The coworking space, a relatively unknown phenomenon a decade ago, seems to be gripping the business industry as an ingenious and creative concept. The idea that workers need to be supervised in a physical office to be efficient or productive is becoming outdated. Although this concept has been around for a while, it has recently become more popular thanks to COVID-19.

People may choose to work in coworking spaces for better work-life balance, collaborative opportunities, and most notably for greater flexibility and cost-efficiency. However, these perks can have some serious effects on your productivity.

This raises the question of how to enjoy the benefits of such a space whilst improving productivity and performance. In this article, we share useful tips on how to increase your productivity at a coworking space.

1. Establish Your Motive

Identifying your reasons for choosing your line of duty can help you navigate tough times. When you’re aware of why you chose your profession, it can make it less laborious. This may result in a faster and better quality of work. Your job may involve activities that are less fun, but understanding the purpose behind them can make it easier.

2. Maintain Discipline

Like with any other work environment, it’s pivotal for coworking spaces to maintain a certain kind of discipline, which can help coworkers achieve excellent performance levels. Discipline in this context involves coming to the office regularly, on time, and spending a good number of productive hours without any distractions.

When you work, it is prudent to ensure your engagement is productive and beneficial to your project or the team. Otherwise, you might end up wasting time and becoming a nuisance to your co-workers. Discipline can help you exercise restraint and maintain the decorum of the workplace.

3. Choose The Right Coworking Space

Location, undeniably, needs to be a priority when selecting the best coworking space. Choosing the right spot to work from can contribute significantly to the success of your business. Be sure to settle on a coworking space that checks off all your requirements, such as:

• Good lighting
• Access to outdoor workspaces
• Office amenities i.e.office coffee machines, and good desks and chairs
• High-speed internet
• Privacy

Everyone has their reasons to prefer one area over another, but location distance and safety are often the most significant factors when choosing a coworking space. Before signing a lease, make sure you feel comfortable in the space.

4. Manage Your Time Effectively

You walk into your coworking space focused to finish your tasks for the day, but before you know it, you’ve lost two hours of your workday in aimless chit-chat or checking out the latest videos on TikTok. Some, if not most, coworkers can relate to this scenario.

The coworking space can be a vibrant work scene where one can easily lose focus without a plan. Most people approach the workday headfirst, but it often pays to plan ahead. Poor time management can lead to the non-fulfilment of tasks.

Before you get started for the day, spend 10-20 minutes creating a work plan, and it could make a world of difference. In the same spirit, set deadlines for tasks on a daily basis to allow for a more efficient work schedule and help you keep personal accountability at work.

5. Defeat Procrastination

Procrastination is a common problem that affects many people, from freelancers to CEOs. If left unresolved, it can hinder your productivity and performance.

The secret to overcoming procrastination is changing your approach to work. It’s usually a great idea to focus and perform difficult tasks during the first few hours since most people are at their productive best at the start of the day. This not only helps you to stay ahead for the rest of the day but also helps offset some slack hours.

Additionally, you can follow these actionable steps:

• Break tasks into smaller milestones
• Sett tough deadlines for yourself
• Take a break once each task is complete

In doing so, you can finally overcome this perennial problem. Remember that success often lies on the other side of procrastination.

6. Take Scheduled Breaks

A monotonous routine can be one of the main villains of productivity, as the brain is an organ that can only take so much at a time.  According to a Tork survey, nearly 90% of North American employees claim that taking lunching breaks helps them feel refreshed and ready to go back to work.

That said, a break can be anything from a 20-minute nap to making coffee with the office coffee machine. What’s important is that the brain “resets” every once in a while. Powering through your workday can backfire, causing more stress and more mistakes, so be sure to regularly schedule your breaks.

7. Optimize Your Work With Technology

Technology has dominated a huge part of our lives, and the coworking space is no exception.

There are numerous apps and websites designed to make coworking life easier and save time. Tools like calendars, to-do lists, documents and data storage in the cloud are available to automate tasks and boost your productivity at the workplace.

Technology can be a great asset in enhancing productivity in the coworking space.

8. Practice Self-Care

In such a constructive and creative environment, one can easily fall into the trap of being a workaholic. Having a workaholic mindset causes most people to prolong their working hours while neglecting themselves in the process.

A remedy for this is routinely practising self-care, which is a conscious effort to enhance your physical, mental and emotional health. You can do this by:

• Rewarding yourself for exceptional work
• Getting enough sleep
• Eating healthy
• Exercising

The value of self-care cannot be overemphasized. To quote Gabrielle Union, “If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself.”

Final Thoughts

Coworking spaces have undoubtedly become a central component of new work environments.

Although this concept may have numerous perks, the race to achieve productivity can be a constant struggle. However, this does not have to be the case. These innovative ideas can ensure you have a more productive and well-balanced work life.