The third Monday in January has become known as Blue Monday, or the saddest day of the year.
Today, Unity Place is shining a light on workplace loneliness and how community-focused coworking spaces can help combat isolation and foster meaningful connection in today’s evolving world of work.
With recent reports suggesting that more than one in 20 adults in Milton Keynes feel lonely, the need for spaces that encourage genuine human interaction has never been stronger.
Community has been central to Unity Place since the landmark workplace and leisure destination opened in 2023.
Developed during the pandemic, Unity Place was designed to respond to a world where hybrid and remote working are here to stay.
And while flexibility has brought many benefits, it has also left some people feeling disconnected from colleagues and community.
Unity Place benefits from a number of shared and collaborative spaces including co working space x+why, as well as free spaces to work and chat over coffee including the Urban Food Market and Santander Café.
“Here at Unity Place, we’ve seen how collaboration and shared space can help break the cycle of isolation,” says Adam Holbrook, Head of Placemaking at Unity Place, “Those everyday interactions not only improve productivity, but also help people reconnect socially and form supportive networks that have a real impact on wellbeing.
“Blue Monday is a reminder of the very real feelings many people silently carry,” Adam added, “But being part of a community, whether it’s chatting over coffee from Rye’s Deli, joining one of our craft workshops, or by coming along to a networking event, shows that work doesn’t have to be lonely.
"Everything we do is designed to bring people together, strengthen local connections and create spaces where people feel welcome and supported.”
