This can vary from person to person – for me, coworking spaces (whether hotseat, dedicated desk, or private office) are an order of magnitude better than any other option, from the perspectives of productivity, socializing, and networking.
I have found working from home (or a hotel) to be too distracting on an ongoing basis, even when I’ve got a room I’ve dedicated to being its own office (including having bought furniture, etc.).
If I haven’t got that dedicated room setup, ergonomics are often an issue, as couches and dining room chairs don’t make for good prolonged back support even at a minimum, let alone promoting proper posture (the kind you try and aim for when working digitally, and the reason you might want a traveling office).
If nothing else, the fridge is always right there.
Sometimes the pool.
Sometimes other people, too.
Cafe’s can be hit or miss, due to limited seating quality (of an ergonomic perspective), plus you and all your things smell deeply of coffee at the end of the day – and the risk of people stealing your stuff when you go to the washroom, to name but a few.
I prefer coworking spaces for this reason – they offer a professional environment with good seating, air conditioning, usually in central locations, with powerful internet and good people with shared interests/focuses for you to socialize with, again, to name a few.
But, not all coworking spaces are created equally. There are often multiple options available, so, besides location, what should you look for – and look out for? Here’s our guide to Picking the Right Coworking Space for You