Unpopular opinion: coworking spaces kill my productivity more than they help

I spent 8 months bouncing around coworking spaces in Chiang Mai and Bali, thinking I needed that "professional environment" to get work done. Turns out, my output actually dropped by about 40% compared to working from a quiet coffee shop or my apartment. The constant networking interruptions and loud Zoom calls from strangers drove me crazy, plus I was spending $200 a month I didn't need to. I switched back to cafes and library spots 3 months ago, and I'm finishing client projects way faster now. Anybody else feel like coworking spaces are more of a social distraction than a productivity boost?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabeth_williams1mo ago

Right? Constant interruptions and that weird social pressure to look busy felt like a huge waste.

joseph_hart1mo ago

Hang on, wait. You're telling me that social pressure thing was a real problem for other people too? I thought I was just the only one who couldn't stand that whole "look busy" dance. It's like everyone's just pretending to work while actually getting nothing done (which is way worse than just admitting you need a break). That constant interruption nonsense drove me up a wall, and the whole reason for it? Just so managers could feel good about themselves. It's insane how much time we all wasted just trying to seem productive instead of actually being productive.