Checking out workhubs

I’ve worked from home for years and strongly believe in the potential of home working to tackle many of our social, economic and environmental problems, and to enhance people’s quality of life.

However, I’m also well aware that spending a lot of time alone in a home office can have a disastrous effect on enthusiasm and productivity. It’s easy to lose sight of goals and let things drift, while also losing confidence and the sense of possibility that mixing with others provides.

One way to overcome this insidious slide is to book time at a workhub to work in the company of other freelancers and home workers. In fact a combination of quiet time at home for concentration, interspersed with some coworking time, may be the ideal balance for many home workers.

It might take some time to get used to the buzz of a workhub if you’re used to working on your own. You may be easily distracted by people talking face-to-face or on the phone, so start with routine jobs that don’t demand too much application. For example, it’s the ideal opportunity to sort out and record all those receipts you’ve been piling up, to embark on some computer housekeeping, or to surf the net for research.

Bear in mind that you’re here for the company as much as anything so give yourself time to chat to find out what your coworkers do. They can be a valuable source of advice, encouragement and future work opportunities. Never underestimate the motivating power of a problem shared!

You’ll find that you do get used to focusing on work while people are moving and talking around you, and you’ll lose initial inhibitions about making phone calls yourself. You might find that being in more than one place helps with organising your workload too as it becomes clearer when you need quiet time to write or plan, and when you can do the routine jobs.

Even if your nearest workhub is miles away, it might be worth considering a regular trip there for a day of meetings and making connections. Time away from the home office always pays rich dividends in my experience, bringing renewed energy and inspiration.

There’s never been a better time to be a home worker. Social media keeps us connected even when we’re physically miles apart and workhubs provide affordable locations when we need company. Makes me wonder how on earth we managed back in the twentieth century!

Judy Heminsley is starting monthly evening meetups for home workers at Central, the new workspace off Tottenham Court Road in London, from Thursday 23 June. Come along if you’re already working from home, and think you could do it better, or if you’re thinking of working from home.