At The Createry, you can pay for coworking by the half day, day, or opt for an unlimited membership to use the space as much as you like! But how can you make the most of your coworking time? This post explains how best to prepare, and what you do and don’t need to bring.
1. Plan your travel
The Createry is a short walk from Nottingham train station (which is also the nearest tram stop), bus station, and is on the Skylink bus route which also serves East Midlands airport. We have a secured bike rack outside (and shower on the first floor). We can also usually make sure you have a parking spot reserved – email us for more details and to double check.
If you’re a Feather (pay as you go) or Fledgling member, you can pay for your coworking session here.
Once you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a quick intro to the space and everything you need to know. If you have any questions, this is the perfect time to ask, but there will be a member of the team around if you think of anything later on.
2. Pick out what you’re wearing
We’re super casual and don’t have any kind of dress code, so we encourage you to wear whatever you feel comfortable or most productive in (for some people that means jeans or leggings; for others, it’s a shirt and trousers)!
You may want to go with something that allows for layers, so you can take off/put on an overshirt or hoodie as you like. As we’re in Nottingham, preparing for rain is never a bad idea.
3. Plan your food
You’re welcome to bring any snacks or particular drinks you like (basic tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, a milk and a plant milk are always provided in the kitchen area).
We have fridge space and a microwave, so bringing leftovers is a popular option. Alternatively, there are lots of hot food options within a short walk, along with two supermarkets.
If you’re buying something that keeps and want to leave it for the next time you’re in, that’s totally fine. Just be sure to label it with your name if it’s not for communal use!
4. Decide what you want to get done
Make the most of your day by planning ahead. You could write a list when you get here (or beforehand), giving yourself a series of tasks or a project to complete in the time you have.
Many of our coworkers find this a handy way to keep on track, as it means staying until the list or task is complete, and incentivises shutting the door behind you with the relief that everything you planned to do is done!
Don’t forget you can book studio or meeting room time alongside your coworking so you can create your own workflow and get more done. For example, recording a podcast or having a meeting downstairs and then doing your editing or notes upstairs on the coworking floor is a great way to ensure you aren’t taking work home with you.
You could also plan to attend one of our events and work around that to make the most of your visit.
5. Pack your bag
You don’t need to bring much, but here are a few items to consider beyond your food and laptop:
- Your headphones (test them first to see how loud you can go without the sound leaking!). We allow (non-disruptive) calls on the coworking floor, so headphones are useful if you want to block out the sound.
- Your laptop charger – probably the most commonly forgotten item among coworkers.
- Any niche chargers/cables that we may not have available for you to borrow.
- Your favourite planning/note-taking/doodling materials.
We have all the standard cables, including HDMI cables, USB and USB C cables, adaptors, and one or two Apple Mac chargers. There are also usually free computer monitors around the space that you can hook your laptop up to if you want a bigger second screen.
We also have basic stationery items, including pens, pencils, sticky notes, scissors, and more. Notebooks, undated planners, SD cards and USB stick can be purchased at affordable prices (check out our shop or ask a member of the team).
6. Decide how sociable you want to be
The coworking floor is laid out with different spaces to suit your working style. Pick the bench desks with ergonomic Slouch chairs to get your head down, or work more casually from the sofa or bar area.
There are no hard and fast rules about communication – if you don’t want to be disturbed, stick earphones in, if you’re feeling chatty, hanging out in the kitchen space is the best place to be.
Tip: Use the phone holders on the walls in the bench desk area to prevent mindlessly picking up your phone and scrolling!
7. Plan your breaks
Lockers (with USB charging ports and plug socket) are available on the coworking floor if you want to lock up your things to nip out for lunch or go to a local gym.
We also have a bookshelf with lots of interesting reads if you fancy enjoying a chapter or two with a cuppa.
And that’s about it! If you have any questions or problems just let us know right away and we’ll do our best to help. Enjoy your coworking session!