Why I gave up coworking spaces for coffee shop hopping instead

I spent 6 months paying $200 a month for a fancy coworking space in Chiang Mai, thinking it would boost my productivity. Instead, I felt boxed in by the quiet zones and awkward networking events. Last month I switched to working from a different coffee shop each day, and my output doubled because I actually enjoy the ambient noise and change of scenery. Has anyone else found that the hype around coworking spaces didn't match reality?

3 comments

3 Comments

hayes.tara14d ago

This totally backs up my theory that social pressures kill creative flow.

victorcoleman14d ago

That whole thing about her book club is spot on. It's like once you feel pressure to perform or fit in with a group, your brain just shuts down the fun parts. I see it all the time with people who try to get into a new hobby and then burn out because they're too busy comparing themselves to someone on Instagram.

patriciaellis14d ago

I was just telling my neighbor about this. She decided to quit her book club because she felt like everyone was reading the same bestsellers and she couldn't get into any of her own weird picks. Now she just reads whatever she wants in the backyard and says she's actually finishing books again instead of pretending to like them. Have you noticed that happening in your hobbies too, where you feel like you have to like what everyone else likes?