Why Co-Working?

The Benefits of Co-Working 

If you’ve been listening, you’ve probably heard the term “co-working” used a lot recently. People are ditching the old office model to join collaborative, shared spaces that offer benefits traditional office settings lack. The workspace is changing, focusing more than ever on productivity, flexibility, and community. Co-working gives you the chance to dive headfirst into all three. 

We won’t lie, sometimes it’s hard to try new things; if you’re used to the traditional office setting and set in your work-life ways, co-working might seem gimmicky. But did you know that over 11 thousand new co-working spaces have opened since 2015? It is predicted that by 2022, there will be an increase of 42% from 2019. Co-working is the new normal and the industry is at an all-time high. If you aren’t convinced yet, let’s go over some of the many benefits of joining a co-working space and see what it’s all about.

Community 

Alan Kohll, a contributor for Forbes who focuses on corporate wellness, wrote in a recent article that “strong social connections make people happier and physically healthier, which can translate into work performance.” Humans are social animals and the connections we have directly impact our daily lives; because we spend an average of 40 hours a week at work, our connections in the workplace are some of the most important. 

If you work from home or own your own business, it is easy to forgo professional social relationships. Social interaction throughout the workday may seem trivial to some, but it is actually incredibly important in fostering your well-being. 

One of the downsides of running your own business or working remotely is that you miss out on the community of everyday office life. Co-working spaces helps fill that gap, giving you the opportunity to create connections with other working professionals without sacrificing your time or productivity.

Networking is a crucial part of growing your career or business.

Networking

Not only does a co-working community give you the chance to make new connections, it can even lead to business growth through partnerships, collaborations, and insights from other businesses.

You’ve probably heard the phrase: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Co-working opens new networking channels for individuals and small businesses, setting up opportunities for personal and business growth. Co-working gives you the chance to connect with individual entrepreneurs, start-ups, and seasoned professionals — all in one space.

Plus, if you run a B2B business, having a few of those businesses within hands reach gives you a unique competitive advantage. Who knows, you could make your next sale while grabbing a coffee from the community café. 

Flexibility 

Different membership options (like ours at workspace) give you the flexibility to work where you want when you want. No longer are you tied to your desk — you’ve got desks all over town. 

Productivity

You know that saying, “a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind?” Well, it’s actually backed up by science. According to The Princeton Neuroscience Institute, visual stimuli interrupt the human attention span and decrease productivity. Working in a cluttered space makes your timeless effective, forcing you to work longer for the same results. 

Good news, though, co-working companies have productivity in mind; offering spaces that boost creativity and promote collaboration is at the forefront of current co-working design. Space matters and co-working companies know that. Check out these design-conscious co-working spaces around the world to see what we’re talking about. 

It’s Fulfilling

One of the most unique parts of co-working is that it surrounds you with people who are truly passionate about what they do. Freelancers and start-ups, some of the most common tenants of co-working spaces, usually pick projects that they truly care about, and it shows. Confucius had it right when he said: “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” And although that might not be entirely true (we all have our days,) feeling fulfilled by work is priceless. Surrounding yourself with professionals who love what they do gives you that extra boost of creativity and passion that can help you take your business to the next level. 

Bonus: 

Sometime’s there are dogs.