Co-working spaces have exploded in popularity over the past few years.
According to online co-working magazine Desk Mag, London offers the most vibrant scene, with growth increasing every year since 2016.
It’s hardly surprising.
These vibrant communal spaces allow freelancers, entrepreneurs and independent professionals to work together in a shared office, stay focused and avoid the dreaded sense of isolation that can come from working on your own.
But is this really true? Can co-working spaces really make workers feel more creative and get more done?
The answer is a resounding ‘Yes’! Here’s why.
Co-working spaces help you feel like you’re part of a community
One of the biggest problems that freelancers face is the feeling of being isolated or even lonely when they no longer work in an office.
Co-working spaces can provide the perfect solution.
Boasting a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, you’ll enjoy that same sense of camaraderie but enjoy the freedom to focus on your own projects. This helps boost your motivation and keeps you feeling creative.
When teamed with a professional office design that helps foster communication, this encourages ideas to flow, improves networking opportunities and can often lead your business in exciting new directions.
They give you a greater sense of accountability
When you’re self-employed, you need to have self-discipline, willpower and focus if you want your business to thrive. The temptation to sit around on the sofa in your pyjamas and pour yourself another coffee can often be all too much.
Using a co-working space can help. Because you’ll be in a work-focused environment, you won’t have to fight the usual distractions, therefore you’re more likely to make the most of your time there and focus on what needs to get done.
Not only will this help to boost your productivity, but you’ll also find that you have more free time to spend doing whatever you want, whether that’s developing a new project, growing your business or even taking up a brand new hobby.
Your work will feel more meaningful
Ever get the sense that you’re just clicking away at your laptop and typing without actually achieving anything meaningful in the world?
According to an article in Psychology Today, this feeling is relatively common. “How do I stay motivated and engaged?, How do I feel like my work matters?, When things get tough, how do I stick it out?” are common questions.
Co-working spaces can help. By working among different people who do different jobs, your personal identity will grow stronger, you’ll feel more unique and you’ll feel that your work really does make a difference in the world.
Interestingly, you’ll also feel accepted for exactly who you are – you won’t have to deal with the kind of office politics that comes from working a regular job. This can help your identity to shine and boost your creativity and job satisfaction.
They help you feel less stressed
Co-working spaces allow you to keep your home life and your work life more separate. You won’t have to work with distractions like that big pile of ironing or Netflix around every corner.
Because you’ll be in a work environment, you’ll be able to focus better on what needs to get done, thus reducing your sense of stress and overwhelm.
And when you leave the co-working space office interior, you can focus better on your free time. You’re much more likely to do more of the things you love and get more rest.
Of course, in turn, this will help you think more clearly, feel more creative and get more done!
As you can see, co-working spaces provide the ideal environment for freelancers and independent professionals to stay motivated, achieve their goals, become part of a community and stay productive and creative. We highly recommend them.
If you run a co-working space and you’d like to design the space to further foster creativity, productivity and success, contact us today to find out what we can bring to your business.
