Working remotely requires discipline, organization, and a knack for self-management. When a home office just doesn’t cut it, a coworking space close to home is, by far, the best alternative.
The good news is, if you work in bustling business hubs like San Francisco, Chicago, or Atlanta, you can have your pick. Coworking spaces come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing’s for sure: you can make them work for you. So, if you’re already checking out Chicago apartments near your new temporary office—or vice-versa—here are a few tips to help you make the most of your coworking experience.
Bring Essentials
Coworking spaces generally offer just that: an open space for you to perform job-related tasks. Because you share the area with other professionals from different fields of work, you’ll have to be self-reliant. Make sure you have everything you need with you—such as chargers, USB hardware, headphones, notebooks, or office supplies—as the office space usually has to be cleared out at the end of each day.
If the office you joined provides designated desks or lockers, you can even go a step further and bring a few necessities, like a spare sweater, a toothbrush, and other toiletries.
Bring Your Own Touch
Coworking spaces provide the opportunity to socialize with people from industries other than your own. Sharing space with others in a professional environment is completely different from working in your private home office, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express yourself. In their early days, coworking spaces were considered quite sterile, low-privacy environments in which to conduct business. However, now—with their increased popularity—coworking office operators appreciate that a personalized workspace can help boost both efficiency and interest in the development.
Showing your true colors is considerably easier if you have a dedicated desk or area where you can add greenery or other trinkets that make the place feel a bit more like you. In fact, coworking offices are increasingly encouraging users to bring figurines, flowers or potted plants. If you’re experimenting with different desks and spots around the coworking area, ask the community manager how far you can go and work your way from there.
Bring the Charm
Although you don’t share an office with your immediate colleagues and may rely primarily on online communication with business contacts, you can still enjoy solid workplace relationships. Beyond the obvious benefits, coworking spaces have an inherent social upside.
Knowing and becoming more familiar with the people you share an office with creates a less stressful environment. Plus, meeting new people from different fields of work not only helps you polish your social skills, but can also present you with a different business perspective and possibly even new business partners. So, consider taking your breaks at the same time as others or saying yes to happy hour on a weeknight.
Working in a shared space can be a blessing for your social life. A good first impression goes a long way, so say hello and don’t forget to smile. Your next client or business partner could be just a polite “good morning” away.
Are you sold on joining a coworking space to boost your productivity and start networking casually? Check out all available coworking listings in some of the most popular U.S. metros for telecommuters:
- Coworking offices in Manhattan
- Coworking offices in Los Angeles
- Coworking offices in Houston
- Coworking offices in Chicago
- Coworking offices in Dallas
- Coworking offices in San Francisco
- Coworking offices in Atlanta
- Coworking offices in Washington, D.C.
- Coworking offices in Boston
- Coworking offices in Denver
