The Benefits of Coworking in 2020

Back to Your Desk with a Bang

Congratulations, fellow co-worker; if you’re reading this then you’ve made it through both the holiday season and the seemingly never-ending month of January. Those projects that were put on hold while everyone filled up on turkey and eggnog, or those clients who told you to touch base once they were back from their skiing trip in the Rockies are now a thing of the past. 2020 has well and truly begun, they’re back in business and it’s time for you to make hay while the sun shines (or, in the case of New York City, snow falls).

That’s Where Coworking Comes In

There’s a good chance you’re here because you’d like to find out a little more about coworking. If you’re serious about creating a great work/life balance while setting your own agenda, are looking to create growth opportunities and want to work in creative surroundings then it’s time to get off the couch, break free of the public library and rent your very own coworking desk.

It’s undeniable, coworking is the future. More and more people are gaining the confidence to go it alone and be their own boss. Start-ups, tech entrepreneurs and talented individuals across the United States are coming together in beautiful, inspirational spaces to meet, share ideas and collaborate on amazing projects. Separated from their home life, they can get their heads down, do great work and, most importantly, have a great time doing it – all with the help of a strong cup of coffee and some good music, naturally.

Read on to discover the benefits of coworking, for your mental wellbeing, productivity, bottom line and beyond.

An Opportunity for Growth

Being the fledgling entrepreneur that you are, you’ll be pleased to know that one of the greatest benefits of coworking is that it enables you to grow as both a business and a person. Free of the isolation of your own personal space, you’ll find yourself in a place of work, surrounded by others just like you who are looking to get things done. You’ll draw energy from those around you without even speaking to them. Your game instantly raised, you’ll quickly form relationships with your fellow co-workers but away from the traditional office environment (and the politics that can come with it).

There’s a high chance that the individuals and start-ups you find yourself in a coworking space with will become clients of yours. They’ll be looking for copywriters, graphic designers, marketing associates, product managers…people with talent and personality to help take their own businesses to the next level. And that person could be you.

Did Somebody Say Productivity?

It’s a common complaint of the work-from-home freelancer that they struggle to concentrate in the confines of their own place. You know how it goes – you stay in bed a little longer (you’re the boss, right?), open up some emails over coffee at around 10, have a leisurely breakfast and before you know it it’s lunchtime and you’ve achieved nothing.

One of the great things about having your own coworking desk is that it helps you create a work-like routine, yet with the relaxed and creative environment that a coworking space brings. Feeding off the energy of those around you, like we discussed earlier, you’ll power through your ‘to-do’ list.
What’s more, when home time comes around, you’ll truly look forward to heading back to a place of relaxation rather than the makeshift office it was before. Which leads us nicely onto our next coworking benefit.

Flexibility & Balance = A Happier You

Shameless plug alert incoming. Did you know that The Farm’s NYC coworking spaces are accessible 24/7? Knowing that you can head into the office to get some work done whenever it suits you, without worrying about having to rush something before the place shuts, is a huge weight off the shoulders. This flexibility allows you to plan your working hours around your life, rather than the other way around. The work/life balance that coworking gives you is second to none and ensures that you never have to bring work home with you.

The benefits of coworking aren’t confined to just employees though. Small companies based in coworking spaces have started to realize that by asserting less control over what an individual does with their time, they get better results. Hiring workers without the need to provide office space to them is not only cost effective but liberating too. Goodbye micromanagement, hello individuality.

New Skills to Pay the Bills

A graphic designer is looking to learn about search engine optimization so that they can pitch a new client a more complete product offering. They considered paying $700 for a ticket to a search marketing conference from which they’ll probably learn very little. But then they read this blog post about the benefits of coworking and are now learning about SEO every day from the marketing expert at their local coworking space. And he’s not charging them hundreds of dollars for the privilege! Cross-discipline, cross-organisation learning like this is extremely difficult in a traditional office environment. Want to upskill from behind your laptop on your couch at home? Don’t even think about it.

And it’s not just new lines of work you can learn in a coworking space, it’s soft skills too such as different approaches to time management, project coordination or maybe even email etiquette. The sheer variety of different people you’ll meet will influence your approach to working life, allowing you to pick and choose the methodologies that work best for you.

Pleasingly Creative Spaces

A serene working environment that is designed to exist in harmony with its inhabitants is what we aim for at The Farm. We like to think that we’ve built not just the best coworking spaces in NYC, but also the most creative. Take our Nomad space, for example. Invigorating natural wood is paired with industrial cool to form a place that will get your creative juices flowing. We understand the benefit that being able to get a different perspective can have on your creativity. So alongside the traditional
desk spaces we’ve built a breakfast bar-type workspace, placed a comfortable sofa next to beautiful windows, installed conference booths for privacy and breakout areas for that all-important headspace.

If you’re not sure that coworking is for you just yet, our Soho ranch allows you to test the water with a day pass. And did we mention the perks? Equinox membership discounts, corporate photography savings, Amazon web credits…the list goes on. Can your personal space or traditional office
environment do that? We think not.

Ready to see it for yourself? Book a tour and let us show you the magic that coworking can bring.