Author: David Perritano

Editor’s note: Membership options have changed since this post was published. Sunrise Solars Coworking now offers private office memberships only. See current memberships.

Now that we’re nearly past the stage of mimicking our commuting routes to maintain the ritual that served a crucial role in our work-life balance, we can acknowledge that our commute is our vital transition from home life to work life. It’s time we need to break away from our home life, including the chores and responsibilities associated with that aspect of our lives. It’s also the time we need to mentally prepare for a full and productive workday. AND we no longer need to mimic the ritual! We can start to commute again in real life!

Our commute establishes a boundary between our home life mindset and our work-life mindset. Whether you listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks during your commute, you have some kind of ritual that accompanies your travel time from your home to your office. The mental break necessary to get into “work mode,” your commute can also be a time of reflection and thinking.

Shifting from your identity at home, whether that be the role of a parent, spouse, or roommate, to your identity at work is much easier to accomplish when you engage in a ritual such as a commute. Working from home blurs the line between these identities, making it difficult to transition between the two.

Because we understand our rituals and because we know what to expect of them, they can benefit us, setting us up for the next step without requiring too much thought on our part. They help us transition easily from one place to the next, and in the case of a commute, rituals literally take us from one place to the next. By segmenting our lives, we can create a better work-life balance.

Research shows that commuters who think and plan for the day and week ahead better navigate the stresses of the workday and workweek than those who allow their minds to wander during their commute. Researchers theorize that this practice allows the aforementioned transition between the role we play at home and our role at work. By the same token, reflecting on lessons learned during the commute home can improve performance at work overall. Consolidating the memories of the day can have a lasting effect.

Serving the New York Capital Region, Sunrise Solars Coworking provides free and easy off-street parking. Conveniently located in Latham, New York, off Troy-Schenectady Road near the Northway, we are 15 minutes from Albany, 10 minutes from Schenectady, 12 minutes from Troy, and 28 minutes from Saratoga Springs, New York. A short commute to our coworking space can be the mental bridge holding up your work-life balance.

Sunrise Solars Coworking offers coworking or private office memberships with bookable conference room time included. Enjoy safe meetings in a conference room or in the privacy of your own office with the peace of mind that our high-quality air filtration system brings to you and your colleagues.

Amenities:

• Centrally located in Latham
• New passive solar building
• Ultra-fast, secure Internet
• Free coffee
• Kitchen and break room
• Free Parking
• Walking Trail
• Fitness room access
• Shower
• High-quality air filtration
• Oversized windows

Created 5/25/21

Editor’s note: Membership options have changed since this post was published. Sunrise Solars Coworking now offers private office memberships only. See current memberships.

If you’ve been working from home like many of us during the last year or so, you may be rethinking the idealized vision of the work-from-home lifestyle: no hour-long grooming session, no commute, and pajama-wearing all day. Many of us have learned that there is value in creating a work-life balance and that there are advantages to separating work from home.

For those who have either committed to working from home permanently or whose companies have transitioned to decentralizing their workforce – or even for those who started a new business in the wake of our economic disruption, a coworking environment can provide the perfect solution to the social restraints and the lack of work-life balance when working from home.

Among the many advantages of coworking, surrounding yourself with like-minded people can alleviate the feelings of isolation and loneliness that often accompany working from home. Interacting with “coworkers” fulfills a social need, and it helps that those same coworkers have also engaged in an independent work approach similar to yours.

A Small Business Labs survey shows that there are social benefits from sharing a coworking space, especially for those who work independently. With 87% of respondents reporting that they meet other members of their coworking space for social reasons, the survey reveals the social motivation behind joining a coworking space. 83% reported that they are less lonely since joining their coworking space, with 79% reporting that coworking expanded their social network. Coworking can be the cure to a loneliness epidemic impacting people who work alone or who work remotely.

Whether you’re commiserating over shared frustrations or seeking valuable insight, or simply bouncing ideas off of your coworking colleagues, sharing a coworking space is a networking opportunity with social benefits.

Without the accountability of leaving home for work, it’s way too easy to watch television, raid the fridge, or even lie in bed while working from home. While professionals tell us to get dressed for work even when working from home, we can take the idea behind this concept one step further. To put us in the mind frame of “working,” we can actually “go” to work in a coworking space.

Rather than deal with the distractions of family and chores, we can work from a space dedicated exclusively to work. Separating work from home adds the accountability aspect to your workday and adds to the energy generated by interacting with your fellow workers in your coworking space.

Coworking spaces may prove to be more valuable in the post-pandemic world than they were before we experienced the effects of COVID-19. Beyond an individual’s desire to socialize and separate work from home, coworking spaces can help communities recover and rebound. By leaning on social networks and local connections that coworking spaces can provide, small businesses can leverage the power of coworking spaces to withstand the potential of ever-present social distancing measures and their effects.

While solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners can benefit from the social interactions and work-life balance a coworking space can offer, employees from large companies can also enjoy the benefits of coworking space. To mitigate the effects of the pandemic and avoid future disruptions to centrally located offices, companies are helping their employees transition from a work-from-home situation by locating them in coworking spaces.

If you find you don’t need a large office all to yourself, and if you don’t want to experience the isolation and loneliness of working from home, Sunrise Solars Coworking can be your middle ground. Serving the New York Capital Region, Sunrise Solars offers coworking or private office memberships with bookable conference room time included. Enjoy safe meetings in a conference room or in the privacy of your own office with the peace of mind that our high-quality air filtration system brings to you and your colleagues.

Amenities:

• Centrally located in Latham
• New passive solar building
• Ultra-fast, secure Internet
• Free coffee
• Kitchen and break room
• Free Parking
• Walking Trail
• Fitness room access
• Shower
• High-quality air filtration
• Oversized windows

Created 5/21/21

Editor’s note: Membership options have changed since this post was published. Sunrise Solars Coworking now offers private office memberships only. See current memberships.

Online meetings played an important role in everyone’s health and safety during the pandemic, but a return to normalcy will include a mix of meeting virtually and together in person. The convenience of meeting virtually came at a cost, with attendees losing some of the chance to build bonds, the engagement that comes from eye contact, and interruption-free meetings. Now that we have protocols to meet in person safely, there are various benefits to meeting in the same physical space.

As we have come to understand that non-verbal communication can be just as important if not more important than the actual words we say, Psychology Today clarifies the point: if there is any inconsistency between an attitude communicated verbally versus an attitude communicated via body language, listen to the body language. Even with the largest screen size on the market for your online meetings, it would still be impossible to replicate the non-verbal cues one can read when meeting and working in person with others.

Let’s face it: you won’t get the chance to run into your colleague in the community kitchen or in the hallway, or outside the front door if you only meet them through a screen in your living room. Sometimes, the best conversations occur in the most unexpected spots during downtime in the office, be they conversations about work or about life. This is how we make friends at work and how we brainstorm ideas without the pressure of a deliverable.

Forbes surveyed more than 750 business executives about their meeting and travel preferences, and 84% preferred in-person, face-to-face meetings over technology-enabled meetings. The executives attributed building stronger, more meaningful business relationships as the number one reason for in-person meetings and conferences.

Despite attempts to keep people engaged during a virtual meeting, it’s too easy for a meeting to slide into the control of extroverts who have no problem dominating the course of the agenda. Although the host may attempt to mitigate the pitfalls of a virtual meeting by calling on each participant to speak, it is still strange and challenging to make conversation and to continually remind everyone to mute or unmute their mic.

Meeting in person can keep your team feeling unified and motivated. Enabling your team to effectively collaborate face-to-face eliminates the risks of attendees multitasking or being distracted by surroundings. Everyone can focus on the task at hand while participating equally.

No matter how fast your Internet speed is and no matter how many times your colleagues remind their families that they’re on a work call, virtual meetings are ripe for disruption. Tech solutions like the raised hand and the chat seem to only add to the confusion and distraction. Hosts not only need to move the meeting along, but they also need to monitor these technical extras to ensure everyone is included, only to miss the discussion at hand.

Meeting in person allows your meetings to run fluidly, free of technical and personal interruptions. With body language serving as a social cue indicating the point when someone will begin speaking and when they have finished speaking, there are fewer chances that participants will accidentally talk over one another.

By implementing COVID protocols, we can return to in-person meetings. Those additional efforts will be worth the benefits of meeting in person after more than a year of screen time in lieu of human contact. Leverage body language and social cues to make the most of meeting colleagues and clients in person. And when it’s not possible to meet in person, there’s still the convenient virtual meeting backup plan.

Sunrise Solars Coworking offers a great place to work and meet safely face-to-face with your team. Serving the New York Capital Region, Sunrise Solars offers coworking or private office memberships with bookable conference room time included. Enjoy safe meetings in a conference room or the privacy of your own office with the peace of mind that our high-quality air filtration system brings to you and your colleagues.

Amenities:

• Centrally located in Latham
• New passive solar building
• Ultra-fast, secure Internet
• Free coffee
• Kitchen and break room
• Free Parking
• Walking Trail
• Fitness room access
• Shower
• High-quality air filtration
• Oversized windows

