Let’s be honest: as much as we try to force ourselves into a rigid 9-to-5 workday, it’s not a universally applicable formula for productivity and success.
But the good news is this: as founders and remote workers, we have more freedom than ever to work when and how it suits us best.
So, rather than trying to stuff a square peg into a round hole, take some time to figure out your own unique workstyle and tailor your workdays around it.
Here are a few considerations you can make when trying to dial it in.
1. Track Your Productivity
Some of us are night owls. Some of us are early birds. But one way or the other, we should all be able to get the worm.
Take some time to track the times of day when you’re most and least productive. Some people are better first thing in the morning. Others slump in the middle of the day. And some people come alive in the nighttime.
Some people might even find they don’t work well on Fridays, so they’d rather work longer days and have three-day weekends.
Different folks, different strokes.
It can be helpful to keep a journal over a week or two and jot down when you feel spurts of energy, bursts of output, and slumps. Then, tailor your schedule accordingly.
At Project Spaces, you get round-the-clock access so you can work at any time of the day or night.
2. Figure Out Your Workplace Vibe
Some people need peace and quiet to be productive. Others love a ton of bustling energy. Sometimes you need a mix of both.
And you shouldn’t have to deal with one when you’re feeling like having the other.
So, give some thought to your preferred ambiance. It could be a coffee shop workspace vibe with great tunes (on that note, check out the sounds of Project Spaces with our top 9 workday music playlists) or it could be a dedicated desk a little bit removed from it all.
Ideally, you could be in a place that offers you the best of both worlds on demand. But the key is being able to tailor your work experience to your mood, not the other way around.
3. Think About Where You’re Most Productive
Most of us spent a good chunk of time working from home in the last few years.
And while some people love the convenience, others absolutely hate feeling crammed in their tiny Toronto condos.
If you love the WFH vibe (we’ll be honest, we think it sucks), then you’ve got it made already. But if you’re feeling restless at home, it might be time to move your business out of the living room and find yourself a new workspace where you’ll thrive.
Not sure one way or another? Try 21 days at Project Spaces for 99 bucks to test the waters.
4. Set Boundaries for Communication
Do you love constantly communicating with people or do you find it drains you?
If you’re feeling like scattered meetings, impromptu Slack messages, and inundation of your inbox are kneecapping your productivity, it’s probably wise to set some boundaries.
This could be something like only taking all your calls in the morning when you’re fresh and leaving the rest of the day to work on deliverables, or it could be consolidating all of your calls into one day per week to avoid distraction.
Whatever works best for you, Project Spaces has tailored our memberships for people who want to come in all the time as well as those who just want to drop in on Thursdays to take their sales calls.
5. Consider Whether Socialization Boosts You
One of the biggest realizations for many people during the pandemic was just how much socialization and human interaction fuel them.
But with remote work being the new trend, those two commodities are often way too scarce.
If socialization fuels you up, then being part of a professional community isn’t just valuable for business purposes. It also does wonders for your mental state.
But it doesn’t always have to be a high-pressure social situation. Sometimes it’s better to stop networking and instead start making work friends. You need to balance your hard work out with good times.
And we take having fun so seriously that we’ve even been known to throw a wild party or two (if you don’t believe us, you can just ask Tehsin).
Our point is this: it can be scary to take control of your own schedule and work the way that’s best for you rather than the way we’ve historically mandated to.
But by liberating yourself of the rigidity of the workday and doing what’s right for yourself, you’ll see your productivity supercharge, and you’ll get more out of your days.
At Project Spaces, we’re all about going against the status quo and working the way we want. If you want to do the same, then stop by, drop in, and come visit us. We’d love to have you here.
Founder-friendly coworking in downtown Toronto for entrepreneurs and digital nomads. We create original workspaces, fill them with relentless entrepreneurs, and watch the magic happen. Learn more