Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 162 posts

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#111

Post by justrudd »

bilifuduo wrote: post #104

I currently work in an open-floor office in a Wework. Yes, it is distracting at times, especially since I know other people in the Wework and we often have spontaneous conversations. However, I like it much better than working from home because I want to completely separate my work and home environments. This way, I can develop a different mindset in each environment, as opposed to a weird hybrid of always-relaxing/a…

I'm with you on #2 and #3. But I guess I've just learned to embrace it. Yeah...my day no longer has a defined start/stop, but I'm OK with that. Sometimes I just like doing laundry on a Thursday at 2PM :)

It has lightened my stress significantly by accepting it. There are days that I "work" 16 hours broken into 2 hour chunks with 30 to 60 minute breaks. And there are days where I'm hyper productive and work for 5 or 6 hours straight. I like the flexibility. I always felt stressed when in an office and needing to "be productive" for 8 hours (well...6).

It definitely helps if your employer truly embraces remote work vs. just "work from home but keep your normal hours and be available for phone calls just like if I were to stop by your desk randomly"

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#112

Post by ecshafer »

robterrin wrote: post #89

Coworking spaces aren't about work. As a small business owner who uses a coworking space, my perspective is that it's about signaling that you are a real business with a business address. Working from home may work for freelancers or online only businesses, but the second you start signing contracts or having meetings, you need a professional space to be taken seriously. That said, it's incredibly hard for me to get…

At that point why not rent a small office? I don't know where you are, but small offices are usually pretty cheap. The thing that gets me about co-working space is that they are pretty expensive compared to normal office rents. The equivalent of studio apartment as an office in a building can be the same price as a co-working space.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#113

Post by ravitation »

ecshafer wrote: post #112
robterrin wrote: post #89

Coworking spaces aren't about work. As a small business owner who uses a coworking space, my perspective is that it's about signaling that you are a real business with a business address. Working from home may work for freelancers or online only businesses, but the second you start signing contracts or having meetings, you need a professional space to be taken seriously. That said, it's incredibly hard for me to get…

At that point why not rent a small office? I don't know where you are, but small offices are usually pretty cheap. The thing that gets me about co-working space is that they are pretty expensive compared to normal office rents. The equivalent of studio apartment as an office in a building can be the same price as a co-working space.

If all you need is a business address, you are paying for a lot of things you don't need if you are renting a coworking space.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#114

Post by miketuritzin »

robterrin wrote: post #89

Coworking spaces aren't about work. As a small business owner who uses a coworking space, my perspective is that it's about signaling that you are a real business with a business address. Working from home may work for freelancers or online only businesses, but the second you start signing contracts or having meetings, you need a professional space to be taken seriously. That said, it's incredibly hard for me to get…

That reminds me that one of the co-working space I worked at in Brooklyn had a really cheap plan where you could receive mail there and do a couple other things but not even have a desk. Perhaps look into an option like that?

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#115

Post by liberabaci »

I worked from a shared working space in Denver for six months. My partner and I both work from home and since the new year, I have moved back home to offset the cost. However, my partner is still in the space as having two people on calls is untenable. Currently, I still think the rates for coworking spaces are a bit high. Why not head to a different coffee shop daily? My opinion is still neutral. At this point, I don't see the value over working from home if you have an environment conducive to work.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#116

Post by foldr »

tmarkovich wrote: post #42
meddlepal wrote: post #15

No. It sucks but I make do with headphones. WeWork is the noisiest fuckig shit show in existence.

I can't stand how poorly sound-isolated the conference rooms and offices are. I have literally been standing outside a conference room, waiting for my meeting to start, and overheard the details of a company shutting down. The private offices that we pay good money for aren't much better. Because they use single-paned glass (cheap) you can hear every foot step, conversation, or other random noise from any office or h…

I think there are pretty big differences between people in terms of how much sound insulation they actually want. I find that the insulation provided by the single (floor to ceiling) pane of glass in a WeWork office is more than enough for my tastes. I usually leave the door open if I'm in the office alone.

I have never overheard a conversation in an adjacent office. You can sometimes hear what people in the hallway are saying, which doesn't bother me at all.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#117

Post by dejv »

puranjay wrote: post #107
dejv wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do work from home and am father of two small kids (3 and 1 years), both kids and my wife are stayign at home. From the begining we set strict rules: my office is off place: nobody except of me can go inside, kids are taught that when I am inside I am not home and they just can't see me. I am also not going inside my office outside of my business hours. With those rules in place it feels like having office outside w…

How do you get around the problem of not leaving the house? I find that the biggest reason I go back to co-working is that it gives me an excuse to walk to the metro station and just be in the open air.

I always had hobies: I used to be into live music A LOT: I went out to gigs like 5 or 6 times a week, then there was always some friends around, wine tastings, mountain hiking or random trips on weekends. I have small kids now, so I dont go out very often but there is always hiking on weekends and I spend one day a week on my wine farm.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#118

Post by bsenftner »

pokstad wrote: post #72

I was searching for a new coworking space, and in the process learned that a very large library with gigabit internet existed near me. I love going to this library to work! It has cool water features that mask the noise and they even have dedicated sound proof study rooms I can rent for calls. Check out the awesome funky 70s style architecture: https://www.google.com/search?q=huntington+beach+central+lib...

Wow. I work from home in Van Nuys - that's worth driving over sometime.

Re: Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space?

#120

Post by emilecantin »

pplonski86 wrote: post #81
emilecantin wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think your specific situation has a HUGE impact on how much you'll enjoy working from home. I'm married, have 4 kids, and I never feel lonely at home. I totally get how a single guy / gal with no kids would, though. I never found any issues with dividing work / life, though. I have a dedicated office, and I believe it's a huge part of it.

I'm in the same situation. Renting small office, alone. When I need to work, I'm going to the office. Can't work from home - kids don't distinguish work hours from family hours. Having separate place for work is mental healthy.

I guess it's a matter of education. My kids know when I'm at work; I close my door. Doesn't mean they never bother me, but it's not too bad. When they do, I simply tell them no. My youngest still has a hard time with this, but she's only ~15 months old.

You have to be consistent with it, though.

Post reply on HN