- 14.01.26
Blue Monday Blues?
The third Monday in January has in recent years become known as Blue Monday, or the saddest day of the year. As 19th January approaches, Unity Place is shining a light on workplace loneliness and how community-focused coworking spaces can help combat isolation and foster meaningful connections in today’s evolving world of work.
With recent reports suggesting that more than one in twenty adults in Milton Keynes feel lonely, and that over 10% of workers across the UK experience loneliness at work, 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, a period that permanently reshaped how and where people work, 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 several 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.
So, can coworking really help people feel less lonely? Adam Holbrook, Head of Placemaking at Unity Place, believes it can.
“Here at Unity Place, we’ve seen how collaboration and shared space can help break the cycle of isolation,” says Adam. “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,” adds Adam. “But being part of a community, whether it’s chatting over coffee from Rye’s Deli, joining one of our craft workshops, or 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.”
Wellbeing at the heart of community
That focus on connection extends beyond the workspace. In January and beyond, Unity Place is placing wellbeing firmly centre stage, using Blue Monday as a catalyst for bringing people together.
The programme includes guided breathwork classes, designed to help people manage stress, reset and reconnect, particularly valuable for those working remotely or juggling hybrid schedules.
And on 29th January, Unity Place will host a Wellbeing Pop-Up Market, showcasing a curated mix of local and national wellbeing experiences. The pop-up reflects the growing appetite for holistic health and positions Unity Place as a destination not just for work, but for culture, connection and wellbeing.
For those working from home, Unity Place offers an easy way to break isolation, whether that’s meeting others over lunch in its Urban Food Market, joining a wellbeing session, or reconnecting with friends for after-work drinks in the Sky Lounge.
