5 Reasons Why I Don't Work From Home
It’s been FIVE YEARS since I moved into my studio at the Tannery! WOW!
Having my own studio was my ultimate business goal, and didn’t think I’d be able to rent one as early as I did. When I moved into The Tannery Marketplace on August 1, 2016, I had a business partner and another studio mate. There’s no way I could have moved in without the two of them, and even though both have since moved out, I’m grateful for our time together and how they helped me get to where I am today.
Check out the post I wrote a month after moving into The Tannery, including why I chose the building!
While I wrote a How It Started, How It’s Going post a few months ago, I thought I’d commemorate five years at the studio with another side-by-side image:
Beyond reminiscing on my time at the Tannery Marketplace, I’ve also been thinking about how grateful I am to have a studio. Because there’s no way I could work from home!
If you’re on the fence of setting up a home office or renting your own studio, I’m sharing the five reasons why I don’t work from home.
Watch the Reel!
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I’m more productive
Aside from getting away from the distractions at home, the energy of my studio is focused on work. When I’m sitting at my desk, surrounded by my work tools and - on a higher level - surrounded by other working professionals in the same building, I’m in work mode.
Not only that, I keep my studio organized and clean, which is much harder to do at home. (Especially since I married a clutter bug!)
Better work/life balance
Having a work space outside of my home allows me to better separate work life from home life.
While there are days when I’m not in the mood to go to the studio or there’s more work I want to get done at home, for the most part, I have a better work/life balance because of my studio.
Because if I want to, I can leave work at the door.
It’s more professional
When a client wants to meet, my business looks much more professional having an official location.
The home office thing never did it for me. I always feel weird meeting people at their home offices. Almost like I’m intruding on their life. And, honestly, I feel like the person doesn’t take their business as seriously when they hold meetings at home.
(If you don’t need a physical meeting space, however, it makes sense to have a home office. If that set-up works for you.)
And meeting at coffee shops just feels weird to me. I don’t like be surrounded by extraneous people who are trying to get work done or who could potentially be listening in. And on top of that, there’s the distractions of the coffee shop being in full swing!
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I feel inspired
My studio space is completely mine. I can keep it as tidy as I want and decorate it however I want to. This allows me to surround myself with the things that spark joy and inspiration.
There’s also no housework, cats, or husbands distracting me!
There’s community
I have almost 30 neighbors at The Tannery Marketplace, and it feels like such camaraderie to work around other small business owners!
It’s isolating to be a small business owner working from home, and even though I don’t work with my neighbors, chatting with them in the halls or supporting their businesses makes me feel like I’m not alone. Physically or alone on my business journey!
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have my own studio space, and especially grateful that I’m still there. I can’t imagine being anywhere but The Tannery Marketplace.
To learn a little bit more about what happened in between August 1, 2016 and August 1, 2021, check out this post.
UPDATE 1/1/2024: I have decided to leave my studio and work from home. This wasn’t a decision I wanted to make and I am having a hard time adjusting to WFH.
Looking to learn more about renting a space? There’s an entire lesson on how to find one and what to expect in my no cost Begin Your Business online course!
Hey there! I’m Meg:
LOVER OF CATS, ROLLER SKATING, AND VW BUGS
I also love business and share all kinds of tips and resources to help you grow yours.
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