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Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

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Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

#1
I live & work in Chicago, and for the past year or so I've been working on my side-hustle when I get home from work. But, getting focused at home is a real struggle and I'm looking into other options.

Does anyone else have advice? I've thought about bringing my personal laptop to work and then working on my side-hustle after work hours, but I'm worried about the legal implications. There's no way my day job has business conflicts with my side hustle, but I'm worried if there's still some potential IP that I give up by working in my office.

Re: Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

#3
Don't work in your office for all of the obvious reasons. Go anywhere else. Try different coffee shops around your office or home neighborhood. I think that a coffee shop provides the right level of distraction for doing work when your brain is tired after working a long day.

Re: Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

#5
Coffee shops, preferably big brand shops like Starbucks where no one cares if you buy one drink and occupy a table for 2 hours. Do a little research into the various coffee shops in your city and you'll find that certain ones have secluded upstairs areas that are perfect for working.

Re: Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

#8
Having a desk in a co-working space helps a lot, you'll get the mental switch and can keep your work desk setnup so that you're ready and inspired to work as soon as you walk in. I personally can't do coffee shops for long. They're amazing for doing one-off work tasks, sending emails and can help if you feel like just being out every once in a while, but I like knowing I have a setup ready in a dedicated space when I have to do more serious work.

Re: Ask HN: Where do you work on your side-hustle?

#10
You can get some coworking space for about $100 a month, at least in my city, for 7-8 days a month visitation

Big franchises like panera bread, McDonalds in nicer neighborhoods, starbucks come to mind. Bookstores, coffee shops, local library, etc. Some local independent restaurants are okay if you get to know the owner and if its not as busy, and you get food there. Drink shops / bar areas that have board games are good too. If you have friends that have coworking spaces / their company workspace, its not a conflict of interest on your end. Some gyms have some desks you can work at as well

If you have a local university or college there's plenty of empty classrooms sometimes openly available and never opened. If you need a legitimate reason to go on campus (and aren't an alumni), you can buy a gym membership there

If you don't need public wifi just use your internet, any place with seating is okay.

Hotel lounges, but you won't get internet access though, but if your tethering it won't matter. Depends how much work you are doing. Bigger chains are better, they don't care nearly as much. So long as you don't look like a homeless bum your good here.

I would also include golf and country clubs along with hotels, since they are resorts too.

Additional locations are makerspaces, but that might be only at certain times of the day. Checkout your local science center or any local museums, do a wifi scouting and seating availability.

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