Keeping the “Working” in “Coworking”

Formerly, if you were a freelancer, a consultant, or a creative, loneliness was a given. You might have spent the vast majority of your time at your desk at home, producing good work but starved for social interaction—or, worse, easily distracted by your cat, your laundry, your partner, or your kids. Some freelancers made a habit of working in cafes or bars just to get out of the house.

Now, coworking, which involves a group of people working independently within a shared space, has become a great way for remote workers to engage productively with a work community socially while retaining the independence of freelance employment. Coworking veterans speak to the benefits of avoiding the formality and the politics of traditional office environments and meeting [and potentially collaborating with] other workers in a variety of industries. The trend has given rise to a slew of established coworking spaces with office-like amenities—printers, fax machines, meeting facilities—where workers can rent space by the day or by the month.

I’m a fan. I’m a veteran attendee of Jelly, a coworking meetup held all over the world; and every Sunday, a group of friends and I meet at one of our houses or in a public place to work on creative and professional projects together. Right now, for example, I’m writing this post from a park, where I’m huddled with five of my friends around a tiny cafe table, laptops/crafting supplies/sketchbooks in tow, hard at work with a carafe of coffee and a pizza. We’ve all found that we draw a lot of energy from working around others who are working, so every week, this is our time to get together and be super-productive.

When you bring other people into your workspace, though, it’s not always easy to stay on task and get things done. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned about keeping the “working” in “coworking.”

• Choose your coworking space wisely. For web workers, this includes a strong wi-fi connection and a lot of electrical outlets. For jewelrymakers and knitters, a well-lit space is essential. Some people thrive on office-like environments, with desks and tables; others prefer the more laid-back atmosphere of a lounge filled with couches. Whatever your group needs, make sure you have it—otherwise your productivity is doomed.
• Not everyone can work together. It’s sad, but true. If you thrive on silence and can’t stand the feeling of headphones, you’re not going to be able to work in the same space as someone whose internal monologue goes verbal every three minute, nor with someone whose task for the day is listening to and making notes on a handful of noise-rock albums. If you’re allergic to dust, working on your blog from your friend’s plaster-stained and charcoal-saturated art studio isn’t going to work out. Be aware of your own needs and be honest with yourself—and your potential coworkers—about what kind of work environment you need in order to get things done.
• Keep a clear line between working and socializing. I once hosted a coworking event at my house where some of my guests showed up with beer. Before long, all of us had stopped working, someone had made a dance party playlist, and a pillow fight had broken out. Needless to say, none of us got anything done. If this is a problem, make it clear that you’re going to work until a certain time—and then the party can start. [Full disclosure: when my friends and I are finished coworking, we're going somewhere warm to watch Dollhouse.]
• Likewise, keep a clear line between working on your own tasks and collaborating with others. Some of my best ideas are the product of working in the same space with others. But moments like, “Ohmygah! I’ve never seen a blog about pumpkins carved to look like celebrities. We should totally start that!” are the same ones that delay you from finishing that languishing blog post, binding off the hat you’ve been knitting since mid-July, or meeting a client deadline. Discipline is key here, people.

How do you stay productive while coworking? Please share your experiences in the comments!

Amanda Lee Anderson is a writer and editor living in Cincinnati, Ohio, and New York City. She writes about fashion, music, productivity, and happiness. Read her blog or find her on Twitter.