4 mins read
The alarm blares as you crawl out of bed. The night is over. It is now time to get your engine started on a weekday morning.
To kickstart your day, you walk into the kitchen and fix yourself a cup of espresso. Going through the motion, the unnerving work week rush has begun once again. While your spoon clangs erratically against your coffee cup, your mind is whirling – full of daunting thoughts and unclear ideas for your latest project.
As a freelancer who works from home, your work life inevitably blurs into your home life. Without this clear separation between work and home, the possibility of overworking is higher, leading to burnout. Being a freelancer in Singapore, it is good to know the available options outside of your home, where you can work with a peace of mind.
Some of these alternative workspaces for freelancers do have a more productive environment and networking opportunities, while others are much more wallet-friendly because they are free! Here’s a list of workspaces you might seek comfort in to get some work done when Singapore safely exits the circuit breaker.
1. CO-WORKING SPACES
Hotdesking in Singapore is available in co-working spaces. To maximise space efficiency and reduce unnecessary cost of renting an office space, both small and medium enterprises may consider this as an option.
As a freelancer, this affects you too. With more companies leaning towards hotdesking in Singapore, your networking opportunities expand as you find your desk-neighbour changing on a daily basis. Unexpected conversations with driven individuals from different backgrounds and industries may spark collaborations or help you build your clientele. You will be surrounded with entrepreneurs and freelancers who are just as motivated as you! What a perk!
Encouragement, support and sometimes, even useful trainings can all be found in these co-working spaces. Compared to the libraries and cafes, co-working spaces are fully furnished and well equipped with offices supplies. A central location makes these co-working spaces an ideal space for business meetings and also client appointments. A professional image helps to build trust and confidence, increasing your chances of bagging successful business dealings with your prospective clients.
However, these benefits and convenience does come with a price - essentially, here’s what you are likely to be paying for:
You are paying for a professional work environment where a receptionist will greet your prospective client at an aesthetically pleasing and professional workspace.
Reliable, high-speed internet connection, free for use, together with full access to communal facilities. Packed a salad for lunch? Keep it fresh in the refrigerator. Need a microwave to reheat your puff pastries? All done in 20 seconds! It really does feel like a home away from home – minus the distractions!
Other alternatives such as the library and cafe are unlikely to offer you opportunities for networking and rubbing shoulders with other entrepreneurs and specialists for unexpected and innovative collaborations. As a freelancer, you may be working independently by hotdesking in a co-working space, but the nature of the co-working environment allows for open communication even with strangers!
Similar to the ever-innovative-Google’s workspace concept, ‘casual collisions’ between employees from other teams are encouraged through the intuitive design of co-working / open-concept office spaces and this works out just right for their business and inter-personal goals.
2. Library (for when you need to save that extra dollar)
There are currently 27 public libraries islandwide and 8 of these libraries will be revamped by 2026 to help bring Singaporeans together, in a supportive learning environment. The libraries are usually located in neighbourhood areas and are great for freelancers who are looking to step outside of their home but do not wish to travel far just to get some work done.
The new Punggol Regional Library will open late next year for those who reside in that area. In the event you have some cash to spare, you might appreciate some additional privacy and space in the Smart Work Centres available at 4 of the selected libraries.
3. Work-friendly cafes
With Singapore’s saturated cafe scene, you will definitely be able to find a suitable place where you can satisfy your morning caffeine needs and also get your work done. Take note when sourcing for these spaces for work - consider the availability of power plugs and the reliability of the cafe’s internet connection. It is also good to be mindful that cafes are still F&B establishments that depend on their patrons for businesses. This includes, students, fellow freelancers and also the lunch crowd. It would be wise to avoid peak periods in the cafe since it offers a less conducive working environment (and it shows that you’re considerate too!).
As a freelancer in Singapore, you may have chosen this road which is less travelled by many, or felt forced to become one due to job vacancies declining in recent years. Regardless, with the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, being a freelancer during this pandemic can be extremely stressful due to a sudden loss of income and thereby leading to financial instability.
The government has set aside a resilience budget which will help the self-employed and eligible persons receive $1000 a month for nine months to tide through this economy downturn. When Singapore is ready to safely exit the circuit breaker and have most businesses resume in phase 2 of the post circuit breaker, look forward to stepping out of your home for some fresh air and a new outlook from a different workspace!
Stay home no more! Stay woke!