My work focus in Bali went from scattered to solid in about 3 months, and it's all because of one change.

When I first got to Canggu, I was working from cafes every day, chasing the 'vibe'. My output was maybe 2-3 decent tasks a day. After two months of this, I was falling behind. So I rented a desk at a local co-working space for $150 a month and committed to going there 5 days a week. Now I'm consistently hitting 6-7 focused hours daily. Is the structure of a dedicated workspace really that key, or can you actually get deep work done from a beach bar?

3 comments

3 Comments

viola_ward1mo ago

I tried the beach bar thing in Seminyak for a week. The glare on my screen was so bad I gave myself a headache squinting. That $150 for a real desk is the best money you'll spend there.

emmag221mo ago

My laptop screen got so sandy at a beach bar once I had to use a makeup brush to clean it. I mean, the structure of a real desk just cuts out all those tiny distractions that add up. Maybe it's just me but I need four walls to feel like I'm actually at work.

charles4421mo ago

Totally get what @emmag22 means about the four walls. It's like your brain needs that physical box to switch into work mode. I tried working from a park bench last week and spent half an hour just watching dogs play, which was fun but not productive. The beach bar sand thing is the perfect example, where the setting itself creates little chores that pull you away. Without a real desk in a quiet room, my focus just scatters to the wind.