What’s So Great About Renting a Coworking Space?

Date: Mon Aug 30 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

Renting coworking space has become a popular place where staff and entrepreneurs of different industries and backgrounds can save money by sharing office space. It’s a very convenient way of working as these places offer all the facilities and equipment you need to work efficiently. There are various options to choose from to suit different needs for everyone as well! For example, there are coworking desks if you’re working solo and need enough space for you to get to work. Alternatively, if you’re a business owner with several employees, private offices or meeting rooms are available to rent.

People who work from home find their local London coworking office space to be a great way to boost productivity. It can be very unmotivating for some people to be repeatedly stuck surrounded by the same environment day after day, so having somewhere to get out and have a change of scenery can be spirit-lifting! It also helps to be around other like-minded people who might be helpful and encouraging to you. Let’s take a look at other examples of what’s great about renting a coworking space.

It’s Very Affordable

Renting coworking space is a fantastic way for businesses to save money. Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on renting buildings or other bigger spaces that you may not necessarily utilise well, you can pay for just the space and time you use. Here at BluDesks, we offer two memberships to choose from to suit different needs.

Our Personal Membership is perfect for freelancers and start-ups who work from home and crave the vibes of an office. The flexibility of this pay-as-you-go pass means there are no ongoing commitments or contracts, and you can pay from as little as £2 an hour. The coworking space will be fully equipped with everything you need to help you get your work done.

Our Corporate Membership is designed for businesses with employees and is a great way to boost their morale and productivity because you can let them choose where they work from and when. From coworking desks to private offices and meeting rooms, there are plenty of options to choose from and help you with your team projects or meetings.

Great Place to Network

One of the reasons coworking spaces have become so popular is because it gives you the chance to get to know other people in their shared office space. Having people around you, who are in a similar position and like to work in a similar way to you, can boost your confidence, happiness and even productivity.

Networking with other business owners or freelancers is excellent for building connections that could lead you to bigger things or inspire you in your work. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer trying to write content about buying or selling properties for a company but lack the knowledge, that estate agent working in the space next to you could be of great value to you and your work. Some people also like to help each other out in the form of “accountability partners” to help keep them on track and check that they set goals and actually work towards them. It’s a great way to improve motivation and to be more constructive.

All The Facilities and Equipment You Need

When booking coworking office space in London and other destinations, you will be pleased to know that you get access to everything you would typically find in a professional office environment. Depending on which type of space you need, you will be fully equipped with scanners, photocopiers, printers, wi-fi and many other office essentials.

If you need to book a meeting room, you will have the use of whiteboards, AV facilities, wide-screen TVs and there are also several sockets available for you to use. In some of our coworking spaces, we can even deliver refreshments to you, so you don’t forget to fuel your body whilst you’re working hard.

Brilliant for Start-Ups

When starting a business, it can be so overwhelming when it comes to covering costs. A lease to rent a classic office is usually extensive and costly. Being tied down to a contract like this can cause worry and stress when you can’t be sure of the future revenue and business growth when you’re starting.

Renting coworking space can solve these problems as there are no commitments or time frames to pay. You have complete control over how much you spend and how long you use the space. Whether you need to book by hour to hour or day to day, you have plenty of options to suit your business needs. With thousands of coworking spaces to choose from around the world, you can decide where to work all on one single pass without having to register with different websites.

Freedom from Your Home

Working from home as a freelancer is a great way to work around your family life and give you the flexibility to set your own schedule. However, some people can become unproductive and unreliable when working from home. Being at home means that you only have yourself to answer to and sometimes it can be hard to keep yourself motivated. Working from home can also make some people feel isolated and lonely.

Coworking desks and office spaces allow freelancers to have somewhere that they can have more focus and work more effectively by grounding themselves to a space away from a repetitive environment. It’s also going to improve motivation by being able to socialise with other freelancers who might be able to give you an extra push on particularly rough days.

It’s Simple to Book

Here at BluDesks, we’ve made it so easy and convenient to rent coworking spaces. Our simple membership passes and one-time registration process makes it quick and efficient for you to be able to start searching for a space from thousands of flexible offices and workspaces from all over the world.

If you decide to use our mobile app, this makes the process even quicker. Once you’re all registered and signed up to a membership, all you have to do is simply search and choose the space you need. You can use enhanced search filters to narrow the spaces down to exactly what you’re looking for. This allows you to book in advance and you also have the option to mark your favourite spaces for faster booking. Once you’ve done that, you can even check yourself in when you arrive.

If you’re wondering whether renting a coworking office space in London or elsewhere is right for you, why not have a look around our website. Find out more information about how it works, our memberships we offer and browse through the many potential coworking spaces you could be using.

After seeing how quick, easy and cost effective it is, there’s no doubt that you’re going to want to book a space and get some work done whilst getting to know other business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers!

Is going back to the office filling you with dread?

Date: Fri Aug 20 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

When it all started during the first lockdown and we were coming to terms with using the home office, hurriedly converting space and signing up for Zoom accounts in our droves, it didn’t really feel like it was going to be a longer term paradigm shifter.

