How flexspace is becoming a home from home for homeworkers.
For some, the idea of working from home is the ultimate dream. But like most dreams, the reality can be rather different: yes it’s perfectly acceptable to roll out of bed, jump into some cosy clothes and perform household chores in between the day job. Oftentimes, however, a homeworker will get to the end of the day wondering where it’s gone when there’s little – laundry aside – to show for it. So what are the alternatives if you can’t or don’t want to work in a traditional office?
The local coffee shop can be a good place to start. There are tables, caffeine and free Wi-Fi. Plus the background chatter can work well as the type of white noise that encourages creativity. The local library is also an option, especially if it’s a sense of calm that you’re after. If you’re blessed with a sunny climate, even working outside could become your workspace. There are drawbacks to these utopian ideas, though: coffee shops are also meeting points for parents with small (sometimes loud) children; the Wi-Fi in libraries tends to be poor, which doesn’t help when you’re dealing with megabit-sucking software; and typing in the sun – well, can you really see what you’re doing with that glare off the screen?
Perhaps the answer lies in mixing it up. As the world’s leading workspace provider, Regus has more than 3,000 locations around the world that could be combined with any or all of the above. A shared office space comes with the added benefit of a buzzy atmosphere that provides background noise but with none of the potential distractions of a café (or colleagues). And because it’s geared for work, fellow customers will share your mindset and know you – and they – are there to get things done. The arrangement comes with further benefits: another plus is the built-in business communities such a space tends to offer, which is there when you want it and quiet when you don’t. Being able to dip into an office – and a likeminded entrepreneur’s expertise – may be exactly the type of arrangement you’re looking for.
As we adopt a more flexible approach to many areas of our lives and work, the trend for on-demand office space is growing around the world. In fact, a report by Global Workplace Analysis found that working from home – also known as telecommuting – had risen 80% between 2005 and 2012; 34% of managers say their full-time staff will be working outside of the company’s main office by 2020. So perhaps now’s the time to get ahead and find the mix that’s right for you and your business.