The Huffington Post is my go to source for business ideas, stats and more. I love their wellness philosophy from Arianna Huffington  after she experienced work exhaustion and it is in part why I believe it is so important to support entrepreneurs in having a balanced life. My father suffered a breakdown from entrepreneurial stress and it is one of the reasons why I decided we must focus on the overall wellbeing of the women in business. The coworking movement we have started in Canada for women entrepreneurs focuses on promoting how we can collectively help each other.

Here is a great story from Huffington Post on why coworking is so important:

“Coworking spaces are great for productivity and work-life balance. They help entrepreneurs feel more confident, tap into huge networks and innovate with other like-minded people.

The people at Wix and Officevibe put together an infographic for a webinar that they’re hosting with a couple of coworking spaces. They’ll be discussing “The State Of Coworking in 2015,” and where it’ll head in a couple of years.

Here’s the infographic provided by the folks at Wix and Officevibe pertaining to coworking and different facts about it.

This infographic was crafted with love by Officevibe,the employee pulse survey platform designed to improve company culture and employee happiness.

Growing Number Of Freelancers

40% of the workforce will be freelances, temps, independent contractors, and solopreneurs by 2020

This is a number that we can’t ignore. More people are choosing a more flexible lifestyle, and we have to be aware of this.

Coworking spaces will become even more popular, and companies with remote employees can take advantage of this. If you have an employee that wants to work from home, setting them up in a coworking space can be a better arrangement.

Coworking Makes You Feel Healthier

70% reported they felt healthier than they did working in a traditional office setting

Maybe this has something to do with all of the stress that comes from a traditional office setting, or maybe it’s because coworking spaces have more initiatives to promote wellness, but according to a survey, people reported feeling healthier when working in a coworking space.

When you’re healthy, you’re naturally going to be more productive, so it’s a win-win.

Coworkers Complete Tasks Better

64% of coworkers are better able to complete tasks on time

This is an amazing statistic, and speaks volumes about the power of coworking spaces.

If people are more productive when they’re in coworking spaces, then companies should take advantage of this. Any temp or freelancer that a company hires should set them up in a coworking space instead of letting them work from a coffee shop.

Coworkers Can Focus Better

68% said they were able to focus better while coworking

My theory on this one is because of the energy that a coworking space has.

Everyone is there to work, and is there for a serious purpose, whereas in a coffee shop there can be many more distractions.
Another great reason to use a coworking space is simply for the vibe in the room. It’s like workijng out at home or going to a gym, you’ll always push yourself harder at the gym because of the other people around.

People Are Satisfied With Their Coworking Space

92% are satisfied with their coworking space

This is a great statistic, and anyone that runs a coworking space should be proud of themselves.

The people who run coworking spaces do a great job of creating that sense of community within everyone that works there.

There are also usually lots of networking events and community-building initiatives, which makes it that much more satisfying

Coworking Leads To Better Interactions

91% have better interactions with others after working

In coworking spaces, people, who might have never met each other otherwise, are constantly interacting with one another.

This leads to feeling happier and makes it easier to connect and start conversations with other people outside of the coworking space.

Coworking Makes You More Relaxed

60% are more relaxed at home since coworking

This is probably my favorite statistic on the infographic.

Work-life balance is an important topic for us here at Officevibe, and something we talk a lot about.

The amount of stress that the typical worker brings home does so much damage to their children/spouse. Anything to help achieve a better work-life balance is important, and coworking spaces give the flexibility and freedom that entrepreneurs need.

Lots Of Coworkers Are Younger

78% of coworkers are under 40

Mostly younger workers are in coworking spaces, but that doesn’t mean it’s only meant for younger workers.

Everyone, no matter how old you are, wants to be more productive, be healthier, and have a better work-life balance.

Coworking Makes You More Confident

90% said they felt more confident when coworking

This is probably again some placebo effect from the atmosphere in coworking spaces, but everyone that’s there is there to work hard, so it gives you a sense of drive that lets you work harder.

Plus, with the access to resources and events, you get a sense that there is a support network, which gives you more confidence.

You Make More Money Coworking

50% report higher incomes

This is an interesting one, and my theory on this is that an entrepreneur or freelancer, that uses a coworking space instead of something like a coffee shop, will end up working harder, and is just taking the process more seriously.

Something for all independent workers to keep in mind.

Freelancers Like To Work On Their Own Schedule

Only 30% prefer to work during normal business hours

This goes beyond just coworking; people need to autonomy and flexibility to work whenever they want to, whenever they feel the most productive.

Coworking spaces need to meet that demand, and stay open longer than normal business hours.

More Info About The State Of Coworking

Officevibe, Wix, Grind, and the Centre for Social Innovation about the current state of coworking. Sign up here to attend!”