Take a moment to think about the costs of working from home. Sure, there are bills – electric, gas, internet, cell phone. And there’s essential equipment, like a laptop or iPad. But what about the less tangible costs: lost productivity, distractions, loneliness, and missed opportunities?
Those kinds of costs are why freelancers, commuters, travelers, and people who are fed up with working from home are turning to a new kind of workspace. By the end of 2017, more than a million people will be coworking. Let’s see whether it’s really worth it.
Considering Convenience
Is coworking convenient? Consider the location of the coworking space, and whether you’re willing to gather your things and drive there each time. If it’s an hour away, two hours of driving a day may only be workable if it’s essential for visiting clients or stopping by a company home office.
Another convenience factor is how the alternatives hamper your daily progress. Are you already spending 30 minutes a day searching for an open restaurant table near an outlet? Some coworking converts buy a membership after tiring of coffee shop hopping.
Night Owls and Early Birds
Related to convenience is the issue of work hours. If your favorite coffee shop isn’t open at 2 a.m., but your brain works best at night, look for a coworking space that offers extended night hours. The same goes for early risers.
Work hours can be an issue at any time of day. Some restaurants, tired of serving people who stay buried in laptops and barely buy a drink, are setting restrictions. They may ask you to leave during peak hours, or request a minimum purchase to continue using the table. If you have to pay $10 or $20 a day to keep sitting in a restaurant, that money could go toward a coworking space.
Working from home doesn’t really solve this problem. Your family needs to use the house too, so there are long stretches when things get loud and distracting. If you need to work in the afternoon, but that’s when your kids get off the bus, there’s going to be conflict.
Staying Social
Let’s face it: Working from home and coffee shops gets lonely. There’s a feeling of isolation and aimlessness that can seep into your work. That’s bad for productivity and bad for your mental state.
This is one of the reasons coworking is often referred to as a movement. It allows you to explore a new way of doing business – with opt-in networking opportunities, advice from other people in your field, and simple day-to-day interactions that keep you energized. When you need a moment to chat and recharge, your coworking friends are nearby.
It’s been proven that coworking is good for your mental health. The National Institutes of Health published a report about coworking environments where the researchers discovered “well-constructed opportunities for social support” among independent professionals. In fact, the authors of the study recommended more research about the mental health benefits of coworking.
No Maintenance, No Hassle
When you weigh the costs of coworking against renting or leasing space, the winner is clear. Building space comes with all kinds of overhead costs, like utility bills, security, parking, maintaining the restrooms, cleaning the carpets – the list goes on and on.
Blogger Nick Clark did a compelling comparison of coworking vs. renting, where he created apples-to-apples comparisons of square footage and costs. He concluded that a desk inside a rented building ends up costing $1,396, which is 2.65 times higher than the average cost of a coworking space.
If you’re leaning toward coworking, stop by Victory Workspace for a tour. You’ll see why so many professionals in Danville, Walnut Creek, and the surrounding areas have joined the coworking movement.
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