Co-living is the Modern Day Face of Home and Lifestyle

Co-living is often perceived as one of many emerging trends born out of millennial culture. While it is true that the majority of those who co-live are millennials, the option to do so limits nobody.  Its economic benefits present co-living as a viable living option because of its capacity to accommodate a number of needs in terms of hospitality and convenience. Co-living eases the far distances and long hours that employees need to travel especially after working late nights. By co-living nearby their workplace, commute hours are shortened. This ease in day-to-day travel, however, is just one facet of its many reasons why more people are drawn to the idea of co-living.

Co-living is a platform for new and unexpected connections to be made.

What many fail to see is that, more than anything else, co-living is a massive social phenomenon. Co-living desires to create a sense of community and to connect people together through one simple tool: a shared living space. It’s a non-threatening environment for people to interact while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle through the sharing of resources.

Co-living presents individuals with a “home away from home.” Developing camaraderie with fellow housemates or roommates and adjusting to each other’s quirks and habits eventually creates a familiar bond that almost feels like family. It puts emphasis on the value of relationship and friendship compared to living alone in a city that has a possible disconnect from one’s identity. By joining together unique individuals with their own stories and putting them in an environment to find common ground in unfamiliar territory, co-living paves the way for new relationships to be formed, new cultures to be developed, and new memories to be made.

The act of co-living is especially resonant in millennials because it gives them a taste of freedom and independence. It also opens the door for them to opportunities to interact with a community of like-minded people. In certain instances, individuals who work different jobs find themselves co-living with others, and this crossing of paths is celebrated. This openness is what makes this company of unassuming soon-to-be-friends effective.

Is Co-Living for Me?

An individual who co-lives must be highly flexible when it comes to living conditions and sharing facilities. Yoga mats may be laid out in the kitchen, and projectors could be placed in bedrooms for movie nights. There is no one purpose for space. For those who value their time alone, however, the constant adjustment to a variety of personalities could be difficult. A single bedroom apartment might be best instead of a co-living space.

Lowered rental costs could easily attract people to the possibility of co-living, but there could still be a mix and match of expectations versus reality. One major consideration is choosing the right people to share space with. It’s also vital that the responsibilities of each member be ironed out at the onset to avoid misunderstandings in the future.

Flexibility comes into play as one remains open to change regularly. Not one person is the same; don’t expect to hit it off with everyone immediately, but patience and understanding will nurture the relationship. For those who find excitement in experiencing community and finding inspiration through sharing goals and dreams with new people, co-living could be the next big step in their life.