Coworking spaces are a valuable asset for freelance and remote workers seeking a dedicated workspace outside of their homes. How do you ensure that your work routine is productive in this unique environment? Let’s review some tips for maximizing your work schedule and ramping up your productivity in a coworking space.
Shared Space Dynamics
One of the first things you’ll notice about a coworking space when you first encounter one is the space itself. Whether you’re just entering the workforce or you’ve had decades of experience in a traditional office environment, there can be a bit of culture shock. Coworking is dynamic, social, and wide open. This openness is great for productivity, and countless studies have shown that coworking is a good way for people to get things done and innovate, but it’s not without its challenges. For people who love to socialize, a coworking space can feel like a productivity trap. There are so many people around you working on interesting projects from multiple industries. It can be a great place to network, but you need to ensure your work doesn’t suffer from your collaboration. Set clear boundaries for yourself and with others (if necessary) about when you’re focusing on work and when you’re open for collaboration. Utilize the designated areas of a coworking space to do the work you need to get done.
Many coworking campuses have quiet zones and other spaces where chatter is meant to be kept to a minimum. These spaces are great for focusing on a task and getting it done, and it’s a nice way to declare that you need quiet without having to ask for it. At Center 615, we want to have a variety of areas with different uses, but we know it’s crucial to give our clients plenty of room to work independently and expect peace and quiet. If you thrive in a busier environment and can still dial in and work in a focused way, then coworking spaces give you tons of opportunities for that kind of work. Many folks are open to collaborating, and many coworking spaces have become places of explosive teamwork. Expand your Nashville startup’s network by opting to work at C615, where you can reap all the benefits of a busy workplace when you want and get things done in silence, all under the same roof.
Utilize Common (and Unique) Amenities
There are many amenities and perks that coworking spaces offer, which can help you maximize your productivity and maintain a healthy work routine. When looking for coworking spaces near you, it’s important to consider what amenities they provide their clients. Since every coworking space is different, the benefits they offer their members can vary quite substantially. If you’re looking to work in the city, ensure that the campus has ample parking and is easily accessible from public transportation. While you may not drive or ride to work every day in the same way, ensuring your membership provides you with any possible amenities you need before you need them helps keep your work going smoothly. Many coworking spaces provide certain perks like breakrooms or other social spaces for you to take a break and unwind from work. This is crucial to establishing a healthy work routine and ensuring you’re taking time for self-care and socialization at work.
If you’re regularly meeting with clients or coworkers, you will want to check that a prospective space offers meeting rooms on-site. Meeting in a coworking space can be overwhelming for a client or simply not work due to confidentiality concerns, so it’s important that you have an area for conferencing or check-ins with others. Private meeting space is a huge perk to have in a coworking building, and it’s one that you shouldn’t overlook when considering where you’re going to work. Even if you don’t currently need one, you may one day have to meet with people.
At Center 615, our coworking members get discounted meeting room access, and they’re all free for clients to check out after business hours. Using your coworking membership to its fullest extent is more than getting your money’s worth. Many of the overlooked amenities you can find at coworking campuses can help maximize your productivity. Need notary services? Rather than spending half the day traveling across the city to find a certified notary, you can stay right at Center 615 and get it done for free. Many bonuses for our members are things they’ll use all the time, but it’s these more substantial, less common perks that make your day go smoother. Make the most of your space, and you’ll find that coworking is more productive than doing things alone.
Time Management Tips for Coworking
How do you create a productive workspace? This can be a common concern for people in a coworking space, since their desk space can change every day. How do you get your workspace situated correctly when it essentially resets every day? One of the first things to consider when setting up in a common area is the foot traffic. You want to situate yourself somewhere that’s out of the way, so you don’t need to worry about having to move to make room for others to get past you. This can be off-putting to some people in the beginning, having no permanent place to work. But it’s generally considered to be helpful for creativity and morale, since you’re always changing things up. A different location can mean new networking opportunities or a view you’ve never appreciated before. Likewise, you aren’t moored to one spot all day. Get up, stretch your legs, and find a new place to work. Go outside or switch to a high desk that you can stand at and work; the options are plentiful in a coworking space. Since most of the work many folks do these days is computer-based, you don’t need to lug around a ton of supplies besides a laptop or tablet. And even if you do have more equipment, there’s plenty of table and desk space at C615 for your projects to sprawl and grow. The best coworking spaces create environments that are ever-changing and inspiring for their clients, and we strive to do that each and every day.
Enjoy a Productive Workspace
At Center 615, we’re always innovating and finding new ways to surprise you and enhance your day, so come check us out sometime! You can book a tour online to see what it’s like before you make any commitment, and as always, our coworking memberships are month-to-month.
