There is a constant migration of young people from one city to another in India. In order to attend higher education or get a new job, they must leave their homes. With the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases earlier in 2020 and this year too, multiple lockdowns and work priorities made it quite difficult for the working professionals to return to their homes safely. Living alone in a different city, away from home & family, it became nearly impossible for them to survive.
The pandemic made staying healthy and safe more important than proximity to the workplace. As a result, many of them began actively seeking accommodations that provide not only enhanced safety but also additional comforts and amenities compared to the ones they were used to. This helped in popularizing the co-living spaces in India the most.
Why?
Living in a co-living community encourages residents to interact and work together. Young people are moving to expensive cities in search of work, so spaces like these have popped up in response. A co-living arrangement is essentially a shared living space with residents who have similar interests, goals, values, and a sense of community.
Residents of a co-living community often share the same philosophical values, and the concept of openness and collaboration underlies all aspects of co-living. Residents of this type of housing have their own bedroom and bathroom, but they share common areas like the kitchen and living room. The residents share the costs of living together. Co-living spaces can be more affordable since they vary in price depending on where you live, but it is always cheaper than traditional rentals.
How is co-living a boon for young adults moving to different cities?
Living with others who share similar interests and engaging amenities are some factors fueling the growth of co-living. Co-living does not segregate members from the outside world as some communes do; members interact normally with the world outside their living environment. This has led to the spread of co-living around the world. Several companies offer co-living spaces in multiple cities around the world.
Additionally, its popularity stems from the desire to establish connections and be around others. If you live in a co-living space, you can start a new friendship — or even a business — just by opening your door. Besides these benefits, a sense of belonging and community support are also provided. Co-living appeals mostly to younger generations who want to travel without worrying about finding a place to live. There is an emphasis on agility in this type of lifestyle; the ability to move from one place to another without feeling tied down is liberating for some people.
Co-living is so much more than sharing resources with people. During group dinners, your housemates will be your family, your partner in adventure, and your shoulder to lean on. Also, it’s easier to share moments, experiences, joys, and struggles when you live with the people you engage in activities with. A small timeframe, combined with emotions and experiences, cultivates strong connections. You can feel that same feeling when you live in a co-living environment. Because of the emphasis on sharing and collaboration of co-living communities, they present countless opportunities to truly engage with your neighbors.
Benefits of physical networking at co-living:
Events
Group events organized by co-living spaces aim to foster community engagement. While the events and frequency of events that each space hosts differ, the bottom line is presenting activities that elicit bonding. Living in a co-living space means spending time with each other, working toward a common goal, and being there for each other. To act as an intermediary for connections, co-living companies try to make every moment worth it.
Cultural diversity
As another point of interest, many people who move into co-living spaces come from different backgrounds, so they have distinct experiences to share. Diversity of culture offers a unique opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on many things. Inexperienced roommates can benefit from living together and attending community events together. A conversation with someone who’s different from you involves more than just having a conversation. You gain a profound understanding of your housemates through these group events, which helps you to broaden your worldview and open your mind.
Networking opportunities
Co-living spaces offer unparalleled business networking opportunities besides allowing people to get to know each other deeply on a personal level. This is especially true in co-living houses designed for entrepreneurs, startup founders, remote workers, and digital nomads. The idea of getting business inspiration from your co-living roommates and working with them makes it more interesting.
Co-living communities are taking advantage of this trend. Some co-living spaces even have their own co-working spaces. The housemates have designated work areas where they can focus, while chill-out zones throughout allow them to collaborate and share ideas. The co-living communities also offer networking events to help residents meet local influencers who can assist them in pitching their ideas, as well as interact with other local entrepreneurs.
Besides free workshops for their residents, they also offer lessons on fundraising and product design, so that they can improve their business skills. In a shared living room, professionals can both teach and learn from one another.
How can you become a part of communities with like-minded people in co-living spaces?
By joining the community events headfirst, you can speed up connecting with new housemates. Hence, attending the first community event is a good idea. You will get to know your new friends better at this first event. In an environment that promotes openness and inclusion, people feel comfortable opening up at these events. A simple exchange of your name, where you are from, what you do, and your secret talent, for example, can start a new friendship.
Following this, you may wish to spend some time in the common areas so that you can have organic conversations. It is absolutely important to retreat to your room now and then for some alone time, but it is also crucial to put yourself out there to get to know your co-livers better during the first few days and weeks. As you gain more confidence, you can organize your own outing or plan some indoor activities with your own community. In contrast, if you are invited to do something you think is interesting, why not take it up?
A co-living community provides what so many of us strive for – a sense of belonging. This is one of the major reasons co-living is so popular among young adults. With people not being able to meet their families/friends regularly, co-living spaces help them find new friends over just dinners/breakfast/games or any discussions. If you’re looking to enjoy these benefits at the most affordable pricing along with integrated advanced technology and several amenities & facilities in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai, we’ve got you covered! Visit www.colive.com, to know more.
