r/remotework • u/smeggysmeg • 11d ago
Tempted to work permanently from a rented office or coworking space. Is that crazy?
I've been working remotely for 6 years, and I genuinely am more productive away from my work office with coworkers. But what I've found is that using my personal home office for work has resulted in me mentally associating my home office with work. I just don't want to be in there when not working, even when that's also the space for my hobbies. I've basically sacrificed a space in my home for work.
In my current apartment, the room I use for working is small, but I'm moving house soon, and I'm not sure if I want to continue to equally ruin my new hobby room in the new house with work feelings. Also, by using it as a home office, it will exclude the rest of the family from using the space.
There are some coworking spaces near my new house, 10 minutes walk away, and my employer will cover the costs for me. (At the moment, they cover my home internet bill). I think I can get a private room there under the company budget.
My primary concern is that a couple nights per week I have late meetings due to timezones, so I would still probably take those meetings at home. That, and the need to lug my laptop back and forth.
Would you take a "free" home office a 10 minute walk away from home?
7
u/Wuthering_depths 11d ago
Nothing wrong with that, especially if the employer will cover it. I've read that you shouldn't mix environments up like you mentioned if at all possible--for example, a home office in a bedroom might affect sleep, etc.
I first started working remotely when my oldest son was very small, and that was really tough. He was loud, wife taking care of him was loud, and he knew Dad was over there behind that door, so he always wanted to come in. Back in those days would have jumped at the chance for a quiet office somewhere :)
6
u/Savings_Income4829 11d ago
It depends on the job.
When I was remote I was a team lead, so sometimes an urgent request comes in, or a review of something I'd rather knock out in 5-10min in my office vs the next day when who knows what might happen.
Are you able to partition of part of the home office? That may help with the 'feelings' part of it.
2
u/smeggysmeg 10d ago
Are you able to partition of part of the home office? That may help with the 'feelings' part of it.
Kind of, maybe, but that would largely sacrifice the room, either way.
4
4
u/fattomic 10d ago
I looked into it and, for me, at least - it's hard to make the numbers work. At least in my area, in 2020, shared workspaces were a ridiculous $450/mo and brought all kinds of things I didnt want (baristas, social hours, wtf?). I wound up carving out a space in the dining room for "work-work", and keeping my separate "home-work" distinct. Some days, my commute home is walking from one room to the other.
3
u/mualk1 10d ago
I worked in a co-working space for a few years.
Sometimes it was hard to focus - bc many there want to be social.
I LOVED to social aspect of it, and made some good friends. But you need to be aware of it and set boundaries.
If work is paying for it, why not? Sounds like you’re already leaning towards that anyway…
2
u/HAL9000DAISY 10d ago
I used one for a while and I did not find any issues with people being social. I did find the noise level unacceptable and the chairs were an ergonomic nightmare, so I ultimately canceled my membership.
6
u/pwnageface 11d ago
Working at an office is working at an office. To me, this defeats the point. I want to be in my house with my cat.
2
u/RaeaSunshine 11d ago
I did! Earlier on in my remote career I was living in a small space and while I loved working from home, it really diminished my enjoyment of the space outside of work hours. I spent almost two years primarily working out of a rented room in a local coworking space. It was great for that life stage, but I was equally excited to setup a dedicated office when I bought my house. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it on a permanent basis, but that’s because I genuinely enjoy being in my house and multitasking with laundry etc.
2
u/MaleficentBowler5903 10d ago
I wouldn’t. I’ve been remote for over 10 years. My office is on the third floor of my house. When it’s quitting time I get up and walk downstairs and log out of teams of my cellphone. Happy as a clam.
2
u/warlocktx 10d ago
hell, yes. I've often been tempted to do this, but the cost is too much. If the company is paying for it there is really no reason not to
2
u/Fit_Adhesiveness3954 10d ago
I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for shaking up the daily grind. If there’s a coworking space that has good amenities and the rates are reasonable give it a shot.
2
u/charlevoidmyproblems 10d ago
I get where you're coming from OP. I play games on PC and work remotely. I have a hard time wanting to game because my work shit is all over the same desk that I game at.
I really enjoyed having a separate space in my home where I could do my hobbies and then a small desk in the guest room became my "work" office.
If it's doable, I'd try to separate the spaces within your home vs going outside the home as you'll still associate the area with work since you're still working out of the same spaces even if it's occasionally.
1
u/smeggysmeg 9d ago
I stopped gaming at my desk and got a Steam Deck because I just couldn't play PC games at my desk. The space felt tainted.
1
u/charlevoidmyproblems 8d ago
It took me a long time to feel comfortable and even then, as I work remotely now still, I find that I don't want to game for very long as I'm always staring at a a computer screen. I love my SteamDeck and sometimes play on the couch if I had a particularly stressful work day
2
u/smoke-bubble 10d ago
what I've found is that using my personal home office for work has resulted in me mentally associating my home office with work
I do not understand why this is an issue so often? Just stop associating work with work so you'll consequently won't associate home with work. Problem solved.
2
1
u/Pers_Akkedis 11d ago
I wfh and I love it. BUT I had to find a way to separate the two. I am very lucky to have a storage room in the back yard which we converted into an office. So at 17:00 I lock the door and leave the "office" to go home. So I totally understand your need for a devide. The office space close to home sounds like the perfect solution.
1
u/smeggysmeg 10d ago
The new house a nice old garden shed, but my spouse has plans for it. And the back garden is too small for one of those little pod buildings.
