Coworking is when people from various businesses gather to work collaboratively or independently in a shared space. The coworking industry has seen substantial growth in the past years as more people are finding it helps increase motivation and productivity.

• What is co-working?

Coworking is when people assemble in a neutral space to work on projects independently or as part of a team. Unlike a typical office workspace, the people in a coworking environment generally aren’t working for the same company. Coworking spaces generally offer much more flexibility as you don’t need to sign a long-term lease in a coworking space. Almost all coworking spaces will always have necessities such as Wi-Fi, printers.

• Choosing the right coworking space

There are too many types of coworking to name, private, professional, lifestyle, high-end, and industry specific are just some examples, it is important that you ensure you have chosen the right space if you want to maximise your productivity while you work. Some research into the different types of coworking could go a long way in helping you find the perfect environment!

• The history of co-working

Co working started in 2005, when a software engineer opened a collective workspace. However, even before this the idea of coworking spaces wasn’t new. In 1995, berlin, c-base was founded and opened. C-base was one of the first hackerspaces in the world. A hackerspace is just a place where people sharing interest with computing and technology can work together on projects and share their knowledge and experience with others like them. Many consider these spaces to be starting point of what we now know as coworking spaces.

Coworking spaces first began because Neuberg was facing financial hardship and was trying to find a way to feel the independence of working alone with the with the feeling and community of having co-workers.

• The 5 biggest advantages of co-working

1. The freedom to work where and when you want
2. A change of scenery can be good for mental stimulation
3. Ability to book different types of workspaces for different lengths of time
4. Choice of many different types of coworking spaces and themes
5. Opportunities for socialization with other professionals

• Co-working vs home working

Remote working or coworking? Neither one is objectively superior but they each have their own benefits and drawbacks. Coworking has proven to have many positive mental effects, boosting your mood, sparking creativity, as well as forging business connections. However, for some, due to the price of a coworking space and the time and money the commute their takes, a remote working environment might be more suitable for them. Apart from saving money and time, remote working can offer a work environment you are more familiar with, although, you might find yourself getting more distracted than in a coworking space.