Working remotely from New York City, I often get the question, “but where do you work from?” True to common perception, most apartments in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs are barely big enough to live in, let alone work. If by some miracle, you could snag an apartment that has more than 500 square feet, the question then becomes “how healthy is it to live where you work?” The alternative? A co-working space.

From the strict corporate culture to the startup craze, workspaces have gone from being highly structured to a more relaxed environment. With influences like Google, new companies attract talent by offering lifestyle forward work locations, as opposed to the traditional cubicles and suits. Within this trend is the co-working space, which has been popping up in cities across the country.
What is a co-working space you ask?

Co-working spaces like to call themselves the “future of work.” Designed to fit small businesses, entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and more, co-working spaces offer everything from offices to designated desks, or open floor plans; a space suitable for any type of worker. Imagine a library, equipped with lounge furniture, full kitchens, and adults doing work instead of homework. Now they even have industry specific spaces – whether it be tech, lifestyle or women only. Co-working is the new way to work, especially in cities where small businesses struggle to afford the high rents for office space.
A little over a year ago, I became part of this new world. Coming from the finance industry, I was used to cubicles, business attire, and a “no-frills” type of work environment. After making the decision that the finance path was not for me, I made the switch to JDCommunications. Being that I live right outside of Manhattan, my biggest concern was where would I work? And not only that, would I be sitting alone all day, every day?

Lucky for me, I stumbled upon Bond Collective, a co-working space located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan. It seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, having the perfect combination of work and fun along with all the resources I need. The collaborative environment is both inviting and encourages hard work. This new found territory made me realize that JDCommunications can, in fact, establish an office here in Manhattan. And needless to say, we have planted our roots and have never looked back. After being here for over a year, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Not only have I been able to network and meet new friends or “coworkers” but JDCommunications now officially has a second location in New York and is a part of a community.

With the co-working craze taking over and popping up in more and more cities and suburbs, standard office spaces may very well be becoming a thing of the past!