Square Works with our love for nature and wildlife. Dave certainly delivered, producing a fantastic design and executing it to perfection.

If you haven’t seen the mural yet, what are you waiting for?! We’ve shared some snaps on our social media (click here), but you can’t beat seeing it in person!

We want to extend a huge thank you to both Dave Bain and Jess Knights for their amazing work on this piece!