Knowing how a co-working environment can benefit your career is vital to your success. Whether your goal is to increase your productivity with less time mingling, or you want to establish a solid community among industry professionals, having a plan and implementing a specific strategy will help you get the most out of your co-working environment.
Co-working spaces in Webster, TX, are often made accessible to freelancers, start-ups, and small business owners to allow them to collaborate, exchange information, and develop ideas, and in the process boosting creative thinking, innovation, and support.
An excellent co-working space should offer internet access and stable and fast Wi-Fi, private meeting spaces, flexible layouts, and a common area for “socializing”. The co-working space must also be located in a convenient place.
In recent years, co-working facilities have grown substantially from offering only a physical workplace to establishing a community that promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Many people choose to work in co-working facilities because it makes them more productive and effective than when working alone, or when confined in commercial spaces with people from the same industry or company. On the other hand, being in the same space with other people who are dynamic and enthusiastic when it comes to their careers offers a significant advantage to people in co-working spaces.
If you want to make the most of your co-working space in pursuit of career or business advancement, here are some tips you might want to consider.
Determine When You Are at Your Best Performance
Find out when you are at your best, or when you are at the peak of your performance.
Compared to working from home, having a dedicated physical working space helps you establish a clear distinction between work commitments and household matters. A change of working environment will help you shift to a mode that allows you to be more productive and efficient. The time you spend in a co-working space can help you stay focused on your tasks because there are fewer distractions and interference.
Create a comprehensive timeline strategy so you can get the most out of the time you spend in your co-working space. If you are aware that you only have a certain number of hours to work on your tasks, you will be forced to optimize and focus on completing tasks.
Practice Self-Discipline
It’s easy to be sidetracked when you’re working with other people. You only have your self-discipline to help you achieve your goals and visions. As such, you need to strategize your whole day first thing in the morning, or even the night before. Write down all the things that need your attention or that you need to accomplish throughout the day. Then, list them in order of significance, prioritizing the major tasks over those that are considered minimal. Tick off these tasks from your list as you accomplish them. Make sure that you complete everything on your list before you leave your co-working space in Webster, Texas. If a task requires more of your time, break it up into manageable portions. By practicing self-discipline, you are well on your way to progress.
Minimize Distractions
A co-working facility is a place full of firsthand interruptions that may prevent you from getting the job done on time. Noise is the first source of distraction in most co-working facilities. If you can work while listening to music, consider using headphones to drown out the noise around you. If you are not used to listening to music while working but need to drown out the noise around you, wearing earplugs or earmuffs is your best option. Another common distraction in co-working spaces is being surrounded by people who can be annoying and nosy. You can try posting a sign that can let others know that you are unwilling to communicate at a particular moment.
Exercise
Regardless of what you’re doing it for, physical exercise can boost your brain function. Science has proven that physical activity can improve concentration, thinking, and memory. When you sit for long periods, you start feeling uneasy, less creative, and your stress defenses also weaken.
A simple physical activity you can do to prevent these problems is chair yoga. This exercise involves breathing and stretching techniques that you can easily do even when you’re in your co-working space without bothering your coworkers.
Start with deep breathing as you would when doing yoga. Your coworkers may even feel relaxed hearing the sound of your deep and slow breaths. You could even plan a yoga break for everyone in your co-working space if they’re up to it.
Optimize Technology
Thanks to technological advances, working in a co-working space has become more convenient than it has ever been. There’s a wide array of useful tools on the market that were developed to make completing work-related tasks easier and more efficient. Some apps can help you create to-do lists with just a few clicks, and websites and software help you store important files in the cloud so you can access them anytime and anywhere. If you know what you need and find a suitable software or app for it, it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Communicate with Your Neighbors
Make an effort to develop professional relationships or even friendships with other members in the co-working space. Who knows, an opportunity for collaboration might present itself down the road. Spend some of your time during lunch to chat with your coworkers. Show genuine interest and concern in their industry, current projects, and the problems they are experiencing, and find out how you can be of help. Seek the things you have in common, and you might be surprised to find an opportunity to work on a project together.
Resist Procrastination
Procrastination is the polar opposite of productivity. A good strategy that can help you overcome procrastination is to sit down and tackle a task one project at a time. For example, if you need to write a 3000-word article, divide the task by writing 1000 words per day if that is more manageable for you. You can also impose deadlines on yourself so you are forced to sit down and get to work. Resist the temptation to procrastinate. Take control of your work habits and watch your career stabilize.
Keep Your Workspace Tidy
Nothing is more distracting than working on a desk filled with documents, and an overflowing trash can on the side. Having a clean and well-organized workspace is not only nice to look at, but it also promotes creativity and concentration. Make sure to tidy up your workstation after finishing your tasks for the day, and avoid making your workspace dirty and unkempt. Keeping your things tidy and organized every day saves you from tons of stress and exhaustion in the long run. The longer you put off cleaning and organizing your things, the more difficult it will be to tidy up the space later. Remember, your surroundings reflect your inner environment.
Reward Yourself
Incentivizing yourself after completing a task is a great way to stay motivated. Reward yourself based on your personal preferences, recognizing and rewarding all of your efforts.
It’s easy to become a workaholic especially with the great working conditions offered in co-working spaces in Webster, TX. However, workaholism can harm your health. It can cause sleep deprivation, which can eventually affect your work performance. Learn how to take breaks and spend some relaxing time outdoors during the workweek. Make sure you have daily physical activity. Avoid consuming too much caffeine or energy drinks. Your back also needs special attention. Staying seated for hours can cause your back to be stiff. Switch your positions often, and do simple stretches to prevent stiffness and discomfort.
Working in a co-working space can boost your productivity because it makes you feel like you’re on a mission. To ensure that your working day always turns out productive and not just a daily ritual, you have to create a strategy that works for you and suits your work style.
At UOffice Executive Suite, we offer a co-working space in Webster, Texas that promotes work efficiency, creative thinking, collaboration. Contact us today at (832) 932-5165 to book your private workspace.