A Coworking Bucket List for Remote Workers Who Want More

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A coworking bucket list is a short set of goals about how and where you work: spaces to try, a setup you can rely on, skills to grow and people to meet. Keep it to five to ten items, give each one a rough timeframe and review it every few months.

Why make a bucket list about work?

Remote work gives you freedom, but freedom without a plan often turns into the same desk and the same routine for years. A list gives you something to aim at. It turns vague wishes such as "meet more people" or "get a better setup" into things you can tick off.

It also helps you decide what is worth paying for. If a goal needs a quiet room, a meeting space or a fast connection, you will know which type of space to look for.

Which coworking spaces should I try?

Do not settle for the first space near your home. Aim to experience a few different formats, because each one suits a different kind of day.

• A busy open-plan space: good for energy, quick conversations and days when you feel stuck at home.
• A quiet, focus-first space: best for deep work, writing and calls that need clean audio.
• A space with private rooms: useful when you need to run client meetings or interviews.
• A creative or studio space: helpful if your work involves making, filming or photographing things. Our look at a coworking space as a photography studio alternative shows how that works.

Most spaces offer day passes or trial visits, so you can test the noise level, the seating and the connection before you commit to anything.

What should I check on a trial day?

• How loud it is during your usual working hours
• Whether the chairs and desks let you sit comfortably for a full day
• How stable the internet is during a video call
• Whether there is a phone booth or room for private calls
• Whether the people there are the kind you want around you

What setup goals belong on the list?

Your tools decide how much you can get done anywhere. Good setup goals are specific and cheap to test:

• Build a bag that lets you set up a proper desk in ten minutes at any space.
• Fix your weakest link, whether that is the connection, the chair or the lighting on calls.
• Create a backup plan for the day your main connection fails.

If you move between spaces, our guide to a portable home office kit covers what to carry. For connection problems, this remote worker's guide to reliable internet walks through the fixes.

Which skills are worth adding?

Remote work rewards habits more than talent. Choose two or three to practise on purpose:

• Time management: decide your working blocks and protect them.
• Clear written communication: short, specific messages save a lot of back-and-forth when nobody is in the same room.
• Self-discipline: set start and stop times so work does not spread across the whole day.
• Money habits: track income and costs, especially if you freelance and your earnings change month to month.

Coworking spaces can help here too. A shared room is a reasonable place to learn something new; one of our posts looks at how coworking spaces can support language learning.

What experiences are worth having?

Beyond the desk, a few experiences stretch your career and your network:

• Introduce yourself to someone in a different field and ask what they are working on.
• Give a short talk or lead a session for other members.
• Host a small workshop. Our piece on using a coworking space to host workshops shows what to plan.
• Find a work partner you meet regularly to share goals and keep each other on track.
• Take on a project that scares you slightly, such as a new type of client.

How do I turn the list into action?

1. Brainstorm freely. Write down everything you would like to do, big or small.
2. Pick the best five to ten. Choose the ones that would change your work the most.
3. Split big goals into steps. "Host a workshop" becomes: pick a topic, ask the space manager, choose a date, invite people.
4. Give each goal a timeframe. A rough month or season is enough.
5. Review regularly. Remove goals that no longer matter and add new ones.

What if I do not have a coworking space nearby?

You can still use the list. Swap spaces for libraries, cafes or a corner at home arranged for work, and keep the setup, skills and people goals as they are. A day pass at a space in a nearby town is also a fair way to tick off a few items.

If you want gear that makes moving between workplaces easier, you can browse Mavigadget's travel collection for chargers, adapters and similar accessories.

The takeaway

A bucket list built around your work keeps you moving forward. Start small, pick goals you can act on this month, and treat the list as something you edit as your work and your needs change.