Co-working spaces are quickly becoming the norm in the corporate workplace world. I mean, not every employer is capable of spending thousands of dollars, commitments, and obligations on space. On the flip side, some companies will take advantage of a co-working space when transitioning to their new permanent home. Either way, co-working spaces have completely departed from the traditional (and depressing!) high-partitioned workstation setup and instead, have adopted the qualities and efficiencies of an open and collaborative community.
Ideal for the telecommuters, freelancers, small businesses, or entrepreneurs, co-working spaces offer a sophisticated, distraction-free setup with (wait for it) strong WiFi! Now you don’t have to take up a seat at a noisy coffee shop all day feeling guilty that you’ve only purchased one cup of crummy coffee. Essentially, a co-working space is a physical place you can go to on a daily basis, set yourself up at a desk, take advantage of amenities such as copiers/printers, a kitchen, and the company of like-minded individuals. You’re being provided with all the tools of an office environment with the added flexibility. This concept has taken off over the past several years with co-working spaces now being available all over the world!
At the end of the day, we all work differently. You may find you get the most work done alone at home however, with all the great benefits of co-working spaces, it’s really hard to avoid! There are also many types of co-working spaces available allowing you to find the right fit for you. Read on for some of the many benefits on this growing environment!
Keeping Work Life and Home Life Separate
We all know working from home every now and then can be great and super convenient however, it can have it’s many downfalls. With your TV, bed, and getting hung up on house chores, it’s super easy to get distracted! Other family members at home may see you as being available to work on other items around the house instead of being in a state of work (not fun!). At the end of the day, we have our work lives and our home lives for a reason. It’s important to maintain this separation to allow a change of space and for the betterment of our wellbeing!
Becoming a better you
There is lots of research out there that shows how effective you are as an employee when you utilize co-working spaces. Co-working environments often generate a certain type of energy and adjustment in your state of mind when interacting with other like-minded working professionals. You also have a better sense of accountability for the work you are putting out there. Overall, the benefits of this alone outweigh the lower financial costs of using a co-working space.
Making new friends
As an Interior Designer, one of the things I like most about my job is the fact that I get to collaborate and bounce off ideas with other designers around me. Having those moments for true heads-down work is always needed as well but, generating exciting ideas and concepts with your team can be truly rewarding! This is also feeding your need to socialize. Although you are technically working alone in a co-working space, you’re still surrounded by a whole host of pretty awesome people. And the best part is, you already have something in common with one another having chosen to spend your working day in a co-working environment! This just adds to the happiness of your overall day.
Reducing Stress
If you’ve been working remotely for a while, there’s probably that one coffee shop in your area that you’ve nailed down as your tried and true place to bang out your work. But, what if that coffee shop is suddenly over-crowded one day, or their WiFi is down? You’re now taking the precious hours out of your day to run around and find a replacement space – ugh! What’s more is coffee shops are super noisy, making it difficult to hop on those conference calls. Co-working spaces have enclosed meeting spaces, free printing capabilities, and some are even open 24/7! This makes it even easier to finish those last-minute deadlines. You now have the stability you need in your work life!
Maintaining Professionalism
Think about how you’re increasing your overall professionalism by being able to take a client meeting in an enclosed meeting space provided in a co-working environment. You wouldn’t want to meet an important client in noisy coffee shop, right? Right! You’re also telling your clients that your serious about what you do and about the work you put out there. This speaks volumes as it maintains the trust you want from your clients to perform your job well. You also want to be a good representative and good face of the company you work for – and, of course, score those bonus points with your boss, right?
Overall, the benefits of co-working spaces are truly endless. It’s good to know you have a work comfort blanket when you need it am I right? If you’re looking for a change of scenery and this list is sounding pretty good to you, be sure to check out a co-working space nearest you. Some places even offer free trial periods! Happy working!
