Why Are Coworking Spaces Better than Working from Home?
Flexible work models have brought about a change in work models that has positively impacted businesses and individuals. Even though work-from-home has recently begun trending with COVID-19, physical office spaces, particularly coworking facilities, are more productive than work-from-home in aspects of work interaction, stress, and anxiety. Here, we will discuss why coworking is better than a home office.
The Drawbacks of Working from Home
- Distractions: One will likely encounter many distractions at home, such as washing dishes, caring for siblings, and other chores. A private study by the International Workplace Group (IWG) reveals that 54% of people working from home are otherwise distracted at work, minimizing productivity.
- Isolation: Working remotely creates a distance that makes people feel separated from their workmates. Communication with other people is a crucial aspect of the work environment. While working from home, people cannot have casual, enlightening conversations that can boost morale and generate creative ideas.
- Lack of Professional Environment: Homes are not considered professional workplaces, so they need such facilities. The lack of a separate working space could make it hard for workers to remain professional and achieve goals and objectives regarding timeliness and discipline.
The Benefits of Coworking Spaces Over Working from Home
Coworking spaces address many problems that are associated with working from home by ensuring that you have an actual workspace that is professional while at the same time giving you the freedom that is required for today’s employees.
Let’s explore the benefits:
- Increased Productivity
Coworking spaces are specifically created to help promote productivity. Unlike the Home setting, these areas are formal and oriented towards proper working conditions that do not allow for distractions that may characterize the home setting. According to a survey conducted by the Harvard Business Review, most of the coworkers interviewed said they were more engaged and motivated when working in shared co-working spaces than when working remotely.
Some coworking spaces have noise-free zones and soundproof offices for handling crucial business and meetings. This structured approach fosters a work-early mentality that is hard to achieve when in the comfort of one’s home.
- Collaboration and Networking Opportunities
Coworking areas promote interpersonal communication and interaction between individuals within their separate fields of practice, thus promoting idea-sharing and creativity. On the other hand, working from home often involves communication through online channels, which restricts any form of physical interaction, such as conversations and networking, offered by coworking spaces.
The coworking trends magazine Deskmag covered a sample survey in which 71 percent of the subjects reported enhanced creative productivity due to a shared working environment.
- Improved Work-Life Balance
Another problem related to teleworking is the need for more distinction between working and free time. Some of the most common issues that stem from the lack of distinction between work-from-home and home life include working while one is still in the house or multitasking while working. Co-working spaces distinguish between work and home, giving the user an idea of working hours that can be distinguished from personal time.
4. Access to High-Quality Resources and Amenities
Co-working offices allow people to get almost everything they need at a shared office because most facilities are unavailable at home. This includes everything from high-speed internet and office equipment to meeting rooms and coffee stations, all intended to accommodate the needs of contemporary working professionals.
A survey by Statista revealed that coworking spaces have facilities like comfortable working stations, technical support, and soundproof phones – everything that improves the working environment. The availability of these resources allows the professionals to work on their tasks without getting through the distractions of home life.
5. Social Interaction and Mental Well-being
Lack of interaction with coworkers and feeling alone are some of the pains that arise from working remotely. When working from home, people do not experience incidental communication and do not feel part of a workplace community. Coworking spaces come in handy here, offering a more fun-filled and socially active working environment that allows you to interact with like-minded workers.
Buffer’s “State of Remote Work” report revealed that 19% of remote workers experience loneliness during work. Coworking spaces mitigate this issue by providing opportunities for social interactions, such as taking breaks to have coffee or going out for events arranged by the coworking host space.
Conclusion
Coworking spaces offer a superior alternative to working from home, providing a structured, professional environment that promotes productivity, collaboration, and well-being. Using WFH, there is the flexibility of working from home, allowing distraction, denying interpersonal connection, and no access to professional tools. Through coworking, people can offer their employers a dedicated working environment, an avenue for social interaction with other professionals, and access to standard facilities that create a better working environment.
For professionals in Pakistan seeking a flexible and productive work environment, QuickOffice offers an ideal coworking space solution. Explore QuickOffice’s offerings to find the perfect coworking space that suits your work style.