So you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or part of a team at a startup company – congrats for taking the plunge. You’re joining thousands of like-minded, driven individuals who have decided to make their dreams a reality instead of just thinking about it. The perks are great: you work on what you like, how you like, when you like, and the commute time is the 5 seconds it takes to walk from your bed to the desk. Life is rosy!

But you’ll quickly realize there are some hidden battles to fight, and the most challenging ones are those that come from within. Over the next few weeks, I hope to write about some of these battles and how I’ve fared against them. This is mostly for my own benefit as I reflect on a year of doing full-time startup work. This week is about the workspace battle.

If you work from home, you’ll know this battle well. Your foes are distractions and temptations like the TV, the fridge, the sofa, and even your very own room. There is something about working alone and being too comfortable that makes it difficult to focus on what needs to be done. Maybe there is a psychological effect as well. As the work-home line becomes increasingly blurred, the roles and routines we have also become blurred: “Am I at work? Am I at home?” We may act differently at home than when we’re in the workplace and the blurry line makes for great distractions and odd moments of indecisions. “Should I be dressing better even when no one is around? Should I be raking the leaves or calling that client?”

The solution I’ve found is to work outside of the home once in a while. But you don’t need to shell out the big bucks for an office or co-working space, though. Below is a list of free and nearly-free workspaces I’ve worked out of:

Public libraries (Toronto and Markham)

Wifi: yes
Outlet: generally, yes but not always
Noise level: quiet
Price: free
Notes: Toronto public libraries don’t allow SSH connections. My favourites are Fairview (TPL), North York Centre (TPL), Milliken (MPL), and Angus Glen (MPL).

Second Cup and Starbucks

Wifi: yes
Outlet: yes, at certain tables
Noise level: low
Price: a cup of coffee

Ikea (Sheppard Ave. & Leslie St.)

Wifi: no
Outlet: yes, at certain tables
Noise level: low-medium
Price: if you get there at 9:30am, get breakfast for $1 and free coffee.
Notes: the Swedish meatballs are excellent

Food courts in shopping malls

Wifi: generally, no
Outlet: depends. Markville Mall has some outlets near the middle of the food court
Noise level: high
Price: free

Centennial Community Centre (McCowan Rd. and Bullock Dr.)

Wifi: yes
Outlet: not at the table, but there are some close by
Noise level: dead quiet
Price: free

Bayview Village (Bayview Ave. & Sheppard Ave.)

Wifi: no
Outlet: at certain tables and at the bar table
Noise level: medium
Price: free
Notes: the seating area is located near the Chapters entrance on the inside of the mall

McDonalds

Wifi: yes
Outlet: generally, no
Noise level: medium
Price: a cup of coffee, or Chicken McNuggets if you prefer

Pizza Pizza (Warden Ave. & Hwy. 7)

Wifi: yes
Outlet: yes
Noise level: low-medium
Price: a slice of pizza

What’s your favourite workspace?