Staying productive in any working situation can prove to be a task for many people. Add a coworking space to the mix, and it can become even more difficult. The truth is that no matter who you are, anything can be a distraction. Even while working alone at home in your office, things pop up and draw your attention away from your work. 

We definitely need a break every once in a while, but staying productive is essential to quality work. So for that reason, we’ve put together 10 easy tips for staying productive in a coworking space. These are in no particular order, so use as many or as few as you see fit.

5 tips

Many times, when you find resources telling you how to stay productive at work, they mention things that you can do outside of work. Things like eating a healthy breakfast, sleeping well, and working out are all at the top of everyone’s to-do list and aren’t always a reality that we can accomplish. They are apart of a daily routine, not necessarily a work routine.

As much as we might try, sometimes your morning routine just doesn’t pan out, and you’re stuck trying to make the most of your work day without any actionable tips. So instead, these are tips for staying productive while you’re actually at work in your coworking space. 

1. Work in increments

Nothing is more draining than having to sit down at your desk all day, staring blankly into your monitor, and hoping work gets done. This is one of the fastest ways to burn out, and should be avoided at all costs.

Instead, try breaking your workday down into smaller steps. Try breaking it down into groups, taking breaks in between to refresh and reset.

Try dedicating the first few hours of your work day to recurring tasks. Check emails, reply to messages, check in on projects, and so on. 

After a short break is taken, the rest of your time until lunch can be allocated for projects that need your attention.

Once you’ve had your lunch, have a period dedicated just for meetings. Although not everyone will be available around this time, it’s a good idea to make a habit of hosting and attending meetings within a certain window.

Finally, you can dedicate the rest of your day to buttoning up whatever you’ve been working on, and preparing yourself and your space for the next day.

Granted, not everyone’s schedule will work out exactly this way, but this gives you a good idea of what you can do to adapt your workflow to a coworking space.

2. Create a to-do list

Nowadays, most of us are using a project management tool of some sort to help us prioritize tasks and projects. If you aren’t already doing so, I would highly suggest looking into it.

There are plenty of free tools out there to help you organize your day. Or, at the very least, you can write your own to-do list. In some cases, writing it down might help you remember what you need to be doing.

Either way, try creating a daily to-do list first thing in the morning. If you have a task that you know you will need to do for the next day, you can even start the list the day before and have it waiting for you when you return to your coworking space the next day.

3. Keep your workspace neat and organized

They that a busy desk means a busy mind. While being busy might sound good, it can greatly reduce your productivity in a coworking space. You might spend too much time juggling documents, staplers, and cables instead of working.

Don’t get me wrong, your workspace will end up getting messy by the end of the day. As papers move, lunch is eaten, and just general daily activities take place, there will be some clutter. You can combat this by dedicating the last 5-10 minutes of your work day to tidying up and getting your coworking space ready for the next day.

4. Stop trying to multitask

Multitasking is a real talent, but it’s not always necessary. In fact, some might say that it is their productivity downfall. 

Believe it or not, multitasking can lead to brain damage. Now, I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound very productive. Multitasking ends up taking roughly the same amount of time to complete all the tasks as it would if you took them on one at a time.

On top of all of that, let’s say that your job revolves around multitasking. Well, nowadays, there’s plenty of technology out there to help you manage and maintain multiple tasks at once. The goal here is to reduce the strain on your brain in order to increase productivity in a coworking space.

5. Set priorities for more important tasks

In all honesty, the best way to structure your day is to do the hardest and most complex tasks first. Sure, checking your emails and messages first thing is pretty important, but after you’ve settled into your coworking space, you should definitely prioritize your more important tasks before anything else. 

Being productive is about accomplishing what you want and need to accomplish in a timely manner. If you’re saving difficult tasks for the end of the day, you might not have much energy left, or worse, something might come up that forces you to postpone that important task.

Staying productive in a Nooka Space

Everyone has their own process and procedures. Staying productive in a coworking space often boils down to your environment. With a Nooka Space, you will have all the amenities you need to be comfortable and productive, all while enjoying the freedom of coming and going as you please.

Download the app for iPhone or Android, and find the nearest Nooka Space to you. Take the guesswork out of staying productive in a coworking space. Choose Nooka.