The need for dedicated coworking spaces has increased alongside the rise of remote work. OF course, remote workers aren’t the only ones who utilize these communal working areas; freelancers and small businesses are two other common patrons. However, if you’ve never heard of these spaces, you may be confused as to how effective they really are.
The information below will hopefully help answer a few of your questions by explaining just a few of the benefits coworking spaces provide, with probably the biggest one being increased productivity.
Productivity
It may sound strange at first to hear that working in a coworking space can increase productivity, but it’s true and it makes a lot of sense when you dig deeper into it. When you work at home, there are plenty of distractions to succumb to.
Sometimes, they are contained within the house, such as by seeing how dusty a room is and having the urge to clean it or by a pet playing with the cord to get your attention. Other times, neighbors will engage in loud yardwork or conversations, preventing you from focusing until they’re done.
Even people with home offices aren’t immune to these distractions. Coworking spaces limit these distractions by immersing you in an environment that is designed for working and then surrounding you with others who are also trying to get work done.
Add in the fact that many of these places provide small comforts like coffee machines and it’s not hard to see why so many find it easier to concentrate on their work in coworking spaces.
Flexibility
There is one big reason why so many people prefer working remotely as opposed to being in their company’s offices: flexibility. While this is slowly becoming more important to people as they find themselves to be more stressed than ever, it’s even more important to those with children, needy pets, or even just aging family members.
Taking care of these people, animals and even ourselves takes time, which is constantly being demanded elsewhere. Luckily, dedicated coworking spaces recognize and support this by usually being available at all hours of the day every week.
This means that yes, you could show up to one of these locations and work from 9 AM to 5 PM every weekday, but it also means you could instead take a weekday off and work on a weekend instead, stay longer to make some good progress on a large project, or even just take an hour break to go to the gym, doctor, or after school activity.
Even just a ten-minute walk to clear your head and relax a bit is allowed if you feel so inclined. So long as you get your work done on time and pay the fees of the space when they’re due, your time is yours to organize.
Community
While working from home is a massive benefit for many, it also has one drawback: loneliness. Those doing work for a company remotely may be able to talk with coworkers to alleviate this loneliness, but freelancers often don’t have such a luxury. Even those who do have coworkers but work remotely may still feel loneliness seeping in even with emails, video calls, texts, etc. with coworkers.
Coworking spaces are both open to and utilized by many different people and don’t prevent them from communicating with one another, alleviating this feeling of loneliness for many. This may be part of the reason why so many enjoy working in crowded spaces like coffee shops; they’re surrounded by others who may be working or are just interested in enjoying a good cup of coffee and a fresh muffin.
It’s easy to make friends or even just to talk to strangers in environments like these because you all have at least one connection point already. Of course, some prefer the solitude provided by remote work but still feel lonely. If this describes you, then you need to find a balance between being alone and comfortable and being surrounded by others and slightly more stressed.
Networking
Another massive benefit of coworking spaces and the sense of community they can provide is the networking opportunities. Since only certain types of work can be done remotely, you’re likely to find others fulfilling similar roles to yourself and be able to learn from each other as a result.
Making connections with people who run successful small businesses or who work in other careers can also be beneficial should you or someone you know end up requiring those services in the future. You may also be informed of new courses to take to improve how you work, tips to make your job easier or even just a place to vent frustrations to those who will understand.
These conversations can also help fuel your motivation and creativity as well. So long as you’re comfortable talking to strangers, there’s a lot you can gain from working in a coworking space beyond friendship.
Lots of Options
The best part is that many different places can be considered coworking spaces. For example, many companies create dedicated coworking spaces that other companies or individuals can access with a fee. These spaces are designed to look and feel like true office environments without the stuffiness that typically comes from such environments.
There may be more open areas with tables and chairs, more private offices or even large conference rooms available for anyone to use at any time. However, people who can’t afford these fees or prefer a different kind of working environment may instead prefer to visit a local establishment.
People who don’t mind crowds may find a local coffee shop or restaurant to be the best option for them, while others may prefer the peace and quiet offered by libraries or bookstores. Even parks could be considered coworking spaces. Just be aware of the pros and cons of each spot before dedicating a heavy work day to one of these locations; not all are conducive to working and can cause more problems than they solve as a result.