8 Benefits of Co-Working

I am a freelance illustrator. Above is a picture of my desk in a Co working spot in Alicante. Not a huge desk, but that's all I need to get my work done everyday. Why do I rent this space when I could just as easily set up a bigger desk at home and work from there? Why do I pay a monthly rent to leave the comfort of my home and work outside? Here's why...

1. Exercise

To get here I have to get up, get dressed, and leave the house. I have to climb down a bunch of stairs, walk up hill for 10 minutes then downhill of ten minutes. Then I have to do the same to come back for lunch, and then return after lunch and then go back home when I'm done. I'm getting the juices flowing for at least one hour a day.

2. Space dedicated to working

That's right, no bed to play that dreadful symphony that lulls you towards it all day. No fridge and food cabinets to get up and raid every time you crave to ruin your health. No interruptions.  Just you and your work. Funny how easy focusing becomes when there are no distractions around. I highly suggest that you watch this video by John Cleese and his philosophy on creating boundaries of space and time.

3. Exposure to real people

As opposed to those ninja turtle and bart simpson figurines staring at you all day long, you are around real, living, breathing, reproducing organisms. Reality? Check.

4. Limited Time

We crave to have more and more time, but the more time we have to do something, the longer and longer we take to do it (without necessarily improving the results). Over here, you know your time during the day is limited, and you have to perform in this time. On the other hand, at home time seems endless and it seeps into your sleeping time, eating time, tv time, nose digging time and so on. In my co working, the timings are 8:30 to 20:30 on weekdays. That's it, I have to do what I need to do within this time.

5. Home becomes more homey

Now you can be home, relax on the sofa, watch tv, eat food, burp, fart, roll on the ground, do random handstands etc. You don't have that table sitting there calling you in that guilt enducing fashion every second.  This is no place for business baby.

6. Psychology

It doesn't matter if you have got projects on the go or not. It doesn't matter how much work you have or how much money you're making. The fact is, you are getting up, getting dressed and going to work. This routine is an important one for you to feel that yes, you are contributing to society, and you are getting out here. Maybe its the good old caveman instinct of sharpening the tools and going out hunting. Whatever it is, it works.

7. No Maintenance

Light bulb went out? Don't worry about it. Garbage day? Don't worry about it. All the maintenance is done for you, as the place is kept sparkling clean, because that's part of what you are paying for.  You just worry about what you need to get done.

8. Professional impressions

Have a Skype meeting? Well guess what, you're dressed up in clothes, there is an office behind you with people working. This as opposed to those home Skype meetings in pyjamas with your mother cooking curry in the background. Co workings normal also have professional meeting rooms with projectors.