Co-Living: The New Way To Be Productive & Creative In Paradise

A large number of those working whilst travelling the world can agree with this: it’s a great life, but it can be lonely. Sometimes you need someone else to talk to, to help you solve your problems, to help you with challenges, or even give you a new focus. This is where Co-Living offers a brilliant solution.

Coworking spaces have been popping up around the world for the last few years, and it’s safe to say that nowadays, most capital cities have at least one coworking space, with new ones opening on a weekly basis. They are a great place to go when working from home or from a coffee shop is just not working for you. They can also be a good way to meet a whole new community of other like-minded people.

The new big thing, however, are Co-Living spaces. They are a step-up from Coworking – and much more intense. In addition to working at the same space, Co-Living (as promised in the name) also includes a shared living component. Co-Living areas can be anything from something resembling a flatshare (like this one in London) to one-week popup events all around the world (like Coworkation). Here’s a how-to guide of the best Co-Living Spaces, which will have something for everyone.

Why choose Co-Living?

As mentioned above, traveling the world by yourself can get lonely. Often in Coworking spaces, most people will just come in, work, and then leave again. The advantage of Co-Living is thus that it is possible to connect to other like-minded people over a glass of wine, some yoga in the morning, or while preparing dinner for everyone. Some Co-Living spaces cater to digital nomads, others focus on career changers. Some are like retreats from work, while others actively encourage working at your regular pace. Through Co-Living, many find a community and a global network of fellow travellers with whom they can exchange ideas, share skills and start new businesses.

What kinds are there?

Just like Coworking spaces, Co-Living spaces come in all shapes and sizes, depending on people’s needs and preferences. Not everyone is able to join for 6 months and some can only take one week off their busy schedules to work in a cool location. The most popular ones appear to be in Ubud, Bali, with a wide range of different camps (Hubud). Others are ones where you co-live and co-travel around the world with likeminded people for a certain period of time (WiFi Tribe).

Which are the best ones?

This varies on what you’re looking for but here are my top 6 in Europe:

1. Remote Year – once joined, you travel with them through European cities for a year, spending one month in each place.
2. Roam, with many different locations around the world, currently in Madrid, Bali and Miami where you can just check into any space and find a community there.
3. Pura Vida Hubs, one of the first Co-Living Spaces in Romania with superfast internet and a great community.
4. Coliving.com, which acts as a platform and connection tool for some beautiful coworking spaces in Europe and many other locations around the world.
5. Sende is a beautiful Co-Living space in northern Spain, where ideas can flow freely without distractions.
6. Coboat, a Co-Living sailing boat (don’t worry, it has WiFi) currently on its way from Sardinia to Athens.

PS: One secret tip is Coliving, which will host entrepreneurs from all around the world in Austria, once it launches – so be excited!

Co-Living is not for everyone and the price often scares people away. However, they are an incredible way to take a step back from your current project, look at the bigger picture, work on challenges, and find likeminded people from all over the world. In addition, there are hundreds of success stories coming from Co-Living spaces, where new enterprises are started and co-livers have the possibilities and the space to have great ideas. On top of it all, you’re living and working in paradise – what can be better than that?

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