4 Public Spaces Where You Can Work for Free (Or Close to It)
Not everyone wants to sign up with a coworking space, whether it be because of budget, location, or distractions. However, just because you don’t have a membership at your local shared office space doesn’t mean that you’re limited to working solely from your home one-hundred percent of the time.
Getting out of the house and working from a public space can be helpful in keeping you on task and motivated. It can also be productive in fighting those feelings of isolation many people feel as remote workers.
The following list of public spaces provide social environments for you to get your work done from outside of your home. If you’re looking for a change of pace, try camping out at one of these four locations to see if it’s right for you.
Libraries
Libraries are ideal working spaces for remote employees. Quiet and full of studious people, they can be useful in motivating you to get straight to work as soon as you arrive. Furthermore, you’ll find public use computers at libraries (so you don’t have to lug around your own) and WiFi (if you do want to bring your own).
The only downside of working from the library is the fact that you can’t take calls while you’re inside. That being said, it may be best for remote workers who are looking for a quiet place to push through emails or work on other solo tasks related to their jobs.
Coffee Shops
Another hip alternative to the library is the coffee shop. These days coffee shops and cafes have become unanimous with public work spaces thanks to their welcoming of laptops and acceptance of the remote work culture. Order yourself a latte, ask for the WiFi password, and get to work on whatever needs to be done.
Since coffee shops have a louder atmosphere than libraries, you can feel welcome to take calls during your workday. Another added benefit of the coffee shop? If you start to get hungry you can grab a snack or order a sandwich from the register. Really, it’s easy to find yourself comfortably stationed in this public space for hours at a time.
Parks
At first, you might not think of the park as somewhere you would spend a day working. However, many public parks have local hotspots for connecting to WiFi depending on who your internet and cell provider are at home. Additionally, depending on your own data plan, you can set up a personal hotspot for yourself via your cellphone.
The wonderful thing about working from a park (along with getting some fresh air and vitamin D) is that it can also be a space of no distractions if you cannot connect to WiFi. For those looking to get a lot of work done without needing the internet, the park is a go-to during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
Museums
Last but not least, museums can be great to work from if you’re looking for a similar atmosphere to the library but perhaps with a little more activity. As long as you can steer clear of the distraction of people watching, museums offer a unique environment to get your work done.
If you’re worried about budget, many museums offer monthly and yearly passes that provide a discount to locals. Additionally, many museums are free or pay as you wish, allowing you to work within a budget. While WiFi might not be a sure bet, you can always feel free to ask a museum employee.
Originally published on Remote.com