But here we are, in the summer of 21, facing the real fear of actually working back in offices after we’ve become so accustomed to working at home, and on many levels, finding we quite enjoy it.

With freedoms finally granted back this month, it really is making many of us nervous about something that we wouldn’t have given a second thought about only eighteen months ago – stepping into an office.

For others, the home office will reign supreme for the foreseeable, as bosses have across many sectors have abandoned the centralised head office model, preferring their workforce to maintain a flexible working norm.

So is this fear and trepidation of returning to the office real, or will it dissolve away by lunchtime on our first day back?

Alison, a London law firm PA, who has been working at home since the second lockdown, told us that she feels anxious about returning to the office, but grateful that it won’t be a five day a week return, as the boss is moving to more flexible working.

Alison told us, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a little nervous about coming back to the office, as I really have found home working much easier as it works around the family and the lack of a commute has been one thing I’ve certainly not missed whilst home working. But that said, I have missed the busy environment and having work colleagues around which I think does help keep up morale”.

Alison is far from being alone in her perceptions, as a report from the British Psychological Society gives guidance and advice on Covid related anxiety and stress in the workplace.

The guidance, issued late last year, stated that on returning to the office ‘Responses will be influenced by a wide range of risk factors including vulnerabilities within the family, change in job roles, threat of redundancy, skill shortages, social networks, and current and previous experience of loss, bereavement, and illness. Feelings are likely to be significantly affected by factors that increase the risks and challenges posed by Covid-19 (e.g. being from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic [BAME] background).’

Some notable larger businesses, including HSBC and Unilever have stated that they are never returning full time to the office. but for many smaller to mid-size businesses, the attitudes and commitments to flexible working models are far less clear.

It’s also not to say that everyone likes and enjoys the home office, ‘Zoom Fatigue’ has proven to be a very real phenomenon and those extended meetings of having our own HD image relentlessly mirroring back at us is not for everyone! Read this interesting article on a study on Zoom Fatigue from Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), giving valuable insights and solutions.

Home working for many has meant the ‘greying’ of lines of when we are ‘on duty’, so now the office doesn’t ever close and we are not booted out by the cleaners at 6.30pm, means on average, we’re putting in far more hours, yet for the same pay rate.

Jason, a Client Account Manager told us, “I really don’t have a structure in the same way I did before working from home. It’s ok and I manage it but I can be still on meetings late into the evening and lunch times have pretty much gone by the wayside most days.”

Recent research by Ezra, a leading provider of digital coaching, found that Working from Home has Increased UK Working Hours by 22%.

So in these times of immense change across the working landscape, there appears to be factors that act as pros and cons for either side of the equation.

Given that many bosses have relented over the last few months and accepted that many of their employees don’t want the rigid work patterns, attendance and commuting of pre 2020, flexible office working has emerged as a potential ‘halfway house’ solution.

Flexible working comes in the form of workspaces that can be hired flexibly, and in some cases, for as little as an hour upwards on a pay-as-you-go basis.

One of the major benefits of these flexible workspaces is that they offer the employee or small business owner a place to work, closer to where they live, so negating the long and mind-numbing daily commute.

Often with much more reliable connectivity than the home office, these workspaces enable communications without the Wi-Fi limitations of many home offices and with far fewer home distractions, think endless Amazon Prime deliveries and neighbour DIY projects!

Although not really getting around Zoom Fatigue issues, the often collaborative spaces do enable more face-to-face contact with real humans which to some degree at least balances out all the screen time with conversations readily available in the breakout areas.

CEO of BluDesks, a leading online workspace booking platform comments, “What we’re finding now, is that although home workers have been reticent to try venturing out of their four walls, they have reported back having an amazing experience at our workspaces, even if they only booked for an hour or two.

So I guess it’s just about plucking up the courage again to get back out there, because there really is a warm welcome for you at our centres if you do make the effort, and many are close to where you live, meaning very little travel time.”

Back to the British Psychological Society report, it states that, ‘Each employee will have their own specific concerns regarding their work or personal experience. Feeling worried, concerned or anxious is understandable in a situation that is changing and uncertain. These are common responses and show increased vigilance which helps protect us from harm.’

It will no doubt take all of us time to adapt to a gradual return to more traditional ways of working, albeit in truth, things are never going to be exactly the same as before.

The most important thing is to seek out a way of future working that suits you and your own personal expectations and needs.

Do your own research and look for all the help that’s out there to support you, the way forward is not clear for any of us, so your unease is definitely fully justified and not something you should ignore.

Mind have some great resources if you are needing support.

5 Tips to Boost Your Productivity in Coworking Spaces

Date: Fri Aug 20 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

Using a coworking space for rent is an innovative and modern way of working. It’s the perfect way for freelance workers, small businesses and budding entrepreneurs to surround themselves with like-minded people and an atmosphere that’s different from what they get with working from home. Thinking about this past year, many people have stared at the same four walls for so long that people now want to get out and about to work for a change of scenery.

