I work best in a coffee shop
So, this is a new thing I have been doing for a few weeks now; I try to work from a coffee shop on low meeting days. I feel like it has helped me become more productive.
Of course, spending money in a coffee shop 5 minutes from my house is silly when I have a perfectly good setup at home. And for the longest time, I thought that way, but I also realised it has helped me get out of my rut.
I live alone in a new city/country. I barely know anyone here, and of course, the ones I know either live far away and/or they have their own lives and work, you know, adult stuff. So, it is not viable to meet and work on a regular basis.
I work from home 100% of the time, and though I love my colleagues, they are all virtual. So, in short, I feel lonely sometimes. Going to coffee shops and watching fellow workers gives me that sense of belonging I crave. The subtle nods and smiles indicating “I know how you feel” reassure me we truly are in this together.
I do try to pick smaller coffee shops or family-owned businesses so I can give them my patronage, but not going to lie; the bigger conglomerates make it easier to work at. But that debate is for another day.
So I usually try to go to a coffee shop on days when it is extra gloomy outside, or I have been in a work rut or a mid-week/month hump. Seeing fellow humans sipping on their varied liquids, working on their scripts, taking calls, jotting things down on their legal pads, and more really inspires me to go along with my daily grind. And, though I used very negative words, trust me, reader, I feel anything but negative. I feel this sense of fellowship where we are all trying to survive and thrive.
This has also been a great way to connect with my neighbourhood. I have discovered some real gems around me.
My go-to is unsweetened black tea (English Breakfast or Earl Grey); sometimes, if I feel cheeky, I get a flavoured coffee drink.