How to stay focused in a coworking space

For those days when you just don’t feel like working from home, a coworking space is exactly what you need to get the productive juices flowing. 

But like any public space there’s always going to be distractions, whether that’s loud meetings, or feeling like you don’t belong. 

Here are a few ways to stay focused on the task of the day.

Appreciate your working style

It goes without saying that everyone has their own way of working. When you’re surrounded by people all seemingly hard at work, it can feel like the pressure’s on you to be just as productive, often leading to ‘imposter syndrome’.

This can be especially difficult when you’ve made a conscious decision to visit a coworking space, a place designed to be a focused work space.

How you work is tailored to you, and if that means working at a slower, more detailed focused pace or even that you’re more productive in the afternoon than mornings, that’s fine! It clearly works for you.

All you need to do is plan your day effectively. If you work better at certain times, spend your less productive times preparing any materials you might need later. That way you can get straight into and end up feeling more satisfied with your workload.

Reward the little things

Any milestone is good, and when you’re staring down a heavy workload it’s best to recognise those minor achievements when you get the chance.

Even if it’s something as small as ticking off one or two things from your to-do list, it’s still more than when you started. The more you chip away at something, the less imposing it looks over time. 

It might not be breaktime, but if you’ve made significant headway, then why not reward yourself, even if that’s just taking a walk around the office or grabbing a nice hot drink. 

By the end of the day you should have reached a point where you feel happy with stopping. And although it isn’t finished you can return to it tomorrow with fresh eyes happy you started it at all.

Use headphones

There really is no way getting around this one, unless you’re lucky enough to know coworking spaces with specifically designed quiet spots, you’re probably going to have to deal with noise from time to time.

To combat this, we recommend some noise cancelling headphones and a good focus playlist, whether you’re into your lo-fi or classical. It keeps your mind occupied but not so much that you get distracted by the music instead. 

Coworking spaces are a great alternative for those unable to work from home.. 

With these easy steps you should have a better understanding of what to expect as well as ways to overcome the everyday problems of self employment. 

For more productivity advice get in touch today and see how we can help you.