Home Studio Over Shared Office

I’ve been going back and forth in my head for the last couple years, bouncing between the dream of a bright coworking space and the lure of my perfected home studio.

Every time I go on a work trip for Shopify and share an office floor with a bunch of coworkers, I have serendipitous run-ins and catch glimpses of good ideas on whiteboards and enjoy the walk around the block and love the friends I make. And every time I get back home and go back to my bunker studio (e.g. Desk, January 14, 2024) I yearn to get those feelings back in my day-to-day work.

So I’ll spend a week or two researching shared office space within a couple miles of me: price, amenities, distance. I’ve even visited a couple. But they’re never as collaborative as I dream. And it ends up feeling like a waste.

My home studio is so refined for my work: zero distractions, a great desk setup, tools to build whatever I want, anything I want to drink, a yard, cats. And you can’t beat the price.

So now I’m committing to working hard in the studio and then leaving: going to meetups, walking around the block to greet neighbors, connecting meaningfully with friends online. I’m inspired by the home studios of Van Neistat and Noah Kahline and Casey Neistat and my friend Sarah Boyle - make your own workspace at home and find connection out in the world, rather than forcing the two into the same space.