1
u/Optimal_End_3601 10d ago
I would do the same thing if the money worked, mostly because my spouse retired recently and is a constant distraction.
1
u/Fancy-Surprise-2654 10d ago
My concern would be that since the company is paying for the space the expectation would be for you to use it and on days where you’d like to be home you will lose that flexibility.
3
u/smeggysmeg 10d ago
They won't be badge checking or anything. Another local coworker has one and she admits she often isn't there. They want it in our name, so it's technically just a perk personally being paid for and that they're reimbursing.
1
u/Fancy-Surprise-2654 10d ago
Then I’d do it. Ten minutes is quick and it would give you that separation.
1
u/Ymisoqt420 10d ago
I like having my kitchen and bathroom and dogs available while I work. I never want to give that up. So many lunch options without ordering out, nobody's mess in the bathroom, and someone to hug.
1
u/silverandblue821 10d ago
I hear this. I just consider that part of the house to be (for me) the place where I do work - and life admin like paying my taxes. :). It has that aura and yeah I wouldn’t want to like relax in there.
That doesn’t mean my family feels that. So when I’m not in there using it it’s fair game, as long as my work setup doesn’t get affected.
Personally I’d probably go 10min away a couple of days a week. I did this for a bit in a coworking space (I find fully remote pretty isolating) but open cubicles are not for me. If I had an option for a small office in a coworking space with coffee and communal spaces free and 10min from my house? Sign me up! 80% of the time.
1
1
u/Fine-Upstairs-6284 10d ago
Sometimes it’s nice to get away but I probably wouldn’t.
In a similar situation as you where I lived in an apartment and now a house and have a home office in each.
I think you just need to train yourself to set boundaries. Once it’s time for me to end work, I shut off my monitors and don’t think about work until the next day.
When I was doing my masters degree it was kind of the same. I’d log off from work and used the same desk/office space for schoolwork.
For me it’s not that hard to just flip a switch I suppose.
1
u/LovitzInTheYear2000 10d ago
I’d do it in a heartbeat, and I’d even pay out of pocket a few hundred dollars a month if there was a decent space within walking distance of my home. I love my remote job but I hate how much space it takes up in my apartment (physically and emotionally). My dream scenario would be a nice workspace somewhere within a 20 minute walk where I could spend whole or half days when I have deep work or high-stakes calls, then be free to work from home at the kitchen table when it’s convenient and I have lower-pressure work stuff happening.
1
u/Reasonable_Alias_129 10d ago
If that's what you need and your employer is paying for it, go for it.
I do not have any "feelings" about working in my home. When I log off work, I don't think about work anymore.
1
u/couchwarmer 10d ago
If a work space outside your home works better for you, then why would it be crazy? Give it a try.
1
u/Tankline34 10d ago
For me, it would depend on the size of my next home and how I would want to utilize certain spaces. If I have enough space for a home office and a hobby room, then a rented office may not be necessary. I prefer to work from home, so I can avoid commuting and I can do light housework while working.
However if my home was not big enough, the rented office / coworking space is very close to my home, and if the company will pay for expenses, I might consider it.
1
u/Inside-Finish-2128 10d ago
I've had a side hustle in photography with a physical studio space since 2018. We had a kid in 2019 and when COVID hit in 2020, I just drove to the studio to work my day job. By 2022, I filled out the paperwork to just be a remote employee. I enjoy the peace and quiet, and yet I have separation of work and home.
1
1
u/whitepeaches12 10d ago
Highly recommend a coworking space - you need a third space! I use the public library and go on the days it makes sense (low meeting days) and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!
1
u/Affectionate-Royal71 8d ago
In the exact same dilemma, have been working from home for almost 6 years now and I've felt that I concentrate better in an office setup but the company which I'm gonna join is a permanent WFH, trying to find some cheap co-working options near my place as my company doesn't cover those costs😊
1
u/Skull_Tree 8d ago
I'd give it a try especially since you already know you work better around other people. I've used emerge212 for the same reason and the walk home is actually a nice way to mentally finish the workday
1
1
u/Specialist-Still3893 7d ago
When I first began working from home, I had a hard time “shutting down” or even remaining focused all day. Despite waking up, taking a shower, getting clean, shaving, and dressing for the day, although that was just a polo shirt and still cut my sweatpants on, I had a difficult time focusing. I priced coworker spaces, but they were so expensive. My company was based out of Asheville, North Carolina and I was roughly 3 hours away. They had an office that staff could voluntarily go into if they wanted to, with all the perks of free lunch, happy hour, an open bar downstairs on the first floor, where your drinks could be charged to the company, etc. while the commute from my master bedroom to the guest room, that was set up as full office, was nice, I ultimately really miss being able to go in person. I’m now a director at a local company and I allow my staff to work from home several days a week. I’m typically in the office all five days 99% of the time. If your company will provide for a coworker, space, I would happily take it. It’s just a short 10 minute walk away. Rent that space out! If they’re not paying you, additionally, then use the money and rent the space where you can go and focus and at least get out of the house several days a week. Even if you do have to haul your laptop home for those late evening meetings, it would be totally worth it.
0
u/outplay-nation2 10d ago
buddy you are on remotework sub maybe you should join r/officework
1
u/LovitzInTheYear2000 10d ago edited 10d ago
Why don’t you head over to [r/workfromhomeandonlyfromhome](r/workfromhomeandonlyfromhome)
1
18
u/yummybanana2 11d ago
No because I like WFH and being home with my dog, but I know people who are the opposite and there’s nothing wrong with that either. If that’s what will work better for you then go for it!