Cutting out distractions

When your business is based in a coworking space, you’re likely to be motivated already and will understand the benefits of being productive during your time there. With everything you need at your fingertips, you’ll enjoy the experience.

As with every workplace, the key to a productive working day is having the right mindset. Even when you have a fantastic workspace, this can be the hardest part to get right. Life is full of distractions, such as notifications on our mobile phone, the people around us and even our own mind going off on a tangent.

To help make the most of your time in a coworking space, its worthwhile adopting working practices that will cut out the distractions and help you to focus, even during the busiest of days.

Take a break

It’s impossible to remain focused all day without taking a break. Even the most dedicated worker will start to feel tired after a few hours. Don’t try to keep going, no matter how busy you are. Soon, your focus will fade and you will start to get more distracted as the day wears on. This will lead to frustration, as your productivity declines.

The more regularly you take breaks, the more productive you’re likely to be. The ideal schedule is to take a short break (even if it’s just a walk to the kitchen for a coffee) every 90 minutes. A ten-minute break can be sufficient to leave you feeling recharged.

If a fellow coworker is taking a break at the same time, it’s a chance to stretch your legs together and have a chat – another way of feeling more relaxed during a hectic day.

Plan your day

Organise your tasks at the start of the day. If you know you have a lot to do but haven’t organised your diary, this can be a major distraction, as things will start to become overwhelming. You won’t be able to keep track of your goals, and chances are, you’ll flit around juggling several different tasks at the same time.

This can be stressful, as you’ll be unlikely to finish any of them. To have a productive day, create a to-do list, putting your tasks in a particular order and following it as much as possible. This can help you to focus on one job at a time and avoid feeling distracted.

Remove distractions

If you really need to focus, decide what the biggest distraction in your workplace might be. For many people, it’s our mobile phone. If you work in a regular office, then chances are you may not be allowed to take personal calls during the working day. If you’re based in a coworking space, your phone will probably be right next to you on the desk and you’ll be free to check it as often as you want. Try switching off your phone, or putting it on airplane mode, for periods during the day. Put it in your bag, or shut it in a drawer, so it isn’t as big a temptation.

Maybe the biggest distraction is looking out of the window at the people walking past your office. It can be easy to get distracted if you’re located on a busy street and it’s a sunny day. If you’re in a coworking space, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to rearrange your desk space, so you can face away from the window.

Coworking spaces are designed to make the occupants feel comfortable, so have a word with your space manager and organise a desk that will help you to avoid distractions. Doing something so simple can make a massive difference to your productivity.

Go outdoors

Spending all day in the office can make you feel tired, so your work can start to feel like more of a chore. To re-energise, go outside for some fresh air and stretch your legs.

The beauty of a coworking space is that it’s conducive to taking breaks, even if that break is taking your laptop to another area in the building. Alternatively, go for a walk to a local shop, or around the block. If the weather is sunny, all the better, but going out on a cool day can be very refreshing too. A walk will leave you clear-headed and ready to resume your day.

Wear headphones

If you simply want some quiet time when you have a particularly taxing job to complete, the most basic and effective solution is to put on some headphones. This will not only help you to reduce external noise but will also alert fellow coworkers to the fact you’re in “focus” mode and don’t want to be disturbed.

One of the best attributes of coworking spaces is the fusion of coworkers and the flexibility of the environment. Think of it as a passage to a creative community of entrepreneurs and innovators that is revolutionising the way we work.

 

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