The biggest complaint I sometimes hear about coworking spaces is that they are noisy. Perhaps this is some spaces (mine certainly isn’t noisy), but the reality is you have distractions no matter where you decide to work. Coffee shops are also noisy and there are a million distractions in your home.
That’s why, if you choose to work from a coworking space, it’s important that you learn how to get the most out of it. For the past six months, I’ve been a member of my local coworking space. In that time, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to get the most of our working in these shared community spaces.
Since our Due.com office is at a popular co-working space in Palo Alto, CA… we’ve learned a lot about getting the most out of what we have.
Realize you don’t have to use it all the time.
I’m the kind of person that tends to run with an idea until I run out of breath. I sometimes feel that if I’m paying for something then I must use it all the time. The reality is life doesn’t work that way and it’s okay to be flexible.
What does this have to do with a coworking space? Simply put, if you wake up one morning and would rather work at home that day, don’t force yourself to go to a coworking space. For example, on days when I have early meetings I just take them at home. I end up being more productive that way because I’m not rushing to the office.
Notice what kind of work is best for you to get done at coworking space.
I’ve noticed that when I have a big writing day ahead of me that it’s probably best for me to go to my coworking space. This is especially true if the writing is more complicated, a bit technical or just requires a bit more research on my part. For some reason, I know these kinds of articles won’t get done in my home office.
I also know that if I’m starting to feel a little stir crazy, then I should probably go hang out with some actual humans at my coworking space. Sometimes this can help motivate me.
The key is to know those times when it’s best for you to utilize a space, rather than forcing yourself to work there when you don’t really need to.
Bring headphones.
If you get distracted easily, just put in some headphones and listen to a playlist that gets you in the working groove. While my coworking space isn’t particularly noisy, it still helps me when it comes to focusing and drowning out any potential distractions.
Make friends.
Part of the beauty of a coworking space is that you get to interact with other business owners. Take advantage of it and make some friends! You never know what these connections can turn into over time. Also, it’s just nice to be around people who get what you do for a living.
Experiment with different spots within the space.
I have this weird thing where I can’t work in the same area for too long. This means I jump around the coworking space depending on what I’m working on or how I’m feeling. Sometimes it’s a standing desk day. Other days I just want to hang out in a corner. Other times I work from the kitchen area.
Some people are the exact opposite. They like having their little corner to go to all the time. The only way to determine this is to experiment with different spots within the space.
Getting work done at a coworking space isn’t that hard if you know how you can best use it. By incorporatingg some of these tips you may be surprised at how much you can actually get done.
