Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
- Remote work enables people to choose from a variety of environments like coffee shops, parks, libraries, and coworking spaces, each offering unique benefits such as networking opportunities, creative inspiration, or a change of scenery.
- The effectiveness of various remote work locations depends on personal productivity styles, with some favoring the quiet and resources of libraries, others thriving in the social atmosphere of parks and coffee shops, and still others opting for the structured environment of coworking spaces.
- Remote workers need to consider factors such as costs (e.g., coworking space fees, food costs), available amenities (like WiFi and printers), environmental control, and the balance between privacy and social interaction when selecting a non-home work location.
Working remotely doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work from home. Many remote workers, from remote full-time employees to freelancers and digital nomads, have learned to enjoy greater flexibility with the added benefit of a daily change of scenery.
Working at alternative work spaces outside of the standard home office can help provide greater opportunities for networking, improve creativity on projects, and even get you out of a work rut.
Nowadays, one can enjoy the sights and smells of a local coffee shop, the backdrop of a local park, a quiet desk at a city library, or a coworking space that caters to your specific professional needs — all while accomplishing work tasks for the week.
However, preferred remote work environments vary depending on the individual. For example, some people thrive when surrounded by other remote professionals, while others tend to prefer a more quiet location. Understanding your own unique work-life preferences is key to finding an alternative workplace away from the standard home office.
Below is a guide for remote workers to explore different remote work locations that may spark your interest.
Libraries
The idea of being surrounded by books might be very appealing to literary types. Freelancers, writers, designers, and other creative types may also be drawn to working in a library thanks to the inspiration its shelves hold.
Over the past couple of years, public libraries have been adapting designs that resemble coworking spaces, attracting digital and hybrid professionals from small-business owners to programmers and nonprofit workers.
Libraries also have the added benefit of offering all the resources a remote worker would need. Free WiFi? Check. Printer access? You got it. Private meeting rooms? Check, again.
One thing to remember about libraries (which may turn some remote professionals away) is that certain areas of a library may require visitors to be quiet. There is a certain etiquette and unspoken rule that comes to working remotely from a library and this is expected to be respected. If you can’t see yourself in that kind of environment, then you may have to look elsewhere.
But if you do find yourself attracted to quiet corners surrounded by books, you may also start to find your productivity and mood improves when you work in that environment. Plus, you may even decide to check out one of those books before you head home.
Parks
Some remote workers work best when they’re out in nature.
Just like libraries, parks have also come into the digital age. Now, many parks located in major U.S. metro areas also offer free WiFi. Obviously, working at a park is weather-dependent, so it’s best to choose a time of day where you can still be productive and not risk damaging your work equipment.
Some benefits of working in a park include:
- Sunlight and fresh air: Research published by Stanford University shows that going outside can help regulate “circadian rhythms,” which help inform your body on the correct time of day. This is shown to improve sleep quality, and also, sunlight can be a great source of Vitamin D.
- Free public amenities: Public parks offer free public amenities like restrooms, seating areas, and sometimes even tables or pavilions. These amenities could be appealing to remote workers who are looking for alternatives to working from home.
- Social interaction/networking: Working in a park can provide opportunities for remote workers to interact with others whether it’s through conversations or professional networking. Social interactions can also help alleviate feelings of isolation that some remote workers may be experiencing.
Technological challenges of working at a park:
Natural settings can be a major factor in reducing work stress and anxiety levels, and if this is appealing to you just remember to consider factors like weather, noise levels, and WiFi connectivity before deciding to spend the day in a park. If a park doesn’t have WiFi set up, a remote worker would need to get a data plan and computer that has an embedded Sim card (eSIM) so they can access the internet like they could with a cellphone.
Another alternative would be to use your smartphone as a wireless hotspot, and connect your computer to the internet that way. However, it is not always recommended due to the investment that some budget-conscious workers might find too steep.
Simply googling “parks near me” is a great place to begin your search for a remote location surrounded by a tranquil alternative to the home office. Don’t forget to charge your laptop before you go, and pack your sunglasses to help with screen glare.
Local Coffee Shops
The smell of freshly brewed Arabica beans comes wafting your way as you finish work tasks in the morning on your laptop. It’s an ambience that might get you excited to claim a cozy spot at your local café.
Most cafés offer the essentials: WiFi, bathrooms, drinks, and food. Enough to get the job done. However, it’s important to research ahead of time to make sure you can find available seating at the coffee shop of your choice. Being a popular spot, cafés also tend to get noisy during busy hours, and this may turn off those who wish to work in quieter locations.
That popularity makes local coffee shops a great location to meet other professionals, clients, colleagues, or bump into potential business partners — and they also offer a great change of scenery.
Just a warning: depending on the location, you might not be able to plug your laptop into an outlet, so remember to charge all electronics ahead of your visit. If this is your preferred work environment, it may benefit you to invest in a portable charger that works with phones and computers just in-case you need to power one of your devices. The last thing you want to do is try and rush home through traffic to submit a last-minute email, or to make an important meeting.
Coworking Spaces
Coworking spaces offer a professional work environment for remote workers, on top of professional networking opportunities. Coworking spaces is the category of alternative workplaces that holds the most variety in options for remote workers.
Some features of coworking spaces include:
- Different pricing options
- Locations
- High-speed internet
- Printing facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Mailboxes
- Kitchens and other amenities
Coworking spaces cater to all different kinds of professionals. For example, some spaces are pet friendly. Others are striving to become some of the first spaces to hit net-zero carbon admissions. It’s best to do your own research ahead of time, because there is bound to be a flexible office space that fits your personality and budget.
One drawback for this option is that securing a space with a coworking provider costs money. However, it’s also worth noting that when compared to traditional office rentals most coworking spaces are more affordable options because the costs for amenities, utilities, and maintenance are typically shared among subscribing members.
Other limitations for coworking spaces include:
- Less personal choice: you may have less control over the environment such as furniture, lighting, and temperature.
- Reservation challenges: during busy hours of the workweek, you may have to compete with other members for meeting rooms, quiet spaces, or even landing a desk. Typically there is a system to help you reserve times, but this may turn away some folks.
- Privacy: Sharing a workspace with others might interfere with your privacy for making important phone calls, meetings, or when working sensitive information. However, this depends on the kind of membership plan that you decide to sign up for.
There’s a long list of flexible workspace operators that offer a wide range of services. According to a recent report published by Coworking Cafe, the leading coworking operators in terms of distribution in the top 25 markets were (listed with their totals as of the end of Q4 2023):
- Regus – 547
- WeWork – 175
- Industrious – 122
- Spaces – 109
- HQ – 78
Don’t be afraid to explore these and other alternatives to working from home, because there are great options that could truly elevate your work week. No matter what location you decide to work from, make sure it is one that helps you become productive, promotes positive well-being, and helps you become successful at what you do.
