I used to think you needed a fancy coworking space to get work done

For my first year in Bali, I paid $300 a month for a spot at a trendy spot in Canggu... I felt like I had to be there to be a 'real' nomad. Then my visa run to Chiang Mai got extended, and I worked from my guesthouse balcony for two weeks. I got more done there, just with my laptop and some coffee, than I ever did in that noisy, expensive room. Now I only use a coworking space maybe once a week if I really need a printer. Anyone else find that the simpler setup actually works better for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

danielw881mo ago

My first coworking space in Lisbon charged 250 euros a month and had a climbing wall. I spent more time watching people try to figure out the wall than I did on my actual projects. The pressure to get your money's worth from a fancy spot can make you less productive, not more. Now my best work happens at my kitchen table before anyone else is awake. The only background noise I need is my own kettle boiling for the next cup of tea.

emmaj331mo ago

That pressure to get your money's worth is so real... I once joined a gym with a fancy smoothie bar and felt bad if I didn't get one, even when I wasn't thirsty. It just adds this weird layer of stress to something that's supposed to be simple. Sometimes paying less for the basics is the real win.

thea_mitchell201mo ago

Exactly, it's like paying for all that extra stuff puts this timer in your head. You start counting every minute you aren't using the climbing wall or the fancy coffee, and it just eats into your focus. I've found the best work setup is the one that disappears around you, you know? No bells and whistles to remind you that you're spending money to be there. Just a quiet spot where your brain can actually do its thing without feeling guilty.