One of the greatest benefits of taking your business to a coworking space is to get the opportunity to network with like minded people. People who are going through the same experience as you and who can turn out to be a support system or a good means to get different perspectives. However, as much as networking can be a benefit, it can also be a curse if you don’t have enough self-control to know when to stop chatting and start working, or eliminate the opportunity to be distracted in moments where you need to be grinding your teeth with work.

When the person you need to respond to in your work is yourself, it is easy to fall into the trap of giving yourself free passes and long hours of chitchat and breaks. While chatting to other people and going out for long lunches or afternoon drinks can be of great fun and also prove to be beneficial, they can easily distract you from the work you need to do. Your work is the thing that pushed you to find a coworking space near you, and not doing it or doing too little of it can not only risk your business but also lead you to have to stop providing this space for yourself to cut down on costs.

But do not worry, we’re here to help you find ways in which you can ensure balance between networking and getting work done.

Wear your headphones and put on some music to help you concentrate and block out noise

One way in which you can avoid distractions and send out a clear message that you need to get some important things done is to put on headphones and listen to music while working. While doing so will help you to block out the noise, music can also help you concentrate better. In fact, many platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music offer tons of concentration playlists to choose from. Wearing headphones while working can also serve as an image to show people around you that you’re aiming to concentrate, and therefore, they think twice whether to get into a conversation with you at that moment in time.

Learn how to say no without feeling like you did something wrong or offended someone

Some of the best things in life happen to us when we say yes, but saying no can also be extremely beneficial at times. If you’re aiming to reach your deadlines, or there’s a task that needs a lot of time, effort and concentration, and a fellow coworker asks you to go out for lunch or join in the latest debate, you should not feel bad or guilty for saying no. Everyone at the coworking space is also there to work, and they would for sure understand that your work is more important than anything else at that moment in time. In cases like this, saying no is a blessing in disguise.

Identify what needs to get done daily, and make sure you do it

On a daily basis you should aim to set yourself a task list that would guide you on the most important to-dos for the day. Then ensure that you follow-through and do what needs to be done. Be realistic with yourself and of course, see that you don’t burn out by putting together a list that is excessive and demanding. It will take away the pleasure of doing what you love altogether. Be realistic, efficient and honest with yourself and you’ll most definitely succeed.

Add deadlines and goals to your calendar

As you work, new tasks and jobs will crop up. Some would need to be handled immediately, some others would need to wait. It is important that you set deadlines for your tasks to make sure you don’t keep putting things off for the next day. Adding the tasks to your calendar or planner will help you ensure that you stick to deadlines, while not forgetting about them in the process.

Opt for a smaller coworking space

When deciding to rent a hot desk at a smaller coworking space, a lot of the hustle and bustle that is found in larger coworking spaces is automatically eliminated. With a small number of people around, the conversations automatically become shorter and less frequent, allowing you the opportunity to truly focus on your work while still benefiting from the networking opportunities that come along with a coworking space.

Speaking about smaller coworking spaces, let us take a moment to tell you a bit about our coworking space located in Gżira, a stone’s throw away from Sliema and St Julian’s. Over at Glashaus we offer a modern work space in a small office setting to provide our clients with the opportunity to network while avoiding distractions that may come along with larger spaces hosting larger numbers of people. We offer a relaxed atmosphere, free coffee, tea & water, internet, awesome people, and stunning sea views of Valletta and the yacht harbour. When joining our Glashaus family, you can choose from a range of super flexible short- and long-term leases. Whether you just need a virtual office community, a hot desk, or even your own private office – we have the right solution for you.