Ask HN: Do you enjoy working in a coworking space? • Hacker News Board

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

#121

Post by isostatic » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 6:42 PM UTC

mcv wrote: post #54

fergie wrote: post #26

I've tried these 3 things: 1) Having my own office: PROS: no disturbances CONS: (even) more expensive than you might think, especially once you factor in heating/internet/coffee. Kind of boring with absolutely nobody to talk to and nothing going on. Can be a bit weird to invite people over. 2) Working from home: PROS: easy to get to work CONS: more distractions than you might think, especially if you have a family wi…

Some people prefer working completely alone, some people have the discipline to avoid all the distractions at home, but for those who don't, coworking spaces are a pretty good compromise. My experience with working from home: suddenly you're doing all those household chores that you're always putting off. There's certainly some advantage to that, but it's funny how it works.

> My experience with working from home: suddenly you're doing all those household chores that you're always putting off.

I don't understand this. There are certainly benefits (being in when parcels are delivered for example), but the extra hour a day of not commuting (the average US commute is tiny!) gives you time to do chores, not to mention the extra time while you cook lunch where you could empty the dishwasher or whatever, much better than queuing for an overpriced sandwich for trader joes.

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

#122

Post by jjudova » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 6:52 PM UTC

I feel that none of the commentators actually runs a company. If you are a remote worker working from home is great. If you are a founder hate it or love it you NEED a coworking space if not for the actual space to work from then for the community, network, address, access to meeting rooms, discounts to conferences and connections.

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

#123

Post by scruple » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:13 PM UTC

bendotero wrote: post #92

isostatic wrote: post #56

Nah, I just work from home, you don't need a lot of space. The smallest room we have (about 2m x 3m), which has a desk (couple of monitors, desktop, etc), a view, a door, a small rack (nothing particularly noisy), couple of cupboards, printer, and a pull down single bed for when mother-in-law stays the night. So much more productive than if I go into an office and try to work, or try to work from a cafe or train. Abo…

I've worked from home for 11 years. Wife and I established from the beginning that we cannot treat it as if I'm "at home". I now have 7 children. Occasionally there are some disruptions, but generally speaking, if you layout the ground rules early, it doesn't have to be a problem. Routine trips to the grocery store, helping with the homeschooling, and brief tickle sessions help to not be isolated in my case.

> Routine trips to the grocery store, helping with the homeschooling, and brief tickle sessions help to not be isolated in my case.

Doesn't that sort of betray your point that you're "at work" and not "at home?" I'm asking earnestly. I'm about to have twins and I work full-time from home, for the past 3 years and with no intention of going back to an office or to a co-working space.

I am trying now to get all of these sorts of ground rules decided on, and listed out, so that they can be established shortly after the children arrive.

My wife and most of my family already understand the "at work" vs. "at home" distinction and do their best to respect it on the rare occasions that they're around the house during a work day.

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

#124

Post by p0d » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:17 PM UTC

Here’s my not coworking solution which has the advantage of letting you sing along with Bon Jovi at the top of your voice.

I built a 2x3m shed/office. Windows are second hand double glazed windows from gumtree. Power and ethernet are cables tacked to house, under a path and then running over ground under hedge. I used fallen branches from a local park to make a little fence so I cant run lawnmower over cables.

Heating was tricky. I landed with a 500w electric heater and raspberry pi as a thermostat. Optical relay and temerature sensor cost about £5. I have a cron job checking the temerature every 2 minutes and turning heater on/off for a target temperature. Some old computer fans blow the hot air at my feet.

Been working out there happily for 3 years.

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

#125

Post by darkr » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:21 PM UTC

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…

Many accountancies (at least in the UK) will, for a small fee let you use their address as your registered company address, and some will either receive mail on your behalf that you can, or forward it onto you.

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

#126

Post by mraible23 » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:24 PM UTC

I've worked in and out of coworking spaces for the last ten years. I love them mostly for the ability to ride my bike to/from them. Of course, I could do this to a coffee shop, but I like the security of an office for my bike. Tip: ask if you can get a 10-day punch card. I've found some of them that'll do it; then you don't feel like you have to go in every day (if you're on a monthly agreement).

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

#127

Post by drakonka » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

I enjoy working on coffee shops, especially those that are branded as "coffice" type cafes. It's not an official coworking space, but the slight "time limit" (ie you have to keep buying coffee to stay) as well as having other people working around me definitely helps me focus.

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

#128

Post by rchaud » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 7:42 PM UTC

liberabaci wrote: post #115

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 do…

I've done the 'try a different coffee shop' thing. It's cost-effective, but it's unpredictable. Let's say you arrive at 8AM; you'll face the morning rush of commuters, wait a long time to place your order, look around and realize there are no free tables.

Or, you arrive one day and your "usual table" is taken. Or that each time you get up to use the bathroom, you risk giving up your table to someone looking for a place to sit. Or that after a week or so, the baristas know you by name and you start feeling self-conscious about your squatting.

All these things seem small but can erode away your potential productivity.

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

#129

Post by setr » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 8:01 PM UTC

michaelt wrote: post #96

krageon wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of my parents did this for years, so going purely from experience it's a matter of good communication: When I'm in my study, I am at work. Do not go in there or disturb me unless the house is on fire. Problem solved. I don't really get why a lot of people feel this is an insurmountable obstacle. Surely being able to outline your boundaries and people keeping to them is a core component of a healthy relationship?

I don't really get why a lot of people feel this is an insurmountable obstacle. Simple enough: 1. You start with a bright line demarcation "I work X am to Y pm in the office with no disturbances" 2. You make a change that is totally reasonable, but removes the bright line. "As long as I get my Z hours a week done, of course I can accept occasional interruptions during the day" After all, why not help your partner wit…

I feel like if the interruption amounts to "Are you free right now?" -- "No.", it's not that concerning. It shouldn't be that difficult to build the expectation that if you're in the study, no one should expect you to be free, and if you're out of it, eg taking a break, then they can.

But this particular issue seems trivially resolvable, as long as you manage expectations appropriately.

In my own experience, my dad randomly worked from home (mainly when his day consisted of calls), and I just never assumed he was free; at least in the sense that I quietly asked, and naturally expected a "give me 10 minutes", and waited an hour before bugging him again.

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

#130

Post by kohanz » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 8:13 PM UTC

I've done both working from home and now co-working. Currently, I prefer co-working, but that's because I've become more of an entrepreneur and less "just" developer.

Yes, the separation of work and home is nice (and I walk to work, so a beneficial commute), but the networking opportunities and ability to meet in-person that the co-working space affords is invaluable as an entrepreneur. There are so many opportunities that "just happen" when you're in a space like this that I would miss out on being at home.