The Coworking Space Cool Factor

The coworking space near me used to be a church.

The space was resuscitated with a cool aesthetic and thoughtful design – an attractive solution for local professionals untethered to an office.  Even cooler that it promotes better balance with a room equipped for quick, accessible workday workouts.

It got me thinking about productivity priorities.  What do you really need to get the day done?  And done well?

To Use a Coworking Space or to Not

Fortunately, I get to work from anywhere.  This liberty has encouraged me to experiment with where I do work.  In my pursuit, I’ve realized that productivity requires certain criteria.  That criteria includes doing specific work activities in designated environments.  For example, when I write and edit, I prefer being in a public space, like at the library or a Panera.  When I coach or mastermind, my home office is ideal for these virtual sessions.  When I read and research, I gravitate to my kitchen counter.

I’ve found that pairing activity with environment is beneficial for three reasons:

• Enhanced Focus: Each designated space acts like a mental cue to focus on its corresponding activity.  For me, a public space where people are doing their own work, having conversations, or on their lunch break signals that I can give my undivided attention to writing and editing.
• Better Productivity: With that level of focus, I am able to get into productive flow for sustained periods.  Channeling this flow makes it easy to accomplish necessary tasks.
• Optimal Efficiency: Each environment is terrifically set up for its paired activity.  The library and Panera come equipped with the three things that help me get into a writing or editing flow: the surrounding activity of strangers, comfy seating, and electrical outlets to keep my laptop powered.  In a more quiet place, like my home office, I take longer to finish the work.

This approach to productivity isn’t just about personal preferences.  It’s rooted in some deep neuroscience, which has proven that environmental cues activate the brain to perform in different ways and, thus, affect outcomes.

Whether or not a coworking space makes its way into your productivity criteria, its existence serves as a helpful reminder that there are options to enhance your success.  The important point is that you identify which activities contribute to your productivity and then prioritize the environmental preferences that improve your output.

In essence, do what matters most and pay attention to what’s around you when you hit that trifecta of focus, flow, and efficiency.  That’s a productivity formula you’ll want to repeat on your road to success.

Ready to optimize your productivity and unlock more or your potential?

Let’s work together to identify your unique productivity preferences and create a tailored strategy for success.  Take the first step and schedule your intro call today.