You urbanite! Rural coworking is the new trend

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many Spanish urbanites to leave the cities in order to take advantage of telecommuting and entrepreneurship opportunities in the villages. Rural coworking has become the ideal option for these new settlers who need a place to innovate and work.

Getting away from the stress of the city has never been easy. Before the pandemic, thousands of brave people braved the traffic jam every weekend to get to their village, their oasis of peace and quiet. However, they only enjoyed an idle Saturday, but were not spared the Sunday caravan back to reality. They felt like sheep, inside a flock, dreaming of a brief transhumance at the end of each week, which always tastes like nothing.

The pandemic has changed this mentality that the village is only for vacations and weekends. The growing demand for more open and less polluted spaces has put rural areas in the spotlight for those who want to start a business or work outside the city. Besides, why settle for a bit of a break when you can change an entire way of life? If you're burnt out with your current urban existence and you can telecommute, you're the perfect candidate to escape the city, get into nature and enter the world of rural coworking.

With the exodus to the cities, many municipalities ended up being abandoned or with a very small and aging population. However, we still liked the towns and liked them a lot. Those of us who visited them were looking for relaxation, to disconnect from our daily and work obligations, to immerse ourselves in nature and authenticity and to return to our origins.

The arrival of COVID-19 in our lives has provided extra motivation for those who had not yet made up their minds. At this time, when we are looking for healthy environments and away from crowds, the benefits of living and working in a rural area are multiplying. These are some of them, according to Oi Realtor:

• New communication spaces: leaving the comfort zone of the cities and working in a different context teaches us things we didn't know and puts us in contact with different people from whom we can continue to learn.
• Return of young people: those who finished their studies and had to move to the city in search of job opportunities have the option of returning to the village thanks to the coliving and rural coworking options that are being implemented.
• Upgrading sparsely populated areas: according to a study by EuronaAccording to a Eurona study, fiber optics are only found in 3 out of 10 rural homes. The arrival of new people in the villages drives the implementation of advances, in this and other fields, so that everyone can work without problems.
• Favorable environment: rural coworking does not lose its essence and offers quiet and relaxing spaces that make a difference when working.

The rural environment is responding to the new demand. Broadband is beginning to make inroads in the most remote areas. Mayors are working hard to ensure that coverage reaches their districts and premises are being refurbished to provide shelter for teleworkers and entrepreneurs. All this is aimed at reviving village life and relaunching the economy, taking advantage of the change in mentality brought about by the pandemic.

For those who are still undecided, the platform Pandora Hub has launched the "coworking safaris", a series of work stays in rural areas to try for a month. In short, a route to discover hidden corners while you work. Initiatives like this one have made different centers collaborate with each other and strengthen this work model. So, for example, you can work in an urban workspace in Barcelona and spend the summer period in the rural coworking you prefer among all those associated with your usual one. A perfect proposal for all those who do not have a fixed office, nor do they need one.

The options are multiplying for those who have already decided to pack their bags and return to the village. The village of Senderiz (Orense), where only 20 inhabitants live, has been a pioneer in the installation of rural coworking. Sende which has become the retreat for employees of large corporations such as Google, Netflix or Disney. This place stands out for its Sharing is caring spirit based on solidarity and sharing resources. In fact, its founders ask for nothing more than voluntary payment for the stay.

Other pioneering coworkings such as Liquid Zone in Ribaroja d'Ebre or Granadella are being a breath of fresh air in the world of collaborative work. In addition, they have managed to improve, even more if possible, the interpersonal relationships offered by any coworking center, making their own the customs of the towns where they are installed. The recent project Demanda Rural Coworkingin the Sierra de la Demanda (Burgos), advertises itself as "the largest coworking center in the rural world". Its aim is to fight against depopulation and bring new ideas, projects and employment to the villages.

Thanks to these initiatives, coworkers will become part, not only of the community of the center where they work, but also of the neighborhood of the village. And all this in an enviable working environment that facilitates good relationships, surrounded by nature and without stress.

You, digital nomad! It's time to start the exodus from the cities and take the big leap to the rustic!

AUTHOR: CARLOS LLERENA

IT executive, entrepreneur, communicator and academic with international trajectory, expert in technology, marketing, project management and complex problem solving.

On the cover: image from the movie Sheep Don't Miss the Train