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How to respond to six stereotypes about coworking spaces:

"Coworking spaces work like battery farms"

Working in a Coworking space gives you the option to choose wherever you want to sit and work. Generally they offer a lot more space than the average open-plan offices of cooperations and they are rarely filled up all the way, since everyone has their own schedule. You can come and go how you please and choose your spot and person to sit next to. So coworking is more like an organic working environment rather than a battery farm.

"You can't be your messy self at a coworking space"

Most coworking spaces are clean spaces, following a clean desk policy in the flex-desk areas. Sometimes it might get a little chaotic though, especially in the kitchen- and restroom-areas, when nobody feels responsible for the cleanup. But if your job requires you to get messy on occasion there are a lot of spaces out there that have built-in studios and ateliers specifically for this purpose. Some are even designated fablabs and makerspaces, which only offer the "messy" kind of workstations.

"There is no privacy in coworking spaces"

Coworking spaces are communicative, that's a fact. You can see and hear that other people are working there too, which is a good thing in order to get to know each other. If you're not into that, you can just go and choose a spot where no one can see your screen. It's up to you.

Working at a coworking space does not mean that you have to give up the haven of your own apartment. And, especially for people living in shared flats, the coworking space itself might be your haven in order to realize your full potential and escape the hermitism. However, if you really are completely misanthropist, you can't be helped with coworking - or you just visit coworking spaces for events occasionnally.

"It's too techie"

We admit, in general, there's an above-average density of programmers and web-designers in coworking spaces. If you're not one of them: They can help you with your tech-problems and build a website for your business for instance. But you also will always find people working in other sectors, such as PR-agents, architects, translators and lawyers amongst others. There are coworking spaces out there that only serve writers or fashion designers. Even spaces for women only exist and this is just the beginning.

Coworking is thriving and even more diversifying. Spaces are popping up all over: small one's, big one's, open for everyone, curated ones, or focused on certain professions. There's a good match for every freelancer in the creative industry out there.

"Coworking spaces are too hectic"

A certain, constant buzz is not distracting; it actually boosts your creativity. The volume is key: It get's uncomfortable if it's too loud or if somebody talks to you when you don't wish to be disturbed. The simple solution in this case is headphones, an unmistakable sign that you prefer to keep to yourself for now.

Nevertheless we suggest going in with an open and friendly attitude. It will be worth it. Coworking spaces are not just a place to work, but also a community where you can learn, share and find new projects. Most coworkers state that working in there, even with the buzz and all the potential distractions, it makes them more productive and can focus better on their work than at home or in a café, not the other way round.

"Working from home is cheaper"

True, but you also earn less if you only work from home. You have to pay for the entire office-infrastructure yourself and the raising energy cost doesn’t bypass your home either. So it is nice to have the option to go to a coworking space and split these expenses with others. The cost-benefit-calculation goes much further than the plain rent of your workspace. Coworking creates projects and therefore income. It offers much more than a heated or air-conditioned desk.

The best argument is, however, just to try it. Most of coworking spaces offer short-term contracts: per day, per week or per month - enough time to get your own first impressions.

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