Coworking spaces have been gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason. These shared workspaces provide significant benefits to their users, including networking opportunities, shared resources, and a sense of community. Additionally, some companies are now offering stipends to their employees for coworking memberships, recognizing the benefits of these spaces for both productivity and mental health. This innovative work style combines the productivity of office spaces with the flexibility of freelance/remote work, allowing for the growth of small businesses, individual careers, and all around production within the world of remote/freelance work. In this post, we will explore the reasons why coworking is beneficial and how it can help you transform and grow not only professionally, but personally as well.
Grow your Network One of the main benefits of coworking is the opportunity to network with other professionals. Coworking spaces are typically home to a diverse group of individuals from various industries, which makes them great places to meet new people and make connections. These relationships can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships, and even friendships. While remote work has the advantage of flexibility, it often is a setback in the fact that it does not encourage the sharing of ideas and collaboration that coworking spaces do. Communication and knowledge-sharing that occurs in coworking spaces can help to spark creativity and innovation, leading to the discovery of new ideas and potential you would’ve never discovered otherwise. The opportunity for new ideas through shared resources and information is limitless.
Share your Resources The notion that there is strength in numbers applies to these spaces. By sharing resources, people can lift financial burdens that occur when building a business. Coworking spaces often offer amenities such as high-speed internet, meeting rooms, printing and scanning facilities, and kitchen areas. These resources may be prohibitively expensive for individuals or small businesses to purchase on their own, but when shared among a group, they become much more accessible. This can save money and increase productivity for users, allowing them to focus on their work rather than worrying about logistical concerns, which again, will foster creativity, productivity, and increase innovation and ideas.
Meet your People For many people, coworking provides a sense of community that is lacking in traditional work environments. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers can often feel isolated and disconnected from others when working from home or in coffee shops, in comparison to traditional spaces where you routinely interact with a set of coworkers. Coworking spaces
provide a solution to this problem, offering a welcoming and supportive environment where people can work alongside others who understand the challenges of independent work. Coworking spaces often host events and activities designed to foster a sense of community, such as happy hours, workshops, launch parties, game nights, networking events, and more. Productivity is at its peak when individuals have their personal needs met, are content, and can put their fullest efforts into growing and innovating. By providing non-traditional workers a community, coworking allows for growth in productivity, collaboration, and professional growth.
Maintain a Work-Life Balance You often hear about struggles maintaining a work-life balance within the context of traditional 9-5 jobs. However, this issue can also apply in reverse when you look at remote workers/freelancers. Providing coworkers with a space meant to foster their productivity and focus can allow for less distractions compared to working within their home. Whether it be family, housework, relaxation, or any other factors, working out of your home can be convenient, but may not be the ideal work environment for the prioritization of production and concentration. Co-working allows for a perfect balance, creating office spaces that discourage distractions while not being a rigid work environment that takes away from your personal life needs.
Prioritize your Mental Health In addition to the practical advantages of coworking, there are also significant mental health benefits to working in a shared space. Many people find that coworking helps to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can contribute to depression and anxiety. The sense of community and shared experience can be incredibly powerful, providing a support system that encourages mental wellness. Additionally, the structure and routine of working in a coworking space can be beneficial for individuals struggling with mental health issues. Having a designated workspace and regular interactions with others can provide a sense of stability and purpose, which can be especially important for those dealing with depression or anxiety. Remote work can be structured and routined, but it can’t provide you with a consistent space for collaboration and security in routine the same way a coworking space can. The sense of community established through coworking spaces can also provide emotional support throughout the development of your career.
Receive Support Recognizing the benefits of coworking, some companies are now offering stipends to their employees to cover the cost of coworking memberships. This is an excellent perk for employees who work remotely or who need a break from the traditional office environment. By offering coworking stipends, companies can help to enhance the productivity, creativity, and overall well-being of their workers. Additionally, these stipends can be a valuable recruiting tool for companies looking to attract top talent in competitive fields. Unsplash, a
global stock photography production company with over 200,000 contributing staff provides its staff with coworking spaces, all charges covered. Workville, New York City’s largest coworking space, offers multiple forms of financial assistance for new employees looking to become involved. Coworking spaces who offer these opportunities exist in almost every US state, as well as in countries all around the world. Coworking spaces realize that they are often working with small businesses and organizations, and are willing to provide the support they need to be able to properly grow.
Coworking spaces provide significant benefits to their users, including networking opportunities, shared resources, a sense of community, and mental health benefits. Coworking spaces prioritize productivity and growth of their users, and many provide financial assistance in order to do so. By providing access to coworking spaces, companies can foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration while promoting mental health and well-being. As the popularity of coworking continues to grow, we can expect to see more companies embracing this trend and reaping the benefits it provides.
We here at Vision and Heels strive to fuel and empower women through coworking. We want to provide all the above discussed opportunities, resources, and support systems to powerful women and women allies looking to produce and innovate. In the past, we’ve held events such as girl chats, book clubs, group painting, and etc.
We believe that collaboration fuels innovation, and that women and allies can inspire each other and create mutual growth. We want to provide you with an authentic, inclusive, and diverse environment that doubles as a safe space and a productivity center.
Remember, your best ideas and innovations are still yet to come! And we at Vision and Heels would love to help you find them, and find community and balance all while evolving and reaching your goals.
