Company announcement after company announcement is making one thing very clear: returning to the office is on the backburner. But that just begs the question, what becomes of remote workers? Although many folks have layered healthy habits into their daily routine, even more people have not. The convenience of rocking a Zoom mullet (business on the top, pajamas on the bottom) is wearing thin after the many months of WFH culture. It's time to consider some new habits to keep your work efficient and your body, mind and soul healthy. Here are what we've seen work when you're working from home. 

When you start a business, it's difficult to look down the road and see where it might end up. When you're caught up in the busy day-to-day it can feel impossible to think about what it might look like to end your business. But much like retirement, spending some time thinking about the future of your business is a critical piece of the pie and it will drive your business decisions down the road. 

At Spark Commons, small business is one of our biggest priorities. Not only do we play host to a variety of micro- to macro-businesses, but we like to support them as part of our community experience. 

If you're considering starting a small business in Bremerton, we thought we would put together a few resources that can help you get on your way. 

​The pandemic came out of nowhere. People across the workforce were challenged to make changes. Workers were challenged with balancing working from home, education, and getting a few minutes to their darned selves. Organizations were faced with accelerating digital transformation. They needed to ensure that the internal infrastructure was capable of supporting this new “work anywhere” reality. 

Of course, there are offices opening in certain parts of the country, but even those companies have found it hard to justify maintaining their previous office space capacity. Cuts were inevitable. Some have been forced to eliminate their physical locations, however, employees and business owners aren’t going to be satisfied with being at home forever. 

​Whether you’re a freelancer, an entrepreneur, or a remote worker, there are so many reasons to get distracted when trying to work from coffee shops or basement offices. Spark Commons is run by two entrepreneurs, so we know this pain well. There’s a point where you either want to run screaming from the house or you want to cry because the local barista is steaming the milk too loud. 

​You know that when you shop local, you’re supporting peewee sports, rents, grocery runs, and ice skating lessons and we’re here to tell you that it is so true! Our local businesses prop up our community, creates diversity in products and perspectives, supports community charities, and helps create jobs. Thanks to the instability of 2020, our local businesses are hurting. That’s why it’s more important than ever to shop local. 

And that’s why we put together our favorite local treasures here in Bremerton! These local businesses will make your holidays sparkle!