Coliving, Creating & Clearing Away Mental Clutter
Coliving isn’t just about sharing space—it’s about finding connection, inspiration, and the freedom to focus on what matters most.
Hola, Nomads!
I’m in a good place this week, at an artists’ community inside a repurposed elementary school. Let’s start with mornings, because don’t we always? Lately, I’ve been guarding my mornings a little more fiercely, resisting the urge to dive headfirst into work the moment that inbox starts pinging (although it gets difficult).
No, mornings are my time. Here, the early winter light streams through a wall of windows, soft and silver under a sky heavy with promise—but not snow. Not yet. I sip my coffee slowly each morning, cozy under an afghan on the worn leather couch, guarded by the tiger in a cowboy hat. I’ve been savouring the stillness, save for the sparrows darting through bare branches in the communal garden, their tiny bodies in constant, joyful motion.
It’s the kind of quiet that invites you to linger, though I only have a week in this space. Already, the countdown is on, and I’m kicking myself for not booking in for at least two.
I arrived Monday with a long to-do list and big plans, thinking it would be the perfect place to power through projects and map out the months ahead. It’s been incredibly satisfying to knock things off the list.
But there’s a restfulness on offer to counter the productivity here, and I’ve been taking advantage of both. These old halls and sprawling classrooms afford so much space to think and reflect—and not just on my work.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed coliving (with other adults) until I felt it again. There’s something about the quiet hum of activity around you—someone painting in the next room, the faint strum of a guitar from down the hall—that makes creative and remote work feel lighter, less solitary.
Even when I’m working alone, there’s comfort in knowing others nearby are chasing their own ideas, immersed in their own projects. It creates a kind of collective energy that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Recommended reading: How Could She? Embracing a Life That Makes ‘Em Clutch Their Pearls
Being here has also eased something I didn’t realize I was carrying: decision fatigue. I don’t have to figure out what’s for dinner, get groceries, answer 50 well-meaning questions, or wonder who’s at the door. That mental load has lifted, making space for more meaningful decisions.
There’s so much more to say about how this place works, and how it’s helped me find focus, community, and creative flow. Keep reading for a deeper look inside.