Working from home rocks. Except when it doesn’t.

For instance, sometimes you find yourself trying to plug up your toddler’s horror show nosebleed as you attempt to phone interview an Amish businessman you’ve been chasing for weeks–and you must do both simultaneously because the deadline for the article is tomorrow.

Although my toddler tending days are done, I’m feeling the need to sprawl out from the home office–and the challenges that come with it. Hence, I’ve taken baby steps into coworking by investing in a few day passes for Warehouse D at The Candy Factory. It’s been cool so far, even though actual candy has been inexplicably, and sadly, absent.**

Here are the reasons I’m considering making shared coworking space a regular to-do—and maybe they’re reasons to think about a coworking office for your small business too:

1. You’d rather pull your own tooth using dental floss and a frisky husky than attend a formal networking event.

[Hi, welcome to the club. We should totally get t-shirts.] Whether the desire to seek the quiet of a bubble comes from anxiety or introversion, a coworking space provides social interaction minus the stress and the ohmigod-what-am-I-supposed-to-say-now quality of events like chamber mixers or networking meetings.

2. You want to interact with living, breathing adults.

Freelancing or running a small business from home can be a bit isolating, especially if you’re bound by the schedule of tiny humans. And, as much as virtual tools have made collaboration with clients a breeze, they also have a tendency to sterilize interactions. For example, I worked with one West Coast client for several years, and we never–not once–spoke by phone, largely due to the logistics of our schedules. Coworking puts you in a room with actual in-the-flesh folks…laughs, jokes, chit-chat, etc. Bonus: they’re adults. If you’re a work-from-home parent who’s ever gotten stuck in the hell of a Cailliou marathon, you understand the supreme value of that.

3. You want a remote office space without the overhead & hassle of renting.

From what I’ve seen, most coworking spaces seem to be plug-n-go affairs. The space takes care of utilities, building maintenance, and furniture, as well as some of the related day-to-day snags that would otherwise subtract from a small biz owner’s billable hours–and bottom line.

4. Your work and home life don’t seep into each other…they bleed into each other.

Many people struggle to find that elusive work-home balance. However, for those of us in the work-from-home trenches, particularly those with little ones, nosebleeds can happen every day…sometimes all day! A coworking space might give you extra cushion to build some of the boundaries that will keep you sane.

Have you considered coworking for your freelance or small business? Share your thoughts below or tweet them to @AmyGWrites.

 

**Candy has been found:-)