"Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen." (Johann Hari)
It explains how modern life, with social media, screens, and constant notifications, is eroding our ability to focus.
This attention crisis has found its way into our workspaces too, including many coworking spaces that, despite good intentions, have inadvertently become obstacles to the deep work their members desperately need.
Understanding why this happens, and how to choose the workspace that’s right for you, can make the difference between productive workdays and constant frustration.
The reality of multitasking: The anti-hero
Neuroscientists call it the switch cost effect. Psychologist Arthur T. Jersild first described it in 1927 in his work Mental Set and Shift. He showed that our brains react more slowly when alternating between tasks compared to repeating the same one. Every time you switch tasks, from Teams to email, to having a quick chat with someone, your brain has to reconfigure itself, like rebooting a computer. Research shows it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully regain concentration after each switch.
Now consider how often you “multitask”, or try to.
Task switching increases mistakes, reduces how much information we remember, kills our ability to get into flow, and drains the mental energy we need to make good decisions.
The Coworking Challenge: Balancing Community and Concentration
Coworking spaces emerged to solve real problems: the isolation of working from home, the expense of traditional offices, and the lack of professional community for freelancers and remote workers. At their best, they provide the energy and connection that many of us need to do our best work.
Achieving a balance of a focused space with the options for community engagement is crucial for any business deciding where to spend their working days.
For some teams, they rely on social connections to get new work in. For others, they’d prefer to keep their head down and get into the flow.
Consider a typical day for a coworking member.
You settle in with your laptop, ready to tackle that complex project requiring two hours of uninterrupted thought.
Within the first 30 minutes, you're interrupted by a friendly member asking about your work, invited to join an impromptu coffee break, reminded about the lunch-and-learn session happening in an hour, and distracted by animated conversations at nearby desks.
The community manager drops by to check if you're enjoying the space.
Someone sets up for a presentation in the adjacent area.
Your attention fragments before you've even begun.
It's not just switching between digital tasks anymore; it's switching between work mode and social mode.
What to Avoid: The Signs of Focus-Stealing Design
When evaluating coworking spaces, watch for these red flags that indicate a space prioritises community activities over productivity:
Event oversaturation: Daily programming that makes members feel like they're missing out if they're not constantly participating. The oversaturation of events has become particularly problematic in many spaces. What started as occasional networking opportunities has evolved into a relentless stream of programming designed to keep members engaged and justify membership fees. Many spaces now offer daily events: Monday morning mixers, Tuesday tech talks, Wednesday wine downs, Thursday workshops, Friday drinks.
Lack of quiet zones: Spaces where every area is designed for collaboration, with not enough spaces to retreat to for focussed work.
Hot-desking chaos: Open work spaces can mean unpredictable neighbours, varying noise levels, work styles, and social dynamics.
Always-on networking culture: Environments where taking a coffee break becomes a pitch opportunity and every casual conversation turns into potential business development.
The Focus-First Alternative
The good news is that coworking doesn't have to work this way.
Thoughtfully designed coworking spaces can provide community without sacrificing concentration, networking without constant interruption, and energy without chaos.
The key is intentional design that prioritises the work itself. This means:
Dedicated quiet zones where deep work is protected and interruptions are minimised
Curated rather than constant events that add genuine value without overwhelming schedules
Clear boundaries between social areas and work areas, so members can choose their level of interaction
Acoustic design that considers the reality of modern work (video calls, phone conversations, and collaborative discussions) without letting them bleed into focus areas
A culture that respects flow states and understands that the best networking often happens between people who are aligned in accomplishing meaningful work
Looking for a focus-first workplace?
Drop us a note at info@collective100.com.au and we’ll send you a complimentary day pass to experience the space for yourself.
No social commitments required.
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