By Jenny E. Czapla 
Working from home was once ‘the dream’, but over time many of us have now realised that the sofa is not exactly a productivity powerhouse. That’s why coworking spaces continue to grow in popularity. Affordable virtual and serviced offices, hot desk centres and breakout spaces are fast becoming the place every home worker wants to be.
Struggling to peel off those PJs and make the move back to the workplace? Let’s break down why coworking spaces are the ultimate workplace win:
Boundaries That Are Actual Boundaries
When you work from home, life and work blur together far too much.
Sure, in the beginning you said you would only work in your office, but after a few months there’s a dent in the sofa where you’ve found yourself settling in for another day’s grind chatting with clients via email whilst Netflix runs in the background. And the kids were never allowed in the office when you first decorated it, but it’s quickly become their favourite play space whilst you settle in for work in the living room.
Having a separate place to get things done, such as a coworking space, means when you are at home you’re so much more likely to wind down and enjoy your time off. And when you are at work, you’re in a productive, motivating, supportive space that helps you make ground in your career.
Contagious Energy
Scientific studies suggest productivity is contagious. Walking into that shared workspace, you can feel the motivation in the air. There is a buzz, because being surrounded by like-minded individuals naturally helps to keep you inspired, focused and productive. Being in work mode is so much easier when everyone around you is on the same page.
Bye Bye Lonely Vibes
Various reports across multiple industries have shown a quarter of employees who work from home experience loneliness – around 10% more than those who work onsite. Working in a space with others not only gives you a chance to network, but a chance to make friends and connect with people every day.
Extra Extras
Surveys tell us the majority of employees want better extras within their workspace. Better quality air, light, ergonomics etc. When it comes to coworking spaces, however, you can expect so much more than the basics.
Think plush meeting rooms, access to gyms, trendy breakout spaces, and even free bougie coffee and treats. These kinds of perks can be incredibly handy to not only get you out of the house, but to help you host professional meetings as you build your client base and seek to impress potential investors.
Flexibility To Suit Your Needs
Coworking spaces come in all shapes and sizes. This means that you can find the kind of flexibility you need to make coworking, work for you. You can get meeting rooms, shared offices, single desks within a shared space, hot desks, breakout spaces and even standing desks and beanbag workspaces.
There are even some coworking spaces that allow global access to their facilities, so if you join the millions of other remote workers becoming digital nomads, you’re unbounded by the location of your coworking space.
Working from home certainly had its moment, and it can still work for some of us, but coworking has so many benefits it’s hard to deny it’s a fantastic option. It provides structure, social interaction, flexibility, professional resources, and overall a smarter and more dynamic way to work. Is it time you swapped the sofa for a seat in a coworking space?