Created 5/17/21

What do you do?
I am the CEO and President of Catalfamo Family Insurance Agency. We are an independent insurance agency that’s veteran-owned and operated. We are proud to be a family-run insurance agency with access to the same carriers that the large companies do. We pride ourselves on being easily found and available, treating all of our clients the same, and each and every one like family. We are proud to hire veterans to our company and will be receiving a platinum award for hiring veterans.
Who are your clients?
Our ideal client is someone who is looking for quality insurance for the best value. We also provide financial services for both business and personal finances.
What inspired your career?
I am a Schenectady fireman, so I have witnessed families go through some of the worst nights of their lives, especially when they are uninsured. Many people have to put their lives back together after a horrible event like a fire, so I was inspired to help those that need it. My job entails providing quality insurance and/or financial services to businesses and individuals.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like classic cars a lot. I have a 1969 445 convertible, so I enjoy going on car show cruises in my free time. I also enjoy hiking with my family in the Adirondacks. Pre-COVID, we enjoyed traveling as a family. After the pandemic is over, we plan to take trips to Florida, Texas, and Hawaii.
Why did you become a member of Sunrise Solars Coworking?
Everything is amazing, the people are very nice, and it is a great setup.
How can people get in touch with you?
The best way to reach us would be to call us at (518) 688-1421, and you can find us Facebook and Instagram.

To learn more about becoming a member of Sunrise Solars Coworking contact us today!

Created 6/16/21

Take a video tour of Sunrise Solars Coworking!

Check out the amenities and the beautiful office spaces we have available. To learn more about our memberships and pricing, visit our Memberships page. Contact us today to book your in-person tour!

Created 4/22/21

Editor’s note: Membership options have changed since this post was published. Sunrise Solars Coworking now offers private office memberships only. See current memberships.

The term “coworking” (as in collaborative workspaces like Sunrise Solars Coworking) was coined by Brad Neuberg around 2005. At that time, Neuber said, “It seemed I could either have a job which would give me structure and community, or I could be freelance and have freedom and independence. Why couldn’t I have both?”

As a result, Neuberg launched the first coworking site in San Francisco and the rest, as they say, is history. The concept flourished and spread across the country and the globe. It became a movement.

Since that time, people from a variety of industries have used coworking spaces. These spaces combine the freedom of self-direction with the advantages of a sense of community in workspaces. Coworkers from companies (as well as freelancers) work near one another, in shared spaces.

Why Choose Coworking?

Coworking allows the flexibility of selecting a convenient, fully equipped office space anywhere they are needed geographically. This working model also shaves the costs of traditional, single location offices, including real estate ownership, custodial services, and utilities.

To enjoy the productivity of a coworking facility, all you need to bring is your own computer bag, backpack or briefcase with personal essentials for the coworking office!

What’s It Like to Work at Sunrise Solars?

We help you kick off your workday with free coffee to enjoy at your private desk in a comfortable, ergonomic desk chair. The workspaces provide plentiful natural light to keep your circadian rhythms in sync, even as you work… but the benefits of working at Sunrise Solars don’t stop there.

You can feel good about your energy footprint at Sunrise Solars, because our building has passive solar design with active solar panels on the roof. We offer many office amenities too!

Coworking Office Amenities

• Free parking
• Fast, secure internet connections

We know that your ability to concentrate and be efficient is a matter of your physical and mental health. We offer the best environment for the whole you. When you need a little time to think, you can take advantage of our healthy activity amenities.

Coworking Health Amenities

• Walking trail
• Fitness room access
• Shower

You can keep your healthy diet on track even when you are away from home!

Our amenities also include:

• Kitchen area
• Break area
• Outdoor picnic area

Our oversized windows open for fresh air, while the Merv 13 air filtration keeps the interior air quality high.

Easy Access to a Better Working Environment

Sunrise Solar is conveniently and centrally located in Latham, NY. At Sunrise Solars Coworking, you will find all the features you need for productivity while eliminating feelings of isolation with the friendliest people for coworkers.

We encourage you to contact us with questions or to schedule a visit so you can see how working at Sunrise Solars Coworking can improve your work, your business, and your life!

Created 4/16/21

---

Solar panels are going up on the roof of Sunrise Solars Coworking and Sunrise Management & Consulting’s new building! The building’s architecture and placement also incorporate passive solar design, with large windows angled to capture sunlight all day.

Want to work in a building powered by the sun? See current private office memberships or book a tour.

Created 3/16/21

Editor’s note: Membership options have changed since this post was published. Sunrise Solars Coworking now offers private office memberships only. See current memberships.

The Capital Region’s newest coworking space will be opening its doors to new members very soon! Sunrise Solars Coworking is conveniently located in Latham, NY on Troy-Schenectady Road near the Northway.

Sunrise Solars Coworking will offer modern, innovation-fueled workspaces where original ideas and abundant coffee percolate. Our building, featuring passive solar design, is positioned for all-day sunlight with many large windows that open.

At Sunrise Solars you can:

• Enjoy fresh air and movement breaks which improve focus and creativity.
• Give your expansive ideas room to flourish while exercising on our half-mile nature trail or in the fitness room.
• Sit by a window for lunch in our break area or stop at one of the many local restaurants and eateries in the area, including at Latham Farms or Latham Circle Mall stores.

Check back soon for updates about our opening in late March or early April!

To learn more about our memberships, private office space, and meeting rooms, visit our Memberships page.

Created 2/25/21