Work from home has been rapidly gaining traction all around the world in recent years. There are many factors that have contributed to that as well. Convenience, efficiency and cost are several factors that come to mind..
Remote work isn’t the only pathway out there for professionals who want to perhaps steer clear of traditional working environments. That’s because they can also opt to rely on coworking spaces. Coworking spaces, in a nutshell, are settings that are made to cater to professionals who are employed by a broad range of companies. They meet in these spaces for straightforward work purposes.
If you’re trying to decide between work from home and coworking, you should take a number of components into consideration. These components include:
Work-life balance
Your individual aims
Practicality
What Makes Work From Home a Terrific Idea
There are quite a few things that make remote work appealing and worthwhile. If you work from home, it can help your schedule greatly. That’s because it can help you conserve precious time. Driving to and from a coworking space can be time-consuming and tiring, after all.
Remote work can do wonders for your work-life balance. If you’re able to remain at home, you may be able to dedicate more time to your hobbies, significant other and family members. This may give you the chance to enjoy regular naps, get healthy breakfasts ready in the morning and relish engaging conversations with the individuals you care about the most in the world.
Work from home can be beneficial for your finances. It eliminates coworking space rental expenses entirely. It does away with gasoline or public transportation costs, too. It can even minimize your food expenses. People who work away from home often set aside a lot of money for restaurant and fast food meals and snacks. They just can’t freely use their home kitchens.
What Makes Work From Home Problematic at Times
If you’re cozy at home, you run the risk of not getting as much work done. Your home may be brimming with diversions such as television, children and chores. These things may do a number on your concentration abilities.
Not having a meeting area can be problematic for professionals who work remotely. If you need to chat with a client or customer, then it may be frustrating to have no clue where to go. It may not be professional to ask a client or customer to visit your residence.
Remote work can interfere considerably with the concept of teamwork. If you’re all by yourself, it may not be as simple or as rewarding to brainstorm with colleagues. Note, though, that you may be able to make up for that dilemma with frequent online chat sessions, video conferences and even telephone calls. If you’re the kind of person who gets a lot out of human company and actually seeing the people you’re working with, then going for a coworking space may be preferable for you.
The Positives of Coworking Spaces
If you’re like many people on this planet, you flourish when you’re around other living and breathing human beings. This is only natural. If you’re lucky enough to be part of a coworking space that has an upbeat and healthy atmosphere, then it may do a lot for your spirits to be around people all of the time. It may even motivate you to do your best on the job. The presence of other hard-working and capable individuals can often encourage people to zero in on self-improvement.
Being in a coworking space with great frequency can also pave the way for many invaluable career opportunities. If you’re constantly in the company of other impressive professionals, you may hear about enticing openings. You may learn about special events that can help you move forward in your industry, too. That honestly isn’t possible for people who work remotely.
The Negatives of Coworking Spaces
Coworking spaces in many cases have floor plans that are open. That’s precisely how they can potentially bring on all kinds of disruptions that can stop people from getting things done in punctual manners. If you want to steer clear of irritating and time-consuming diversions of all kinds, then you should try to secure an office that’s private within your coworking space. This will definitely cost you some extra money monthly, though.
There’s no denying that coworking spaces cost a lot more than simply working from the privacy of your own home. If you opt for remote work, then you can end up saving yourself a minimum of hundreds of dollars per month. Although there are definitely some coworking spaces these days that are on the more budget-friendly side, they can never compete with the affordability of working from home, sweet home.
If you’re trying to decrease your coworking rental costs, then it may help you to look for spaces that are perhaps a bit smaller. It may help you to look for spaces that don’t have as many “luxury” features as well.
There is yet another possible drawback for people who utilize coworking spaces. It can be stressful and toxic to have to deal with office politics, drama and similar troubles. If you’re fortunate enough to be a part of a coworking space that’s full of professionals who are respectful and courteous, then you may be able to dodge drama and all of the issues that it can cause. If you’re not, then your time on the job may start feeling like a massive waste.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to stay away from negative energy, it may be a problem for you to enter a coworking space. Brand new people pop up in these spaces all of the time. You may not appreciate all of their personalities. If you find yourself struggling to navigate office politics, arguments and similar situations, then you should do whatever you can to try to drown out unpleasant outside “noise.”
