There’s no denying that coworking spaces make for creative, energetic and rewarding working environments. Their unprecedented rise has drastically changed how working professionals approach their days, offering everything from collaboration to networking opportunities. 

The key to getting the most out of your coworking space and experience is to find the right balance between engagement with your surroundings and maintaining a focus on your projects and tasks ahead.

Here are our recommendations for maximizing productivity in coworking spaces while harnessing their full potential.

Determine Your Plan for the Day(s)

The foundation to finding success in a coworking space is to establish your personal workspace strategy. Where possible, select the most beneficial space for you to work in, whether it’s in a more secluded nook of the office or between your coworkers to engage in open dialogue and stimulate creativity. Whatever you have planned for your working days and weeks, consider the most appropriate and fulfilling stations that allow you to be as productive as possible.

Over time, as your business grows, you may find yourself needing to delegate tasks, rather than tackle them all on your own. If you’re running a one-person operation, consider delegating administration tasks to a virtual assistant to alleviate some pressure, or if you’re running a team, suggest entrusting specific projects and tasks to those reporting to you. You want every minute that you use a coworking space to be rewarding and productive, so do what you need to do to focus on the highest-value work while maintaining momentum.

A view of a worker's setup in a coworking space.

Master Your Time with Strategic Scheduling

Productivity in coworking spaces relies heavily on your ability to maintain a solid structure to your day, with enough adaptability and flexibility to pivot when the time is right.

Consider these proven time management techniques:

  1. Time Blocking: Designate specific hours for focused work, collaborative sessions, and networking. This creates a natural rhythm that helps you maintain control over your schedule while making the most of the coworking environment.
  2. The Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks. This method is particularly effective in coworking spaces, where the dynamic environment can occasionally become distracting. Use your breaks to network strategically or recharge in communal breakout rooms.
  3. Proper Scheduling: Plan your most demanding tasks during the hours when your energy and enthusiasm are at their peak. Reserve collaborative work and lighter tasks for times when you naturally seek more interaction.

Optimize Your Environment for Success

Coworking spaces offer various assets and environments within a single location. Learn how to capitalize on each one at the right times to keep your productivity high.

  • Quiet meeting rooms: Book a slot in these shared meeting rooms for when you need to engage in important client calls, virtual meetings, or when you need zero distractions. Many coworking spaces offer soundproof booths with plenty of insulation to minimize noise travel.
  • Breakout spaces: Utilize these for brainstorming sessions or when you need a change of scenery to boost creativity.
  • Quiet zones: Take advantage of designated quiet areas when you need absolute focus. If this isn’t possible, consider noise-cancelling headphones.

Preventing Your Attention From Dwindling

While there’s no doubt the energy of coworking spaces can invigorate and inspire, sometimes they can be naturally distracting. The key is to thrive and engage when the time calls for it.

As mentioned above, noise-cancelling headphones are ideal if you need to finish an important task by a particular deadline. Creating visual cues like agendas and motivational quotes can also help you stay the course. Setting communication tools and instant messaging applications to “do not disturb” can help you set appropriate digital boundaries. 

Never underestimate the power of a clean desk policy and clutter-free workspace. These can both reduce visual distractions and provide some much-needed mental clarity, especially when workloads are high.

Leverage Community While Preserving Focus

One of the biggest benefits of coworking is its ability to foster a thriving community of like-minded working professionals. This can undeniably help when creativity is stifled and business may be plateauing, for example, but even when neither are present, the buzz and energy in a coworking space can unlock many advantages.

Set specific times to network with your fellow coworkers, rather than embrace interruptions to your natural workflow. Use the space to identify potential collaboration opportunities within your community, and schedule dedicated times for discussions about working together.

When you can, participate in community events to expand your network and learn from others around you. This can be a tremendous business boost when you need it most.

Utilize Space Amenities 

Many coworking spaces nowadays offer plenty of additional amenities which you can take advantage of whenever suits you. The strategy is to make them work in a way that complements your productivity and helps you overcome mental blocks.

For example, in-house cafes and canteens can be a great collaborative breakout area to give you a reprieve from the work day and engage in light conversations with your colleagues and coworkers. Plan your breaks to coincide with the times when your energy is most likely to take a dip. A study shows that the average person hits a proverbial ‘slump’ at roughly 2:36 pm.

High-speed internet, printing facilities and other tech amenities are there to help you streamline your workflow. Make use of these at the right times to give you a productivity boost.

While single, closed-off meeting rooms can be great areas for focus and concentration, use smart meeting and conference rooms for creative brainstorming sessions. 

A view of a worker's setup in a coworking space.

Track and Optimize Your Productivity

Implement a system to monitor your productivity patterns. Consider using time-tracking apps to monitor how you spend your time and where you are most productive, identifying areas for immediate and long-term improvement. This will help you prioritize your work day as you use your coworking space more.

Set daily and weekly objectives that align with your broader business goals, and assess your strategies regularly based on what’s working best in your current coworking environment.

Using Coworking Spaces to Their Full Advantage

Mastering productivity in a busy coworking environment requires trial and error, and there will naturally be days when you are more productive than others. Utilize the strategies and tips above to give you the essential tools for making the most out of a structured day, with enough flexibility to benefit from the collaborative atmosphere. Experiment with these tips to discover what works best for you in your coworking journey.

Finding the right coworking space is a vital decision – one that’s not to be taken lightly. In the same way that an office location is important for business owners, coworking spaces have to check several boxes if you are to benefit from them. Making the wrong choice can ultimately hinder, rather than help your productivity and, by extension, your success. 

Mastering productivity in a coworking environment requires intentional strategy and consistent implementation. By creating structure while remaining flexible enough to benefit from the collaborative atmosphere, you can achieve optimal productivity while enjoying the unique advantages of coworking spaces.

Remember that productivity is personal—experiment with these strategies to discover what works best for you in your coworking journey.

Need help finding a quality coworking space that adds value to your work rather than detracts from it? Search for shared office spaces in cities near you using our search tool, and discover the true benefits it can offer you.