Co-Living Options For Digital Nomads
The attractive lifestyle of the digital nomad and the technologies that make it possible to work remotely are creating startups that bring people together to live, work and play in communities all over the world. This is a trend to follow. In a white paper from global office products provider Leitz, Arild Olsen writes that while central offices will remain a fixture in most people’s work lives for the immediate future, remote working is on the rise. “What will develop,” he finds, “is a richer work ecosystem, with more choice, more flexibility and a modular, rather than fixed, approach to working and where we do it.” Working wherever you are, which Olsen calls “Everywhere Working,” is not the same as traditional mobile working often based on seniority. With today’s technology, remote workers can be anyone, from entry-level workers to senior managers to business owners. Geographical location simply doesn’t matter when you’re a remote worker, as long as there’s fast and reliable WiFi at your next destination.Way Beyond CouchSurfing
And in case you’re flashing back to college roommate days, don’t worry. Social entrepreneur and tech angel Ashok Kamal writes at Outsite that “the experience is becoming as professional as those who are using it.” “Pure House in Brooklyn and Common in San Francisco,” he writes, “are examples of high-end co-living spaces, and even WeWork is betting on this trend with a recent real estate investment for WeLive in Washington D.C. and NYC. While not meant to be permanent residences, each provides a curated experience at a reasonable price for temporary to short-term accommodation.”Work/Life Balance
In a recent article at Inc., Erica Berger takes a look at the global nomad community, and the increasing demand for better work/life balance, which includes location independence for many workers. In response to this demand, co-working and communal living spaces, including startup incubators, are popping up all over the world. We’ve already looked at a few of them. Added to the mix are startups that offer remote working vacations and retreats. “Three major systemic factors have led to these types of business emerging: A growth in flexible work, coupled with the increasing cost of living in cities, and a new found comfort in sharing living spaces with strangers thanks to the likes of Airbnb,” Berger writes.
