Homeworking or coworking? What’s the best option?
- Donna Burns
- Feb 19
- 7 min read
Navigating the decision between working from home and using a coworking space can be challenging.
Each option offers a unique blend of advantages and drawbacks, depending on your individual work style, needs, and aspirations. Whether you seek the comfort of your own abode, the vibrant energy of a shared workspace, or a combination of both, we hope this exploration will illuminate the path to your optimal work environment.
So, let’s begin.
HOMEWORKING
PROS
You’re at home!
The obvious attraction is you are at home. In your comfort zone. In your safe place. It’s yours. And you have everything you need at your fingertips – your own bathroom, food in the kitchen cupboard or fridge, tea or coffee on tap, and all the creature comforts you could possibly desire. You even get to create your very own personalised workspace.
No travel time or travel expenses
You can simply tumble out of bed and start your working day because you’re already at work. There’s no travel involved. No bus or train to catch. No car to de-ice in freezing weather. And of course, you save money on travel, which, with the rising costs of fuel and public transport, is not insignificant.
Less fuss – get up and go!
No time is wasted on putting on your make-up, having that obligatory morning shave or spending ages deciding on what to wear. You can jump into something comfortable and crack on with your work. Of course, if you have a video call you should make some effort to look like you haven’t just got out of bed, but attention to the upper half of your body will generally suffice.
Full control and flexibility
You have complete control over where you work. At your desk if you need to concentrate and get your head down. On the couch for those all-company meetings where all you must do is listen without your camera on. You might even relocate to the outside in the warmer months if your heart so desires and you’re not blinded by the sun. In short, you can work wherever you want.
Household chores
This is my number one favourite. You can put the washing machine on, hang it out to dry, push the hoover around, or quickly chop some veg for dinner. And you can do all that in those 5 to ten-minute breaks that good Health & Safety recommends you take after each continuous hour worked at a screen or keyboard. You get to move around, have a quick stretch, get small tasks out of the way, and bank more important minutes/hours for your weekend. It’s just an efficient use of time and a great way to claw back some leisure time for you and your family.
CONS
Inconsistent working environment
If you don’t have a dedicated office space in your home, you may find yourself ‘island hopping’ from your kitchen table to your bedroom, and back. Each day you have to set yourself up again somewhere new, which costs critical time and effort. You can’t simply leave your workstation intact at the end of the day and walk away.
Distractions
Homeworking is renowned for its distractions. Whether it be the washing machine has gone into spin mode, the kids are shouting in the background, the dog’s barking, or there’s someone at the door frantically pressing your door button. Distractions mean interruptions, loss of concentration, and ultimately, less productivity.
Internet issues
Unreliable internet is a real bug bearer for many home workers and can significantly hinder productivity. Losing a VPN connection and not being able to upload or download files, or access your company’s SharePoint, experiencing freezing during video calls, or being thrown out entirely can be frustrating and stressful in equal measure. Oftentimes, work simply grinds to a halt until your internet connection stabilises again, and then, of course, the awkward task of filling all those knowledge gaps you missed with discrete pleas for help and updates.
Increased utility costs
Naturally, by working from home, you will inevitably use more electricity and gas, which means that you will see an increase in your utility bills. However, these may be more than offset by reduced (or zero) travel costs.
Loneliness and isolation
People need people to thrive and grow. We are social beings, and we nourish our souls through human contact and interactions. So, when you find yourself on your own from morning to eve with no one to talk to except your pet, your mental health may suffer, your energy levels may ebb, and your overall wellbeing will invariably decline. Virtual hook-ups go some way to counteracting that sense of isolation and loneliness but not all the way, especially if you’re internet is somewhat temperamental.
Fewer opportunities to network or socialise
One of the advantages of working in an office environment is that you get to network with your peers, and maybe even develop friendships. There’s a chance to bounce ideas off each other, get real-time advice, and learn from each other both actively and passively through observation. Then there are your water cooler conversations, the times when you take a break from your work and walk away from your desk and socialise with your colleagues, talking about anything and everything except work. All these opportunities to network, socialise and reset are taken away when you work from home.
