Subscribe in a Reader6 Alternative Work Spaces to the Home Office
December 10, 2008 by John Cottone
Filed under Freelance Advice, Time Management
The freedom to work from anywhere is one of the greatest perks of freelancing. So why do many freelancers spend all of their working hours at home? Of course the home office (or sofa) is comfortable, but working in a new setting can spark ideas to improve your business, promote creativity, and offer opportunities for socializing and networking.
So, let’s get out of the house! Here are 6 alternative work spaces to explore, ranging from office-like settings to some very casual places. Try them out, work them into your schedule periodically, and enjoy the benefits of adding variety and renewed thinking to your work day.
1.) Co-Working Facilities
Best for – socializing and collaborating, having desk space
Downside – usage fees are common
Imagine a modern shared office with a collaborative cafe culture, and you have a co-working space. Over the past few years, co-working facilities have been launching around the world at an increasing rate. These managed community spaces are geared toward developers, writers and independents who want to socialize and find networking benefits.
Sometimes co-working spaces are available free of charge, but many have modest usage fees by the day, weekend or month. For information on locations in your city, check out this global Wiki on the subject:
2.) The Cafe
Best for – energizing with the buzz of activity (and caffeine, of course)
Downside – tough to find a table in busier locations
The cafe is the “traditional” alternative work space for freelancers, and has many perks in its own right. The coffee aroma can be fantastic, and your only fees are the cost of beverages and snacks (unless you prefer Starbucks, who charges for their Wi-Fi access). It’s also a great place to meet former co-workers for a friendly chat or brainstorming session.
My best advice on this location is to be aware of your own working style. The noise and activity might be very distracting for some personalities, or the perfect white noise for other freelancers.
3.) The Working Vacation
Best for – Workaholics, Adventurers
Downside – cost
If you feel like you need to get away, but you can’t leave your work, take your work with you! I’m an avid traveler, but recently have had daily responsibilities to clients and content development. The quick solution for both needs is to bring the laptop on the road, and find a new destination with these characteristics:
- Connectivity – good cell phone service and Internet access
- A location with a mix of tranquil locales and bustling hotspots to foster relaxation, work productivity and nighttime fun
- Accessibility – easily reached by major air carriers and train lines for a low-stress travel experience
A quick example: next month I’ll be taking a long weekend to the Rocky Mountains for skiing, nightlife, and blog management. The location is accessible (3 hour drive), the lodges offer Wi-Fi and quiet relaxation by the fireplace, and the towns are bustling with activity at night. The key to this working vacation will be to spend half my time enjoying fun, new experiences, and the other half on maintaining productivity.
4.) The Public Library
Best for – focusing and finishing tasks
Downside – you can’t yell at your monitor
As I type this article, I’m sitting in a Denver Public Library, wearing headphones and sipping a coffee. Yes the scene is quiet and slightly sterile, but I need to reduce distractions so I can crank out a few articles today. At home, I’ve been finding excuses to avoid writing for a couple days now – laundry needs to be cleaned, Netflix movies to watch, yard work, etc.
So, this is my pseudo-punishment for procrastinating today – no cafe, no co-working, all business. Maybe I can find a great book to read when I’m finished, and all will be good again.
5.) WiFi-enabled Public Parks
Best for – fresh air inspiration, writing, brainstorming, creativity
Downside – bad weather
When I lived in New York a few years ago and worked for “the man”, catching up on email in Bryant Park was my favorite lunch escape. With laptop and deli sandwich in hand, I’d walk around the park and find an open place to sit. Somehow the sights and sounds of the city would invigorate me for the rest of the work day.
Maybe your city or town doesn’t offer Wi-Fi in public spaces. Take a walk through the park anyways! You can always work on offline tasks, or contemplate your business strategy or latest article topic.
6.) The Public House (a.k.a., the Reward)
Best for – indoor creative inspiration, buzz
Downside – potential for laptop damage (spills, sticky tables)
Every once in a while you should treat yourself to a light working day, so why not find a table at a nice pub? Maybe you just earned a new gig, had a super-productive week, or finished another big project. Reward yourself with a pint and some pub grub! Luckily my neighborhood has a few nice pub & eatery’s that offer free Wi-Fi access, and I can easily find a table during the weekdays.
OK, so the pub isn’t for everyone – but you see the point that I’m really trying to make. As freelancers, we don’t have bosses to congratulate or motivate us. So, take it upon yourself to recognize and reward good performance and milestones achieved. You deserve it!
Dénouement
These six alternative work spaces can fit a range of personality-types and moods. I hope you try them out to spice up your freelancing lifestyle, reward yourself, and boost your mental well-being.
Do you have a favorite or unique alternative work space you’d like to share? Let us know via the comments section below.
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My full-time calling is in a church ministry and we have a freelancer who comes in a few days per week just to get away from the noise and distractions of being at home. Works well since we have wifi here.
Dig your responses. All great places to work. What really caught my eye was the Working Vacation. Many people shun the idea of taking a laptop on vacay – and many people chide those who do. But it can be effective. This past summer, my family and I took a road trip called Home Office Highway (www.homeofficehighway.com). On the three-week getaway, I packed all my home office supplies into an RV and we traveled the Eastern Seaboard. I discovered how to work and play as a road warrior – without interfering too much with our family time.
The key to working from the road while on vacation is to time shift. Work while the family sleeps, or eats, or is shopping at an outlet mall, or at some other time or place where it’s reasonable for the worker NOT to be partaking in that particular experience. You get work done, and they’re not frustrated by you being at the laptop – Again.
All your other sites were good, as well. Public wi-fi and public libraries are powerful suggestions, mostly because they get the home officer’s or teleworker’s butt outta the office and into a new place. Great for recharging the mental energy.
@ Brandon: Wi-Fi in a church, brilliant! Finding peace and productivity all in one
@ Jeff: Thanks for your insights into the Working Vacation. I have a southwest US road trip lined up in January, will have to check out homeofficehighway.com
excellent suggestions. our local library is right around the corner. when the net went down in our home for two days i just packed up the laptop and headed there. i’d go back. the sun room was beautiful.
Wow, great tips guy’s, as usual. Im going to try going to a park, I can smell the fresh air now
I’m suffering from a lack of discipline to write during the holidays and can’t wait to get back to the Newport Beach Public Library, where a Peet’s coffee sits right next to Pacific Coast Highway. The ocean is on the other side and I can smell the salty air and see the morning haze hanging over the coast. I love that library and have my own little “cubicle,” in front of the writing magazines, when I need some inspiration. Bringing a large Peet’s coffee inside, helps me write.
I just heard about some folks who use a storage facility as an office. They rent out an air conditioned unit, dry wall it, set it up with office equipment (ie. fax, wifi, etc.). It is a workspace that is cheaper than commercial office space.