Top 5 Benefits of Working at Coworking Spaces

Starting your own business and working from home is an exciting venture. But if you're working alone, you'll realize quickly that it can be lonely. You're at your computer all day, on the phone sometimes, and at your desk. Break time means walking to your kitchen to pour yourself another cup of coffee.  Alone. As your business takes off, you realize you can rent an office with a professional business address; but having an office doesn't take away from the fact that you're still working alone.

When you're in this kind of psychological rut, consider a coworking space. A comforting statistic by The Work Loft shows that 85% of people felt more motivated at coworking spaces. Why? The benefits of coworking space are plentiful. Here are just a few:

It's cheaper than having your own office

Paying for an office can be costly. Monthly rent can take a huge hit on your budget. Coworking cuts those fees significantly, and when business dips, you can take some time off from the coworking space until business picks up again. This gives you a good amount of flexibility you wouldn't have if you had signed a one-year lease in an office building. You can opt for a short-term commitment or a long-term commitment, or a combination of the two.

You're not always alone

You may not be a social butterfly but being around people, even if everyone is working, can fulfill the little social craving your mind needs. Some days, you may choose to head straight for your desk and work. Other days, you may prefer to hang out in the shared space just a little longer, drinking coffee and talking. It's up to you. But a little daily human interaction with others in a shared space can make a world of difference on your mood. In fact, coworking statistics show that 89% of people who cowork reported being happier.

It's inspiring to be around like-minded people

Discipline and structured hours can sometimes fall by the wayside when you're working by yourself. However, watching others "clock" in, set their own routines, and work long hours can be inspiring. It's easy to keep a routine when you see others doing the same.

You can bounce your ideas off of others... face-to-face

Being able to talk with a group of people about the direction of your business or the budding new ideas you have means getting valuable feedback from other entrepreneurs. Remember, people in coworking spaces are often freelancers or like-minded entrepreneurs. Having a diverse group of talent to bounce your ideas off can be invigorating. This group is also far more enthusiastic about being there. They're paying to be there.

You have office parties now

One of the social aspects that disappear when you become a freelancer or entrepreneur are the fun office parties. There are no Christmas parties, end of the year parties, Halloween dress-up days, or even crowding around a cake for someone's birthday. At a coworking space, you get to have all those parties again. You even get to congregate around the cooler and shoot the breeze. It seems mundane but it can be a healthy social interaction that keeps us connected to our local community.

These benefits are clearly recognized by many. The coworking trend has exploded across all continents. In 2010, there were 600 coworking spaces. By 2017, there were 14,000. Will the trend continue? As long as there are social, emotional, and financial benefits of coworking space, the upward trend is likely to continue.