3 Signs You Should Try Coworking Instead of WFH
WFH burnout is real.
How do you have work/life balance when you work where you live? This is a problem facing many remote workers who have been sequestered to their homes since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Whether you live alone, with roommates, or with your entire family, odds are you’re eager for a change of scenery. If that’s the case, now’s the time to consider coworking to either supplement your work from home routine, or replace it entirely. Keep reading for the 3 signs you should trade in your home office for a coworking space.
1. You don’t know when to stop working.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever looked up from your computer screen only to find that it’s 1AM and the last time you ate was breakfast. You’re not the only one–in fact, remote workers cite unplugging from their work as their biggest challenge. If you don’t have a dedicated home office, chances are you’ve retrofitted your living room or bedroom for work, but working from your living spaces can negatively impact sleep patterns and productivity. While working from home provides flexibility, it also enables remote workers to overwork themselves. Research suggests that supplementing working from home with going into an office is the key to a healthy work/life balance. That’s where coworking spaces become a valuable resource. Many shared office spaces offer flexible and affordable options for desk and private office space. In response to the influx of remote workers looking to get out of the house, coworking offices developed on-demand options like day passes for desks and private offices as well as improving high standards of cleanliness and safety.
2. You’re browsing more than you’re working.
We’d argue that you should take breaks while working, but when you spend the better part of your workday browsing IKEA or watching that new Netflix series, it might be time to switch things up. Burnout and fatigue can sneak up on you fast, especially when you don’t have coworkers or a dedicated work environment to keep you alert and productive. Coworking office spaces can fill that gap. According to a survey by GCUC, 84% of coworkers say working in a coworking hub makes them more motivated. These work-conducive spaces are shared by entrepreneurs, remote workers, and creatives who will inspire you to close those extra tabs and start working more efficiently. Not to mention, most spaces have designated breakout areas like outdoor patios, cafés, and lounges, which also function as casual places to network and get your social interaction in for the day.
3. Your well of creativity has run dry.
Between bad sleep patterns, dealing with the kids, and monotonous Zoom meetings, your creativity can suffer dramatically, making it more difficult for you to excel in or even enjoy your job. Avoiding burnout can be as simple as chatting with a coworker over coffee or switching up your work environment for a fresh perspective, all of which are commonplace and encourages at coworking spaces. In a survey conducted by Small Business Labs, a whopping 89% of coworkers say they feel happier after joining a coworking space and as many as 83% say it makes them feel less lonely. The numbers speak for themselves–coworking offices make happy workers. Because coworking spaces are hubs for innovative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and professionals from a wide variety of industries and fields, they’re great places to grow your network and learn new skills. In a study conducted by GCUC, 69% of coworkers say they have obtained new skills and 68% say their existing skills have improved since joining a coworking office space. Collaboration is made easy at shared workspaces where creativity, professional input, and idea sharing is encouraged and facilitated.
The global pandemic has seen remote work skyrocket exponentially, but a gambit of problems relating to mental and physical health, productivity, and job satisfaction quickly rose to meet it. As coworking spaces adjust to stricter safety measures and shelter in place orders ease, many remote workers will venture from their homes in order to escape less than ideal working conditions. Coworking spaces are a happy medium for people who want to retain flexibility while reaping the benefits of a collaborative workplace.
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