4 Ways to Stay Productive and Stress-Free When Working at Coworking Spaces

“Productivity is less about what you do with your time. And more about how you run your mind.”

- Robin S. Sharma

Stress and productivity go hand in hand. When our stress is up, our productivity goes down. But when we’re not stressed, we can expect ourselves to be highly productive. All of us who work are not immune to this cause-and-effect relationship. Whether we work in an office setting, at home, or in a coworking space, our productivity is always threatened by how stressed we are.

But if you are a freelancer or a staff member of an organization working in a coworking space, here are some tips on how you can keep yourself stress-free so that you can keep that productivity going.

1. Make a priority list.

Creating to-do lists is fun but can be addictive. It might cause you to include even the smallest and least important things. As a result, you can end up with a very long and overwhelming list.

Erase all the unnecessary items and focus on the essential tasks. Tackle each one of them based on their deadlines and/or your productivity levels. For instance, if you’re more productive during the mornings, get on the big tasks to get them out of your way faster. You can then work on the small things in the afternoon.

2. Set working hours.

As a freelancer with flexible hours, the temptation to just “work when I feel like it” can be hard to resist. People can be susceptible to procrastination in one way or another. This may cause you to work more hours than you should and lose the time that you should allot to yourself.

So, even if you are working at a coworking space for a day or for a week, setting a schedule and sticking to it can help you focus on what you should be doing. As a result, you can avoid distractions plus you will be able to achieve a healthier work-life balance.

3. Take a break.

When you have already set your schedule, you should likewise take time to plan your breaks. It’s easy to get lost on your tasks and work for hours in one sitting. You may think this is a good thing as you have accomplished a lot. However, it's actually unhealthy and disadvantageous as this habit can wear you down in the long run.

Using time management systems like the Pomodoro Technique can help you focus on the task at hand and take necessary breaks in between to give your brain a chance to rest and get back to work with renewed energy. During your break time, you can get up from your seat, walk away from your laptop screen, make a cup of coffee, or get some fresh air.

4. Chat with other people.

Working alone for long periods can increase our stress levels, according to several studies, as it makes us feel isolated and lonely. Poor mental health is one of the culprits of poor productivity. So, connecting with other people is vital even though you might prefer to work on your own.

While working at coworking spaces, there will be other people around you from other organizations. They may not be working at the same company as you but chances are, they could be from the same industry or field. Even if they’re not, you can still be around like-minded people who can share ideas with you and offer you support simply by sharing a coffee break chat with a stranger.

Simply put, you get to make new friends while expanding your professional network at the same time.

Of course, these tips aren’t just for people working at coworking spaces. They can also be applicable for those working from the office or even - remotely, from the comfort of their own home. Just tweak them a bit to suit you. For example, instead of talking to those around you, you can schedule some short video calls to your friends or family during your breaks to get your much-needed social interaction if you’re working home alone!