Why coworking is better than working from home

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ways people work has changed. Trends of remote work have been heightened and companies have realized working from an office is not essential.

A survey was done by Michael page which showed that due to the pandemic, the freedom to work remotely has increased from 26% to 79% in South Africa.

Although working from home may sound like pure bliss, does working in a flexible office have a more positive effect on employees?

The pros and cons of working from home

Although most employees were able to adjust to the work environment easily, many people find it difficult to work from home.

Of course, working from home has reduced travel time and allowed for more flexible work hours. However, there are negatives of remote working that may outweigh the positives.

Working from home may call for more unwanted distractions such as playing with your pets, talking to family members and not being able to separate your work life from your home life. Some homeworkers struggle to focus and are less motivated at home.

Furthermore, practical issues, such as a slower internet service, can cause video conferencing to be frequently disrupted.

What can coworking offer?

A coworking space like ours offers the advantages of an office, such as colleagues, a productive environment and the same flexibility as working from home.

Not having the interruptions of working from home makes coworking a better option in terms of productivity. A coworking space allows you to be seated in front of your computer/laptop and work with full focus. If you wish to take a break you may do so at your own time.

At a coworking space you can talk to like-minded individuals if communication and human interaction keeps you focused and motivated. This creates opportunities to expand your contacts and open doors for new business opportunities or projects.

Professional environment

The most difficult thing to do while working from home is host professional business meetings with clients. In a coworking space there are plenty of meeting rooms available for business meetings which are usually equipped with the technology you need.

At @Work Coworking space we offer 3 different types of meeting rooms. The boardroom (1-8 pax), the meeting Hive (1-4 pax) and the consultation booth (1-2 pax). All meeting rooms are equipped with the necessary furniture and technology to hold business meetings whether they are small or big.

Separating home and workspace

To maintain the health of both surroundings, it is crucial to keep home and workspaces apart. The presence of your laptop on your dressing table at night only gives the urge to check your emails or, if you have trouble falling asleep, get a head start on the day’s work. Additionally, it will cause you to reflect on any issues that may have arisen.

By using a coworking space, you may work till you get home, unwind, and relax, leaving you reenergized and ready to go the next day. It is feasible to disconnect from work, providing you time to recover from the day’s challenges psychologically and physically.

Changing attitudes

The trend toward flexible and remote working is expected to grow because of changing attitudes and ever-improving technical and network capabilities. One of the primary reasons is that it allows them to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Working from home may appear to be a good idea on the surface, but people who are distracted and therefore less productive may be encouraged to try coworking. They can enjoy the benefits of flexible working hours, coworkers to bounce ideas off, and cutting-edge technology without the rigidity and expense of a traditional workplace.