Choosing the Best Work Environment for You
When you work in a position where there isn’t a headquarters or home office space for you to work from each day, you’ll need to make some decisions about the type of work environment that will be most conducive to you. The type of work environment that will best support a person is as individual as the person themselves. Below are some questions you should ask yourself to determine what kind of work environment is best for you.
- Do I need to be around people or do I need to be alone?
Some people thrive being around others; engaging in side-conversations throughout their day gives them energy and helps them to feel connected as they do their work. For this type of person, co-working spaces are ideal in-lieu of a home office base. You can build friendships while you work and even feed off one anothers’ creativity. Others need complete silence in order to concentrate, being distracted easily by noise or movement. In this case, working from home or renting out a private office space are the only good options.
- What’s the vibe I’m looking for?
There are offices available that are kind of cold and clinical- all whites and grays, shiny surfaces, tiled-flooring. There are coffee shops that play folk music and have free Wi-Fi and fresh croissants. There are tech-centered co-working spaces, with modern art and geometric furniture. Then there are co-working spaces like ours at Light House, that can best be described as creative and cozy, with a welcoming vibe. “Vibes” might sound like a minor factor in making your decision, but depending on what appeals to you, the vibes of your work environment could really affect your overall enjoyment of where you’re working out of on a day-to-day basis.
- What amenities do I need in order to complete my work?
Usually office amenities refer to things like printers, copiers, scanners, and high-speed WiFi. These are all important things to consider. However, there are more as well. Are you someone who needs 4 cups of coffee to get through their day? Is there a coffee shop near the office space? Are you someone who needs lots of natural light to stay awake and energized? Or alternatively, no bright overhead lighting to avoid overstimulation? Are you someone who needs comfortable, cozy seating? Or do you need an anatomically ergonomic chair to work in to avoid back pain? Even if not all of these things are super important to you, you need to at least consider them in order to determine the best choice for you.
- How much can I afford to spend?
If your budget is $0, your options are a bit limited. You can either work from your home, or camp out at coffee shops with free Wi-Fi who don’t mind all-day patrons. If your budget is small but greater than $0, a co-working space is going to be the best option for you, as they generally cost much less than private office spaces. If your budget is at least a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you can probably afford a private office space that will accommodate your needs.
- How will my clients/customers feel if I need to conduct a meeting?
Not all professions require in-person meetings with clients or customers, but many do, at one point or another. Obviously there are certain fields that demand complete privacy- like therapy or personal finances. There are many other fields, however, where business can be conducted in less than completely private surroundings. If you think you may need privacy sometimes but not all the time, you could also check if a co-working space has an option for privacy when needed. Many offer something to accommodate such a need. You also want to consider what parking will be like for your clients, and possibly the availability of handicap accessible amenities.
If after considering these questions, you’re still not sure about what kind of space is best for you, we invite you to come visit Light House headquarters in Allentown. Even if you don’t end up renting a space with us, you can come check out both our private office spaces and our co-working spaces to at least get a feel for the differences between the two. Click on the button below to check out our office space!
