You love the flexibility of working remotely, but you also miss connecting with others.
What do you do?
If you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or remote worker it’s likely you relish the freedom of working from home. No stressful commutes to contend with. No rushed morning routines or hurrying out the door. No noisy coworkers or time-sucking meetings. You have time and space to work at your own pace and on your own priorities.
However, despite all the benefits, remote work situations also come with its own challenges.
Working from home lacks the alchemy of working in a group setting.
Brainstorming on your own can be productive but it misses the thrill and delight of brainstorming with colleagues in a room and bouncing ideas off of each other.
And on a personal level, working from home can make you feel, well, lonely. While it’s great to have quiet time, sometimes you just want someone else to vent to about work or someone to share your professional wins with. Or maybe you just miss having someone in the same room as you or bumping into a friendly face in the break room.
You find yourself missing the sense of community that an office space provides.
And you’re not alone, many Americans are finding that working remotely is leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which, in turn, negatively impacts their work satisfaction and productivity.
If you’re not eager to re-enter a traditional office setting anytime soon, don’t worry. You can still find ways to create the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie without sacrificing your independence.
Ahead, you’ll learn some of the benefits of coworking set-ups and all the different ways that you can have a community, without necessarily having to step back into an office.
The benefits of a coworking set-up
Even if you consider yourself an introvert or someone who works best alone, you’ll still benefit from working around others. Let’s explore some of the reasons why.
You’ll feel less alone. Human beings are social creatures and we like engaging with other people. And let’s be honest, listening to your favorite podcasts just to hear human voices doesn’t always cut it. It’s important for your health and well-being to be connected with other people and be in the same room as them.
You’ll enrich your network. You’ll likely meet people who are both in your field and connected to it. So if you're a copywriter, you could meet graphic designers, illustrators, project managers, etc. These are all people that you could learn from and share information with or commiserate with. By striking up a conversation with people around you, you’ll learn about what they do, which could positively influence your work as well.
You’ll learn about job opportunities. It’s been said that most job opportunities are via word of mouth. So those who work at a traditional office have the advantage of learning about new jobs and opportunities through their coworkers. As remote workers, you might feel that you are cut off from this valuable intel. By working in a coworking space or creating your own writers group or freelancers meetup, however, you can meet other people in your field and be connected to opportunities.
You’ll feel more creative. Here’s a familiar scenario: you’re working on a project or creative idea but you’ve hit a roadblock. You can’t seem to find any solutions and you’re at your wit’s end. Sharing ideas or talking through problems with others, however, can lead to breakthroughs. Just the act of saying something out loud can help you make connections that you hadn’t considered before.
Coworking ideas and other ways to get a sense of community
Here are some ways that you, too, can create a coworking environment both online and in real life.
Hotel lobby. You don’t have to be a guest to take advantage of the amenities of a hotel lobby. Many hotels cater to their business travelers so their lobbies often offer free WiFi, outlets, and a quiet and communal environment. You won’t stick out as you’ll likely find other guests and freelancers working from the lobby as well.
Coffee shop. Coffee shops are a go-to spot for freelancers for a reason. You can usually find a nice coffee shop in your neighborhood, you won’t have to pay any membership fees, you can meet local people in your community, and you can stay caffeinated. And don’t just look to coffee shops, bookstore cafes and food halls can also double as coworking spaces.
Coworking space. Maybe you’re tired of trying to find elbow room at a coffee shop. Or you miss the fellowship of an office environment. Then it's worthwhile to become a member at a coworking space. Instead of expending time looking for a free table or outlet, you can hunker down and focus on your work. Plus, you’ll get to socialize with new people and network with other professionals.
Zoom meet-ups. If you don’t have coworkers or professionals in the same location as you, organize an online meetup. A Zoom meet-up is a great way to socialize, create accountability, and brainstorm. You can make it as collaborative or as independent as you like. You and your friend can meet up over Zoom, set a timer, and then work on your project for the designated amount of time. Or, for more focused work, use the beginning of the session for chatting/catching up and then use the rest of the session to focus on your work.
Body doubling. Maybe you’re not necessarily looking to socialize or chat. Or you’re struggling to stay focused and productive on your own. Then try body doubling, a productivity technique in which two people are in the same room, working on their own separate tasks. The idea is that having someone in the same space as you will encourage you to complete your work. To organize your own body doubling session, put out a call on social and organize body doubling meet-ups. Or organize one with work friends. Body doubling can be done in person or over Zoom.
Signing up for a class. Maybe you want accountability for your creative projects or work goals, then sign up for an online or in person class. The built in schedule and assignments will give you structure and deadlines, while the classroom setting will allow you to meet with other students regularly and provide a sense of community.
Written by JiJi Lee
