As the reality of hybrid work and working from home schedules begin to settle beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic, there are mixed fortunes — both positive and negative. Although remote work and other flexible work arrangements have always existed, the COVID-19 Pandemic fueled their adoption. 

Flexible working models are sustainable arrangements. Yet, as the euphoria around coworking spaces vs traditional office spaces picks up, the greater question about employee productivity is now emerging. 

How can employees become more productive and sustain their productivity while working remotely? 

In this article, we give 7 ways employees can sustain their productivity in a workplace. 

Coworking Space vs. Traditional Office Space

The difference between coworking spaces and traditional office spaces is that coworking spaces are designed to promote collaboration and creativity. Traditional office spaces are more focused on individual work. 

A study by Fuzu dubbed ‘The Future of Work’ indicates that 46% of organizations that have adopted hybrid or flexible working models will continue to do so in the future. The results also indicated that workers in remote coworking spaces improved their productivity by 74%. Why is this so?

Coworking spaces support an environment of collaboration and communication with comfortable furniture, shared office technology like printers and Wi-Fi, coffee, limited distraction and more.

 So, if you’re in Nairobi and looking for a more productive environment, find a reliable coworking space in Nairobi to give you the serenity you need.

8 Ways to be More Productive in the Workplace

Having the work environment, collaboration, and facilities to focus on work in a workspace doesn’t equal productivity. Sometimes, even thoughts and disorganization can interfere with your focus and productivity. 

So, the following tips can help you stay productive at a coworking space:

Have a To-Do List

Start by creating a to-do list to help you track what you need to do and review your progress and the day’s achievements. Here are tips to create a sustainable to-do list:

• Plan your day the night before or the first thing early in the morning.
• Write a list of all the tasks you need to accomplish within the day.
• Break down bigger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Prioritize the tasks in their order of importance to avoid spending a lot of time on low-priority tasks.
• As the day proceeds, tick off the task you’ve accomplished.

A to-do list will help you beat work overload and stay organized and reliable when used effectively. 

Using the Right Tool Stack

One of the strengths of technology and innovation is that it makes work easy if you invest in systems and solutions that streamline virtual work and support remote collaboration. Examples, by category, include: 

• To-Do list — Calendar, Toggl, etc.
• Meetings and schedules — you can use Calendly
• Employee communication and collaboration — Slack, Skype, Doodle, Zapier, etc.
• Video conferencing — Zoom, Teams, Ube Conference, etc.
• Time management and tracking — DeskTime, Hubstaff, WorldTime Buddy, Harvest, etc.
• Project management — Trello, Kissflow Project, Asana, Zoho Projects, Monday.com, etc.

Having the right technology – or tech stack- can help improve you or your employee’s work performance and general productivity.

Be accountable

Can the employer trust that you’re working on the company’s activities while you’re remote? It depends on how honest and accountable you are. Being accountable means showing that you have the capability to be responsible for your actions and take initiative. Put simply; accountability equals self-discipline including being on time, meeting deadlines, communicating effectively, and following through with schedules. 

When employees are accountable, workplace standards (virtual or physical) increase and employees can reach a higher potential. For example, if you think that your work might affect the work of others — directly or indirectly —  keep them updated about your progress. Relay the communication on time because their work schedule and results will depend on your work. 

Have a personal desk and stay organized

Working from a different desk every day is disturbing because it’ll take you time to arrange and settle every day. Sadly, this is the case in most workspaces.

To stay productive in a workspace, it’s advisable to stick to a dedicated desk or Work Studio. You’ll find this more satisfying if you’re working in a coworking space in Nairobi CBD where you need to focus and find concentration in a busy setting. Sitting in a familiar place and organizing it the way you need and please is a productivity hack. 

Disorganization can waste your time and affect schedules and performance but a clean and organized workspace is inviting and improves concentration and creativity. 

Minimize Distractions

Always avoid or limit distractions when working. Do not give in to distractions like social media, noise from items or people interacting, community websites, or wandering thoughts. You can get rid of all these distractions by:

• Sticking to your to-do list
• Wearing noise-canceling earbuds/headphones with calming music to help you focus.
• Set your phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’ to block any incoming calls, texts, or active apps with notifications.
• Turn desktop notifications off to prevent distracting notifications.
  Taking regular breaks to energize

Limiting distractions can improve your productivity by 60%. 

Take Breaks

A recent study found that people who concentrate on work for 52 minutes straight need a 17-minute break. It’s now called the 52/17 rule.

In general, a human mind can concentrate on something for up to 90 minutes straight, and after that, there will be reduced focus. If you’re working at a coworking space, you need to figure out what works best for you and find time in between your work for breaks to stay focused and productive. You can use the break to network or walk around to stretch at a coworking space. 

With comfort and serenity, a workspace can be a good place for “deep work” and concentration, but taking breaks can help you improve your performance and general productivity.

Networking and Creative collaboration

In a busy city like Nairobi, a coworking space Nairobi CBD offers you the opportunity to meet and network in close contact with other professionals, startups, creatives, innovative entrepreneurs, freelancers, etc. These people have different skill sets and professions. Mixing, networking, sharing, and collaborating with these people can have an effect and help improve your creativity. But that’s not enough. 

By collaborating with them or observing their work methods and strategies, you can get new perspectives, empowerment, and learn unceasingly. You can use the lessons to drive your overall productivity. 

Final Thoughts

As we settle in 2022 and Hybrid Working becomes a preferred work model, people are beginning to find better productivity practices in coworking spaces. Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) platforms and technology can support employee communication and collaboration. But employees also need to be accountable, organized, and flexible to stay productive in a coworking space. If used correctly, a coworking space is a perfect place to stay focused and productive at work.