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I can't understand the appeal working in coffee shops has to some freelancers. I can see how an hour, maybe two could break up the day but when you have free co

I can't understand the appeal working in coffee shops has to some freelancers. I can see how an hour, maybe two could break up the day but when you have free coffee and excellent wifi you're already paying for at home why would you pay to work in a crowded, noisy public space?

specialist 13y ago
When I work with people around, I get more done. I get almost nothing done at home. I'm an extrovert. Most of the time, I like social interaction. And when I get into the zone, I just pop in the earbuds and crank out the code. Best of both worlds. Serendipity is huge for me. My passion is open government projects. I'm astonished how many random people I meet have a keen interest and relevant experience, from every walk of life. That validation, and knowing that they'll ask about my project next chance we meet, keeps me plugging away. Have you seen the bit about the honor system for office bagels? Simply putting up a picture of human face watching you makes people more honest. I absolutely jog faster, do more pushups, write more code, etc when I feel there's someone around to impress.
- gk1 13y ago
  This is a refreshingly honest answer, and I completely relate to it. I spent a lot of money on a nice desk at home, but I still get more done in coffee shops.
d23 13y ago
If you're regularly working remote you likely want to create a separation between your work and home environment. Cabin fever and what-not.
DanBC 13y ago
People are different. Some people like noise and bustle. Others don't. I find it hard to understand people who don't get that.
jamesrcole 13y ago
I find it harder to get motivated when I'm at home, but when I go to a coffee shop I know I'm there to just do work, and paying for my time there (in coffee) also helps spur me onto work.
zacinbusiness 13y ago
I work at coffee shops for one of a few reasons, depending on the day. Sometimes I just want to get out of the house, and it's good to see what other people are talking about and doing. Other times I need to get away from my very needy, very rambunctious dogs (we have three) but it's raining or really cold outside so they want to stay in and play. That gets very distracting. Finally, sometimes I drop my wife off at work as she's a professor and it's difficult for her to find parking. So I'll take her to work and then camp out at the coffee shop where they know me and immediately make my order without me even asking.
ronaldx 13y ago
I understand that you don't personally find this appealing, but I suggest that you are likely in a minority: 1. Background noise is said to be good for creative-type work: http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/how-noise-makes-you-more-creative http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/how-noise-makes... 2. Breaking up your day into chunks and physically moving around are both potentially great for productivity. Joel Runyon recently dubbed this 'workstation popcorn': http://impossiblehq.com/workstation-popcorn http://impossiblehq.com/workstation-popcorn
- coldtea 13y ago
  Not to mention, in similar places like these, meeting people (for business and/or flirting), and well, having some exersize just by walking there. And after you dragged yourself there, you have more guilt if you don't work, compared to being at home.
- __--__ 13y ago
  Neither of which actually require going to a coffee shop. It's the human interaction that most people find appealing.
w1ntermute 13y ago
Same here. You're stuck with a small keyboard and screen, and your posture probably isn't ergonomic. The horrible wifi and fighting over power outlets just tops things off for me.
- coldtea 13y ago
  >You're stuck with a small keyboard and screen, and your posture probably isn't ergonomic So, just like at home for most people. >The horrible wifi That's a bonus. Less of a chance to turn your work-day into a youtube-cats-marathon. >fighting over power outlets That just does not happen, not in the kind of environment the article describes, which is built for this sort of thing.
  - noir_lord 13y ago
    While the plural of anecdote is not data most of the programmers I know have at least 1 large screen at home to connect their laptop to (and at least half have a set up like mine which is a fast desktop connected to three screens). The "average" hardware profile does seems to vary across the type of programming done/age of the programmer and industry they are in (it would be an interesting survey).
  - w1ntermute 13y ago
    > So, just like at home for most people. That's easily fixed at home by buying an external monitor and keyboard/mouse (not a big expense, especially when you're no longer paying for transportation and coffee). > That's a bonus. Less of a chance to turn your work-day into a youtube-cats-marathon. There are much better technical solutions for this than using horrible wifi. There are lots of software options out there for blocking distracting sites. > That just does not happen, not in the kind of environment the article describes, which is built for this sort of thing. I'm not talking about the environment this article describes. I'm talking about the standard coffee shops all across America that people are currently working out of.
    - coldtea 13y ago
      >That's easily fixed at home by buying an external monitor and keyboard/mouse (not a big expense, especially when you're no longer paying for transportation and coffee). Sure, but the take away is, a lot of people just don't care, so the cafe is not that different for them. >There are much better technical solutions for this than using horrible wifi. There are lots of software options out there for blocking distracting sites. But then you can disable the software itself. I've tried those stuff, from pomodoro to internet site killers. Nothing works like absolutely having crap or no internet. See also various posts about how plane trips are so productive for coding and such. >I'm talking about the standard coffee shops all across America that people are currently working out of. Well, doesn't happen that much in those either. You can either go to one that's less populated, or you can always bring a tine 2-socket plug-expander with you (don't know how they're called in english).
mark_l_watson 13y ago
I agree with you. I have a comfortable home, and home office so I spend less than two hours a month working in a local coffee shop.

