Freelancing is a beautiful thing. There’s the short commute from bed to home office. The home-brewed coffee. The casual dress code. The flexibility.
The crushing loneliness.
You heard me right. After the initial glow of being able to work in your bunny slippers wears off, you may find yourself having one-sided conversations with your cats, having lost the ability (or the opportunity) to interact with other human beings. Sure, you could pack up your laptop and head to your local coffee shop, getting into knife fights over available electrical outlets and developing a slow addiction to frappuccinos. But there is another option: the coworking space.
Coworking spaces have doubled in the past year, and it’s no wonder. There has been a huge proliferation of at-home entrepreneurs in the past few years, and many coworkers insist that they feel more motivated and productive since availing themselves of these new spaces. So what are the other benefits of using a coworking space?
1. The lack of distractions. When you’re facing down a huge to-do list, it almost always seems a good idea to scrub the bathtub or dust the spines of all your books or watch a Top Chef marathon. While there’s still the danger of rampant Internet surfing while at a coworking space, at least you know your butt will stay in the chair.
2. The structure. I know. You went full-time freelance for the flexibility. But while lounging about in your fuzzy Cookie Monster pants all day does hold a certain appeal, there’s just something about washing your hair, putting on something that does not have an elastic waistband, and commuting in to an office that aids in productivity. You can still set your own work hours. You can still pick and choose your projects. You can still be your own boss. But adding that little bit of structure somehow flips a switch inside you, placing you squarely into Work Mode.
3. The human contact. I work best alone. I enjoy my solitude. I’m a Class A introvert. But being alone all the time is hard. When you make use of a coworking space, you don’t have to socialize with other article writers. Pop on a pair of headphones and people will know to stay away. But you can be a Chatty Cathy if you feel the urge. Coworking spaces are great for networking, inspiration, and simple human contact. As location-independent entrepreneurs, you all have something very basic in common. But you’re also very different, and have a lot to share: tips, war stories, contacts. Learning more about others’ projects can revitalize your own.
4. The opportunity for collaboration. Speaking of networking, being among other freelancers and entrepreneurs can provide you with opportunities for collaboration. According to Coworking: How Freelancers Escape the Coffee Shop Office and Tales of Community from Independents Around the World — an ebook written by Angel Kwiatkowski and Beth Buczynski – most coworkers make seven vital connections within two months.
5. The accountability. Finally, and perhaps most importantly of all, being around other can provide you with accountability. After all, I’m pretty sure someone will notice if you spend the bulk of your time there playing Minesweeper or scanning your Twitter feed. (I know. Twitter totally counts as work.) Not only that but, when you’re talking with other about the stuff you’re working on, it’s inevitable that they’ll eventually ask you how it’s going. And won’t you feel overcome with shame and horror when you have to admit that you haven’t made much headway because you’ve been distracted by the latest College Humor videos? Yeah. Exactly.
Have you tried out a coworking space? What have been your experiences?
