Why Everyone Should Get Used to the Idea of Coworking

Guest post by Alexis Caffrey.Offices weren't always known as “fun.” Traditionally, going to an office meant going to a cold, boring space with high-walled cubes. But tradition isn’t really what employees are looking for in 2013.Co-working is new, it’s creative and it’s definitely here to stay. Spaces all over the country, from Boston to Santa Monica to Miami, are renting out co-working space (just like Atlanta Tech Village does for Atlantans).But why co-working? Why would you choose to work in a space that isn’t your own?Check out some stats that Forbes reported via DeskMag:

• 71% of people surveyed were more creative while co-working.
• 62% said the measure of their work significantly improved.
• 70% said they actually felt healthier in a co-working environment than they did in a traditional office setting.
• 90% said they felt more confident when co-working.

Here are some more reasons why co-working spaces have been on the rise:Breaking down walls improves communication. Well, of course it does. The closer you work with people, the more you collaborate. It’s not even a matter of wanting to collaborate – the environment pretty much demands it. Forbes.com talks how Harvard University conducted a study that showed geographic proximity is valuable in collaboration – even though we have numerous ways to communicate online.Even with Wi-Fi and email, there’s no substitute to talking with someone face-to-face.But, Wi-Fi helps.Super-fast Internet access. It’s rare that you go a day without getting online for work. That’s why Internet services are getting faster and smarter. Fiber optic Internet from Verizon FiOS and Google Fiber are some of the world’s fastest options, offering speeds from 500-1000 Mbps. Co-working stations can compete – Atlanta Tech Village can offer Wi-Fi just as fast, with speeds up to 900 Mbps. That’s crazy fast for a wireless connection, and crazy convenient when you’re working.It fosters a creative environment. People spend all day trying to connect – on Facebook, Twitter – you name it. A co-working station makes it easy to connect because you don’t have the challenges of a closed-off environment, which in turn makes you feel more creative. If you’re boxed into an office or cube, you don’t really have a way to get your creative juices flowing. In a co-working environment you have open air and fluid conversations.A relaxed environment. Working in a space of your choosing can cut down on the daily stress you faced as an office worker. Think about it: decrease in commuting stress, no office politics, a schedule you choose, and a supportive environment to work in. Even people converting from a work-from-home situation reported feeling less isolated and more sense of community in a co-working space, according to DeskMag.These are just a handful of reasons more and more people are choosing co-working. Expect to see that trend continue. Alexis Caffrey is a freelance writer with a focus on technology, new media, and design. In a former life she was a graphic designer based out of New York, NY. She actively (some would say obsessively) follows entertainment news and pop culture. You can reach Alex via her email.