The gift of an extra hour (and how I found it in a coworking space)

I spent most of my week feeling like my brain was a browser with sixty tabs open.

As an Operations & Thinking Partner, I'm the person who holds the "background hum" for my clients. On any given work day, I'm switching between building technical systems for one person, creative design work for another, troubleshooting tech glitches for another, and all while managing twelve different inboxes.

When you work from home, that mental load starts to feel physical. It's hard to find the "deep work" gear when you're being hit with "can you just" requests or you can see the dishwasher and laundry pile stacking up while you step away to get your caffeine fix.

I booked a morning at Ely Work Collective this week, and the shift in my output was almost instant.

There's something about being in a space designed for work, surrounded by people doing exactly the same thing, that stops the internal chatter. It also helps that the coffee is really good.

I went in with a very specific plan: I had three "must-do" tasks. Nothing else.

Usually, my list is a mile long. But by picking just three big things and focusing on them in this new environment, I finished them all with an hour to spare.

That "free hour" felt like a gift. Instead of diving straight back into more client work, I used it to focus on my own business, including writing this post.

I still went home and needed a nap afterwards (introvert life, right?), but I did it with a clear head instead of a buzzing one.

If you're struggling to find your focus, here's how I made that four-hour block actually count.

1. Block your diary

I blocked my diary for calls knowing I'd be there. It's my day for the heavy lifting. If you're paying for a desk for the morning, don't spend it on Zoom. Use that time for the tasks that require your full brain, not just your presence.

2. The power of three

Pick three (and only three) non-negotiable tasks for the session. Everything else is a bonus. By narrowing my focus, I stopped the panic of wondering what to do next and just got on with it.

3. Set a "leaving time" goal

I knew I was leaving at 1:00pm to head home. Having that hard finish line made me much more intentional with my minutes. It turns the morning into a sprint rather than a slow crawl.

4. Lean into the atmosphere

You don't always need noise-cancelling headphones to get things done. Sometimes you just need the right vibe. Working in a bright, intentional space with a decent cup of coffee and a good soundtrack (Cathrine has the best playlists 😉) was enough to keep me focused without feeling isolated.

5. The setup

Focusing isn't a happy accident. I spent ten minutes before I left the house gathering all the context I needed for those three tasks. This means no hunting for passwords or half-finished emails once I got to the desk.

I also keep a running list of what I've actually finished during the morning. Seeing that physical evidence of progress is much more motivating than looking at a list of what is still left to do.

Final thoughts

James and Cathrine are building something really special at EWC. They're the loveliest hosts, and working alongside them made the morning feel less like a chore and more like being part of a proper community.

They’ve also just launched some flexible membership options starting from £65 a month. I've already signed up so I can make these focused days a regular part of my week.

Working at EWC reminded me that even if you love your home office, you aren't meant to carry the weight of your business in isolation every single day.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your clients is to change your view.