It Takes a Village (and a Dedicated Workspace): Why Your Family and To-do List Will Thank You for Separating Work and Home
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As parents, can we talk about the invisible mental load of working from home? Even with a great caregiver or school option in place, the sight of a sink full of dishes, a pile of laundry, or the sound of your child’s voice in the next room is enough to derail a deep-focus moment. Suddenly, answering a simple email feels like climbing a mountain. We’ve all been there: Why did I just tighten a loose faucet instead of hitting my deadline? Why am I folding towels while my inbox is full of inquiries? When your home is your office, you never truly leave work, and you never truly leave the “always on” feeling of parent mode.
The research on productivity and interruptions is clear. A study from UC Berkeley notes, “The impact of interruptions cannot be overstated. They kill our momentum. When we start again on our task, we can’t simply pick up where we left off, we have to reorient ourselves, re-immerse, and re-gain our momentum. The length of our recovery time depends on the complexity of our task; ranging anywhere from 8 minutes for simpler tasks to 25 minutes for more complex ones.” It is easy to see how the small pulls of home cause a constant drain on our attention, leaving us feeling overwhelmed without the satisfaction of feeling accomplished at the end of the day.
A coworking space like The Pearl Works offers an immediate solution: a cultivated environment of productivity backed by a community of support. There are some doors that support your wellbeing the moment you walk through them. We strive for that feeling of relaxed, human-centered comfort that provides the foundation to accomplish your to do list.
The shift can begin even before you leave the house with the "goodbye ritual." A commute, even a short one, acts as a clear boundary for everyone. It signals to your kids that when you are home, you are fully present and ready to play. It also allows them to build resilience and communication skills by having their needs met by another capable adult; giving you both new stories to share when you reconnect. Stepping into a calm environment allows you to work from a place of center, which fundamentally changes your relationship with your home.
Jared, a member and father of two, describes it this way: “As a parent at home, there is a lot of responsibility and a lot being asked of me. Coming to The Pearl Works, I feel supported. Even simple things, like having trail mix and fruit on the counter, make me feel cared for and give me the space to focus.” Another member, Hari, puts it simply: “I just would not be able to work if I was home. My kid sees me and wants to engage. Having a dedicated desk here is a must for me.”
Being around other adults in pursuit of their goals is a powerful reminder of your own identity and belonging. Having that sense of self as a parent supports a child’s development as well. In fact, when your kids see you lit up by your work—and see that your nervous system is regulated because your attention isn't constantly split, they benefit, too.
Emily, a member and mom says, “I came to PearlWorks to find community and a better work/life balance. It's hard to fight the ‘parent guilt’ when I hear my toddler playing right outside the office door at home. It’s been great to have a flexible space where I can be fully dedicated to my work, and it frees me up to be fully dedicated to my family when I get home!”
At The Pearl Works, many of our members are parents. Our coffee and tea station often becomes a place of solidarity; a spot to debrief on teething, school drop-offs, and middle-of-the-night wake-ups. The community slack is often the place people drop a note that they are looking for a babysitter or playground invitations for over the weekend. As a mother of two and the Community Operations Manager here, I’ve found the care in this community to be unmatched both professionally and in reestablishing my identity after having kids. There is something deeply affirming about meeting another parent who just gets it, whether you’re swapping daycare tips or operational knowledge.
You don’t have to carry the mental load alone. By creating a physical space for your professional life, you make room to be the parent you want to be when you walk back through your front door. If you’re looking for a village that supports both your career and your sanity, come see what life at The Pearl Works looks like. We’d love to have you at the coffee station; toddler tantrum stories and all.