The gig economy is growing, and who can blame freelancers who choose to stay at home to conduct their business or do their jobs? There are plenty of benefits that come with being able to manage one’s own time. There’s also no limitation to how much a person wants to work in a week, giving them flexible earning potential. However, do they really work at home? The jury is out on that one, but it’s apparent that communal spaces are growing in proportion to the gig economy. Here’s why:
Convenience and Opportunity
In a coworking space, a person is with like-minded individuals. Entrepreneurs taking a crack at a new business model might get advice from other entrepreneurs who have encountered the same problem. Freelancers can build connections with other freelancers whose services they might need later on in their career. The communal office space is a healthy environment for growth and collaboration, and it’s interesting to think of that as a product of this kind of office setup. The primary goal of setting up the coworking space was to give freelancers a place where they could get their job done even if they didn’t work in a traditional corporate workplace.
Third Space
If the gig economy is thriving and people prefer to work at home, why do they need an “office,” you ask? The concept of a third space is the answer to this. A regular, nine-to-five employee has his office and his home, two separate spaces that should never overlap. When one loses the distinction between work and personal life, it invites chaos. When the gig economy first started to become popular, it attracted people because they could stay at home and work in their pyjamas. Those who felt stressed in a rigorous office setup thought that they needed this freedom and that it would improve their performance.
Until the lines were blurred so completely that it did the opposite. Where one used to be able to finish their tasks on time, and with a surplus, because they didn’t have to commute or take hours primping to look presentable, now they take longer to do the same amount of tasks because of distractions. The house is designed for the family, not for work. A third space answers this problem. Here, an individual is neither at work nor at home but is instead in a hybrid space with the positive aspects of the other two spaces.
Designed for Productivity
Owners of coworking spaces do their best to outfit their location to what clients need. It is not just a space filled with chairs, tables and sockets. They create an ambience that is both private yet collaborative, artistic yet not distracting. It’s a place where everywhere you look, work is being done, and you will be motivated to do yours. It’s also a place where people are allowed to take a break when they need it, so they control their schedule knowing when they’re at their most productive. The way people conduct their business is changing, but one thing hasn’t changed: they need a place conducive for work. If it’s neither the office nor the home, they’ll be glad to know that they have other options.
