Lately I’ve been working from home a lot and while I love it for the incredible focus I get, I can get a little down from time to time. I’m a complete extrovert and feed off of other people, so going to my co-working space can remedy that in no time, but it can also get me into trouble. Since I love people so much, I also love to talk to them (A LOT) and that can get me off schedule.
That’s why I strive for a good balance of going to both places, but my co-working space isn’t close by, so sometimes when I need to make a bunch of calls, it’s easier to work from home.
Lately, my friend, Anne, has been kind enough to offer me guest passes to her co-working space, which is in my neighborhood. Yesterday she asked me if I wanted to join her. It was tempting.
I could be around people and get lots done.
I could bring my own food, which my co-working space doesn’t allow. (Long story, but it’s one of the reasons why it’s the most inexpensive co-working spaces in NYC.)
I could shave my commute in half.
I don’t know as many people there, so I wouldn’t be chit chatting as much.
I was on a deadline and I was worried that going there might throw me off. Even the 15-minute walk in each direction, while not long, would cut into my time. I did some quick math and realized that ultimately, it wasn’t going to work out, so I said no.
It might not sound like a lot, but working around other people does energize me even if I’m not talking to them. It can also frustrate the hell out of me like another time I went to Anne’s co-working space and a woman was screaming on her phone the whole time. I could hear her over my music and that made me bonkers.
I didn’t want to run into that nor waste any time there, so I worked from home. You know, MySpace ;) and I’m so happy I did. I finished my project, I stayed focused and I got done in time to see Elton John. The best reward I could have given myself.
Do you have trouble saying no? Do you suffer from FOMO? Are you more productive when you’re alone or around people? Tell me below and if you like what you’ve read, please subscribe below, too. Thanks and thanks for reading!