What are the perks of coworking?
Why would you want to come into a big, shared coworking space with no privacy when you could just stay warm at home and jam away on your laptop in your jammies all day? After all, isn’t the freedom to work from home why many of us turn to freelancing and self-employment?
When I first started freelancing, working from home was truly awesome. Yoga breaks, hammock naps, and lots of shuffling into the kitchen to make the perfect cup of french press were all a part of my daily routine. Yet after about a year, I started to get crazy. I mean, seriously cray cray.
Why? Because people need people. We thrive on human contact! Even getting out of bed and getting dressed in the morning makes most of us more productive. So without further ado, here are some of the perks of coworking (and why you should ditch your home office before you go off the deep end):
1. Meet people you would never otherwise know.
One of the best parts about starting Groundwork! is the eclectic mix of people who are now a big part of my life. Join any coworking space and you will meet folks from all walks of life, ages, cultures, and industries. It is a great way to diversify your social network and gain insight from new perspectives.
2. Drink coffee. Lots of coffee.
Most coworking spaces provide coffee and tea as part of the deal, so you can stay properly caffeinated throughout the day. At Groundwork! we get our coffee from Coastal Roasters in Tiverton, and it is pretty darn awesome.
3. Increase your productivity.
If I had a nickle for everyone who told me that they get more done at Groundwork! I would have about 50 cents by now! Joking aside, most coworkers find that stepping out of the house and into an actual office really helps them to concentrate and get things done. No laundry calling out to you, no kids to distract, no cat sitting on your keyboard. You get the idea.
5. Get free help.
Coworking spaces are treasure chests of wisdom and information. From questions about Twitter to WordPress plugins, chances are you can find someone in your friendly coworking space who is more than happy to help. You may even find yourself sharing your own expertise. Let’s be real: it feels good to help.
6. Simplify your to-do list.
Join a coworking space and cross a few items off of your to-do list: internet bill, coffee, printer ink, office rent, mail… you get the idea. Most entrepreneurs are trying to do way too much already, so the less we have to remember, the better!
7. Meet with clients in a professional environment.
Sick of scheduling meetings at your local coffee shop? Impress your clients by inviting them to meet in a hip, trendy conference room. We promise you will close more sales.
8. Have more fun at work.
Most coworking spaces are equipped with some diversions to encourage creativity and break the monotony of the work day. Here at Groundwork!, we have darts, ping pong, Leggos, and charades to name a few. Games are a great way to build culture in your team or to interact with other coworkers. It also helps to get the blood circulating and give your eyes a rest from your computer screen. All positive.
9. Build a network.
Traditional networking events are pretty touch and go– you drop a few business cards, pick up a few, and hope for the best. The magic of coworking is the repeated, daily nature of interactions. This allows you to build real relationships, and great collaborations form naturally out of those relationships.
10. Go to more parties.
Coworking is all about social interaction and fun, and most spaces schedule plenty of fun social events. It’s almost like being in college again– with people who are way more experienced and wise.
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