Got into it with a coworker who said coworking spaces are a waste of money

I was chatting with this guy Dave at a meetup last week in Chiang Mai. He said he's been working from his apartment for 6 months and saves like $300 a month by not paying for any coworking spot. He told me 'you're just paying for wifi and bad coffee' and at first I got kind of defensive cause I love my space. But then I thought about it... I spend about $150 a month on my desk there and yeah the wifi is fine but my apartment has it too. The main thing I get is seeing other people working which keeps me from scrolling my phone. But if I'm being honest I could probably just go to a library or a cafe for free and get the same vibe. Made me wonder if I'm just paying for the 'idea' of being a digital nomad rather than something I actually need. Anyone else had that moment where you realized half your expenses are just for the aesthetic?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb_thomas931mo ago

I read a study saying your brain treats seeing others work as a signal to stay focused, so you're paying for that.

richard_dixon11d ago

Fair point @alexw75. I'd rather pay $150 for focus than free for doomscrolling.

alexw751mo ago

Used to be on Dave's side honestly. Hated paying $200 a month in Bali just to sit at a table with strangers. Then I tried working from my guesthouse for a month and my productivity absolutely tanked. Nothing makes me feel like a lazy bum faster than staring at my own dirty dishes while trying to focus on a project. The social pressure of seeing other people actually typing away keeps me from doomscrolling or taking a "quick nap" that turns into two hours. Libraries are cool but they close too early and the chairs hurt my back after an hour. So yeah I changed my mind because the $150 is basically paying for my own discipline.

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