specialist 13y ago

When I work with people around, I get more done. I get almost nothing done at home. I'm an extrovert. Most of the time, I like social interaction. And when I get into the zone, I just pop in the earbuds and crank out the code. Best of both worlds. Serendipity is huge for me. My passion is open government projects. I'm astonished how many random people I meet have a keen interest and relevant experience, from every walk of life. That validation, and knowing that they'll ask about my project next chance we meet, keeps me plugging away. Have you seen the bit about the honor system for office bagels? Simply putting up a picture of human face watching you makes people more honest. I absolutely jog faster, do more pushups, write more code, etc when I feel there's someone around to impress.

gk1 13y ago
This is a refreshingly honest answer, and I completely relate to it. I spent a lot of money on a nice desk at home, but I still get more done in coffee shops.

d23 13y ago

If you're regularly working remote you likely want to create a separation between your work and home environment. Cabin fever and what-not.

DanBC 13y ago

People are different. Some people like noise and bustle. Others don't. I find it hard to understand people who don't get that.

jamesrcole 13y ago

I find it harder to get motivated when I'm at home, but when I go to a coffee shop I know I'm there to just do work, and paying for my time there (in coffee) also helps spur me onto work.

zacinbusiness 13y ago

I work at coffee shops for one of a few reasons, depending on the day. Sometimes I just want to get out of the house, and it's good to see what other people are talking about and doing. Other times I need to get away from my very needy, very rambunctious dogs (we have three) but it's raining or really cold outside so they want to stay in and play. That gets very distracting. Finally, sometimes I drop my wife off at work as she's a professor and it's difficult for her to find parking. So I'll take her to work and then camp out at the coffee shop where they know me and immediately make my order without me even asking.

ronaldx 13y ago

I understand that you don't personally find this appealing, but I suggest that you are likely in a minority: 1. Background noise is said to be good for creative-type work: http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/how-noise-makes-you-more-creative http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/how-noise-makes... 2. Breaking up your day into chunks and physically moving around are both potentially great for productivity. Joel Runyon recently dubbed this 'workstation popcorn': http://impossiblehq.com/workstation-popcorn http://impossiblehq.com/workstation-popcorn

coldtea 13y ago
Not to mention, in similar places like these, meeting people (for business and/or flirting), and well, having some exersize just by walking there. And after you dragged yourself there, you have more guilt if you don't work, compared to being at home.
__--__ 13y ago
Neither of which actually require going to a coffee shop. It's the human interaction that most people find appealing.

w1ntermute 13y ago

Same here. You're stuck with a small keyboard and screen, and your posture probably isn't ergonomic. The horrible wifi and fighting over power outlets just tops things off for me.

coldtea 13y ago
>You're stuck with a small keyboard and screen, and your posture probably isn't ergonomic So, just like at home for most people. >The horrible wifi That's a bonus. Less of a chance to turn your work-day into a youtube-cats-marathon. >fighting over power outlets That just does not happen, not in the kind of environment the article describes, which is built for this sort of thing.
- noir_lord 13y ago
  While the plural of anecdote is not data most of the programmers I know have at least 1 large screen at home to connect their laptop to (and at least half have a set up like mine which is a fast desktop connected to three screens). The "average" hardware profile does seems to vary across the type of programming done/age of the programmer and industry they are in (it would be an interesting survey).
- w1ntermute 13y ago
  > So, just like at home for most people. That's easily fixed at home by buying an external monitor and keyboard/mouse (not a big expense, especially when you're no longer paying for transportation and coffee). > That's a bonus. Less of a chance to turn your work-day into a youtube-cats-marathon. There are much better technical solutions for this than using horrible wifi. There are lots of software options out there for blocking distracting sites. > That just does not happen, not in the kind of environment the article describes, which is built for this sort of thing. I'm not talking about the environment this article describes. I'm talking about the standard coffee shops all across America that people are currently working out of.
  - coldtea 13y ago
    >That's easily fixed at home by buying an external monitor and keyboard/mouse (not a big expense, especially when you're no longer paying for transportation and coffee). Sure, but the take away is, a lot of people just don't care, so the cafe is not that different for them. >There are much better technical solutions for this than using horrible wifi. There are lots of software options out there for blocking distracting sites. But then you can disable the software itself. I've tried those stuff, from pomodoro to internet site killers. Nothing works like absolutely having crap or no internet. See also various posts about how plane trips are so productive for coding and such. >I'm talking about the standard coffee shops all across America that people are currently working out of. Well, doesn't happen that much in those either. You can either go to one that's less populated, or you can always bring a tine 2-socket plug-expander with you (don't know how they're called in english).

mark_l_watson 13y ago

I agree with you. I have a comfortable home, and home office so I spend less than two hours a month working in a local coffee shop.