The Five Stages of Grief Everyone Goes Through: Coworking for Remote Workers

Working from home is a luxury. It's convenient, flexible, comfortable, it’s a dream. No more rushing out the door, no long agonizing commute, and the dress code can be whatever you decide. But not everything is what it seems, and many remote workers figure this out soon enough. A dream is nothing without its ups and downs. In fact, working from home can feel surprisingly similar to going through the seven stages of grief. Turns out, these stages might even be trying to tell you that your work needs a rebrand. So how can you identify the stages and know when it's time for a change?

It all begins with the first stage: denial. 

Denial

Initially, you think working from home will change your life. How great it is to not have to wake up two hours early to get ready. You're going to be so productive and get so much more done. You start to say things like “I can totally do my laundry while I work on this project”. Who would ever miss going into the office? 

And after the first day, you realize you haven’t opened your mouth once to speak. You just aren’t used to it. It’s peaceful this way. You’re going to love it. 

Anger

Suddenly, the tasks you thought would bring you joy are distracting you from everything. The washer and dryer keep going off every five minutes, signaling you to switch them. But you don’t have the time. Your neighbor's dog won’t stop barking (it’s been hours). And every time you're on a zoom call, the internet breaks up. All this time you thought it was “high speed”. It seems like every little thing is getting under your skin. Congratulations, you're officially annoyed and irritable. 

Bargaining

Your days all start blending together, you're beginning to lose track of projects. But if you just buy a planner to stay on top of tasks, everything will be fine. As long as you remember to check it.  You're missing your daily activity. When you were once walking around the office, you're now walking just ten steps to the couch. But a standing desk can fix this, right? Clearly, you're someone who just needs to move while you're working. You’re not falling apart. You’re doing great.

Depression

Now the sadness is starting to take over. You no longer get up and get ready; you roll out of bed. Pajamas feel perfectly acceptable because, really, what’s the point? No one is seeing you. You start thinking back to all the moments you got to chat with your friend about a project and meet someone new. Slowly, the helplessness seeps in. 

Acceptance

Eventually, you start to settle in. You’ve learned what parts of the day should be tasked with what. You know when it’s time to take a break. You take walks around the house and write in your planner. You’ve found a rhythm. Yeah, working from home isn’t perfect, but neither are you. You’ve just found a way to make it work.

Time To Grow

You’ve finally accepted the terms of remote work. You’ve found your balance but now you’re looking for ways to level up. It may just be that leaving the house for a change of scenery, joining a coworking space, or finding a spot that fuels creativity and connection is just what you need. Working from home starts to feel intentional. Spaces like Flourish Coworking Space make it easy to stay productive, make new friends, and keep excitement alive. Working from home can take you through all five stages, but the right workspace can make all the difference. 

Remote work can be both flexible and fulfilling. Check out coworking for remote workers at Flourish: Learn more here!