However, this does sometimes come with a significant disadvantage. For example, coworking spaces in London can be particularly lively and active. It’s easy to get distracted when many people around are boisterous with conversations heard from everywhere. Being in this environment means that some people struggle with being productive in their work.

If you’re searching for “coworking spaces near me” and are worried about how you can stay productive, you’re going to want to read on. We’ve got 5 tips that will boost your productivity when renting coworking space and help keep you on track while working.

1.Decide Which Coworking Space to Rent

People use coworking spaces for many reasons. Whether you’re looking for additional hot desk capacity, a private office, office space for meetings or space for team projects, then that’s something to consider when choosing your next coworking space. Here at BluDesks, we offer several types of spaces to suit your purpose.

Hot Desks

A simple way to rent out space is by choosing a desk to rent. We understand that businesses need time and money to grow. You can reduce the running costs of your business by as much as 30% when renting a hot desk. When you book a hot desk rental through our website, you only pay for the space you book, and you pay in hourly blocks, which helps you avoid costly contracts.

Private Offices

When searching for coworking spaces in London and worldwide through BluDesks, you have a choice to rent a private office. This will give you access to plenty of office equipment, such as photocopiers, printers and whiteboards, as well as access to free wi-fi and meeting rooms. You pay on an hourly basis, so you only pay for what you use.

Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms are great for businesses who don’t necessarily need to run their empire from physical premises and means you avoid the long-term costs that come with leasing an office. These rooms allow you to hold team meetings and give you the flexibility to decide when you need to rent the room, whilst giving your clients/employees comfort in modern surroundings. You can easily hold staff training days and presentations from our meeting rooms, and they are fully equipped with everything you need, such as whiteboards, free wi-fi and wide-screen TVs.

Customised Workspaces

A great way to improve productivity and performance is by having a customised workspace. This is because people feel like they can handle distractions much easier and feel they have a sense of control over their space. The facilities and equipment provided are like those you would expect from a professional working environment. Like our other coworking spaces for rent, you only pay for the time that you use.

2.Plan and Organise Your Day

If you want to make sure you’re as productive as possible during the time you spend working in your coworking space, you must plan ahead of time. It’s tough to expect yourself to be constructive just by randomly turning up and making a start on business without organising your work and prioritising specific tasks first.

A great way to plan out your work is by either writing everything down on paper in the form of a planner or by using an organisational app/website. Think about what you need to get done and list it with the most important job at the top. Seeing a plan for the day in front of you will ensure you’re not wasting time starting one job and then distracting yourself with another. You will be able to work through each task one at a time. By then crossing tasks off your list as you go, you will feel more driven and motivated to continue doing good, productive work.

3.Tidy Workspace

There’s nothing more unproductive than having an untidy workspace. If you’ve got hoards of paperwork scattered across your desk, you’re going to waste a lot of time trying to find important information you may need to get your work done efficiently. Even not organising a place for your stationery could slow you down while you try to find that highlighter you need. Not to mention the psychological effects an untidy workspace will have on you!

It’s well worth the time to make sure you sort through and file all your paperwork. Maybe even categorise it if you tend to have a lot on your plate continuously. You will find it much easier to find what you need, therefore saving time and ensuring you’re more productive. A clean and tidy workspace is much more welcoming for you and will increase your mood and motivation each day.

4.Utilise Technology

There are many apps and websites available these days that are extremely helpful in improving productivity, no matter what type of work you do. If your job consists of plenty of emails to send, invoices to produce and other admin tasks, technology can help. All of those tasks we mentioned can be automated using various apps/websites, saving you a lot of time, meaning you can get on with other important errands.

Some great ways that technology can help boost productivity are:

  • To-do lists for planning out jobs.
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) tools so you can easily organise your clients/customers.
  • Calendars for scheduling meetings etc.
  • Programs for creating documents, e.g. Google Docs
  • Note-taking apps.
  • Project management sites to organise your projects.
  • Apps for time tracking.
  • Schedulers that help plan and post your social media content.
5.Take Regular Breaks

It’s easy sometimes running your own business to forget to look after yourself. Working too much can make you feel burnt out and exhausted, neither of which will help with motivation and productivity. Everyone is different, so it will take some time to figure out what works best for you, but your body and mind need you to remember to take regular breaks.

Your brain can only take so much at a time, so it’s best to make sure you give it the right time to “reboot” itself. You could even try to schedule your breaks into your day or set a reminder so you don’t forget. Planning your rest time means you will feel re-energised and ready to carry on with more work.

When working for yourself, it’s crucial to have the self-discipline to be the most productive with the time that you’re paying for your coworking spaces in London (and indeed anywhere else!). As long as you plan your day, take regular breaks and keep your workspace tidy, there’s no doubt that you will see an improvement in how much work you can get done.

When you next search for “coworking spaces near me”, be sure that here at BluDesks, we have everything you need to help you feel productive and comfortable when you’re fed up with working from home!