Poorer work-life balance
When you work from home, the lines between your personal and work life can become blurred, and the separation from home and work is less marked. Many struggle to walk away from work especially if there’s more to do and may find themselves sneaking back to their desks in the evening to get a job done. There is often no end.
Poor workstation, bad set-up
Not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated home office. For many, homeworking is synonymous with working from the kitchen or dining table, or even a dressing table. The setup may not be in line with the best ergonomic practices (recommended by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)) and there could be a longer-term impact on your comfort, wellbeing, and ultimately productivity if you develop long-term health issues like back problems, pain, or repetitive strain.
COWORKING
PROS
Opportunities to network and socialise
Coworking offers you lots of opportunities to network and socialise with your peers. You get to meet new people and grow your professional networks. You may even develop some great friendships and improve your social life too.
Opportunities to grow by learning from others
Being surrounded by like-minded, professional people not only inspires us to be the best we can be but also affords us unique opportunities to learn from each other. You also get the chance to tap into the experiences of others from different industry sectors. You can pick up new and better working habits simply by observing how others work. And you can pick up some great tips on tools and resources that might improve how you work, thus improving your efficiency and productivity.
Fully serviced and maintained
Everything is well looked after and maintained in a managed coworking space. Clean desks, clean toilets, paper and ink in a working printer, milk in the fridge, tea and coffee in the kitchen, clean cups, even loo paper in the toilets. You don’t have to worry about a thing because it is all done for you.
Reliable Wi-Fi
Uninterrupted connectivity. No embarrassing moments with freezing screens or being thrown out of important calls. Faster upload and download speeds. Security. Consistent performance. Better productivity. Peace of mind. Reliable Wi-Fi is an essential for any remote worker.
Professional Space
Never underestimate the value of a professional working space and a proper workstation set-up. A coworking space guarantees this without compromise. Often, they provide flexible workspaces from open-area seating to quiet zones or private offices. This can help you find the balance between focus and happy hours.
Go to work with a purpose
Having a reason to get out of bed is good for our wellbeing. Working in a coworking space delivers this motivation and gives each day a sense of real purpose.
Better work-life balance
Maintaining separation from home and work is important to achieving a healthy work-life balance. Working in a coworking space means you get to truly leave work behind at the end of each day.
More productivity
Productivity is a top priority for business, whether you run your own company or are employed by someone else. So, having somewhere to work from that boosts your productivity is important. Without the distractions or interruptions of home life, a better and more professional working environment with proper workstations, surrounded by like-minded professionals are all the ingredients you need for a perfectly baked productivity cake.
CONS
Cost
For some, the cost of a coworking space may be prohibitive. The average cost of a coworking space is ca. £300 per month, whereby it does vary significantly across the different regions, with London’s coworking spaces being the most expensive. And then, of course, there may be some travel expenses too depending on the location of the coworking hub.
Noise levels
While most people are respectful, simultaneous phone or video calls from multiple individuals can be distracting. But for the greater part, most people are mindful of this and will retreat to a quiet spot where they can reduce or eliminate the noise distraction to others. And of course, dedicated private meeting rooms that people can book out for shorter durations is the perfect noise solution.
Distractions
Busy open-plan spaces can be very distracting, and some people may find themselves easily side-tracked resulting in a loss of concentration and productivity.
Lack of privacy
Coworking spaces by their very nature can lack the privacy of a dedicated office. It may also be difficult to have confidential conversations without someone eavesdropping, intentionally or otherwise.
Conclusion
As you embark on this journey of productivity and flexibility, remember that the optimal work environment is a deeply personal choice. Both homeworking and coworking present distinct advantages and challenges, and the best solution for you will depend on your unique work style, preferences, and aspirations. Consider experimenting with a hybrid approach, blending the comforts of home with the collaborative energy of a coworking space. Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands, and the path you choose will lead you to a work environment that empowers your productivity, creativity, and overall well-being.
Our Trump Card
With annual membership subscription cost of just £30/year, our hubs must be one of the cheapest coworking spaces around. Why not take a look at our hub locations, and if there is one near you, sign up? We’d love to see you.
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