When working from home starts to feel like a trap.
Last night, I shared pizza with a dear friend — Erin, the powerhouse behind Hustle Tribe, a local kickboxing and strength studio just a few streets from ko&co workhub in South Melbourne.
Between bites and deep breaths, we didn’t vent; we connected. We talked about how running a small business is equal parts passion and pressure. Last night, two small business owners sat at the table asking the same quiet questions:
Am I taking care of myself?
Is this version of productivity actually working — or am I just stuck in motion?
Why working from home isn't ideal for small business
Working from home is often framed as freedom. No commute. No office rent. No distractions — in theory.
But that story starts to unravel when your living room becomes your meeting room, and your “desk” is one arm’s length from your laundry basket.
The lines blur.
The momentum fades.
And before long, your home — your sanctuary — starts to feel more like a trap than a launchpad.
The Small business wellbeing gap is real
There’s a lot of talk about burnout in corporate life, and I’ve worked in that space. For a time, one of the many hats I wore was in the wellbeing sector, focused on employee engagement and workplace wellness.
But we rarely discuss what burnout, overwhelm, and mental load look like for solopreneurs and small business owners, especially those who manage from the corner of a spare room or the local café.
A study by MYOB found that 77% of sole operators feel lonely or isolated.
Another federal report noted that many small business owners work more than 50 hours a week, often with little support or structure around them.
Recent research shows that small business owners feel stretched, overworked, isolated, and carry the pressure alone.
Those feelings can compound fast when you wear every hat and do it yourself.
And we know intuitively:
Structure, rhythm, and community aren’t just nice to haves
—They help us show up, stay focused, and feel like we’re not doing it alone.
However, they don’t just appear when you work for yourself.
You must build them or find a space that does.
Because we are not just wired to work. We’re wired for rhythm, structure and connection.
Coworking as a wellbeing investment for small business in south mlebourne
Coworking isn’t free. But maybe it’s time to stop seeing it as ‘just rent’ or ‘just another membership’ and start seeing it for what it really is: a business wellbeing investment.
Just like:
- A gym supports your physical health,
- Therapy supports your mental health,
- Coworking supports your professional rhythm, boundaries and sanity.
Even though it is early days, I have already seen it first-hand at ko&co: small business owners walking through our unassuming door stressed and feeling isolated, who then walk out at the end of their day with us a little lighter, seen, and supported.
It’s because you get:
- A clear start and end to your day
- A calm space to focus
- People to say ‘hi’ to who aren’t your plants, cat or ChatGPT!
A Shared office for small business owners who get it.
Before launching ko&co, I ran my business from home, delivering brand strategy one moment, doing laundry the next. It was survival mode disguised as ‘freedom’.
Now, having built a shared office in South Melbourne for small business owners, I can confidently say that your environment matters.
Our space isn’t about hustle.
It’s about sustainability.
It’s about remembering that you’re not in this alone.
Step into something better
At ko&co workhub, we’ve created more than just a coworking space — we’re building a community. One designed to support:
- Creatives
- Solopreneurs
- Small business owners
- People who are ready to grow — on their terms
So, if you’ve been feeling a little flat, a little isolated, or just overdue for a change of scenery… we see you.
And perhaps if you’re looking coworking in South Melbourne for small business, consider ko&co workhub as we offer a shared office space designed for connection, not just productivity.
You can try ko&co workhub by booking a Day Escape (Day Pass) or see what ko&co workhub is all about by booking a tour with me so I can personally show you the space.
And if you’re lucky, we might even take you for Greek food at The Golden Fleece on Montague Street!
We’re building something here, for people like you.
Let’s build it together.
Kendra x
Founder and community manager
