How to work productively from cafes? Is it even possible? 🤔
Sveta Bay
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Dan Kulkov@kronop
I can only write Twitter threads from cafes
Any other task that require using brains is impossible for me
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I've been working out of a starbucks for the past couple days (full 10-hour work days here). We brought our kids to see their grandparents, so I don't have a quiet office available.
My strategy is to put my headphones on and grind through calls, filling the gaps between with catchup emails and user outreach (via email or social). I try to keep my work for the day limited to staring at my screen, which keeps me more focused.
I also drink a stupid amount of coffee which somehow keeps my ADD under control. Probably not helpful, but that's what I do.
@rehan_choudhry1 Wow, great advice, you're a professional worker from cafes. If it's not a secret, the stupid amount is how many cups? 😅😅😅
One product - noise canceling headphones!
If you can find a cafe with good coffee and comfortable seating, working from a cafe can be a great way to be productive. There are a few things you can do to help make sure you're productive, though.
First, try to find a cafe that isn't too crowded. A little bit of background noise can be helpful, but too much can be distracting.
Second, invest in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones. This will help you to focus on your work, even if the cafe is a bit noisy.
Finally, make sure you take breaks and move around every once in a while. Sitting in one spot for too long can lead to discomfort and make it harder to focus.
@alex_vidon_ai wow, you definitely got PHD on the working from cafes topic 😄
Thank you for these golden advice!
Launching soon!
Yes, it is possible to work from cafes, but you need to arm yourself with patience and discipline. The first and most important thing is to find a fairly calm place. This means that you should not work from a place that is full of noise or where there are a lot of distractions like TVs and other customers who don’t seem to care about their volume.
I love it... but it's all about the headphones!
The hack for me (longtime NYC resident) is to find the bar or restaurant that has WiFi and will let you work. Some bars open at noon or even earlier so they are good options as the staff is pretty mellow and basically just getting ready for the happy hour crowd.
Order a coke, tip $5, and enjoy the peace and quiet!
Note: this does not apply if you are gonna be on the phone all day. This is for deep work.
Also: Headphones and a hat with a brim to cut down on visual distractions.
@zack_bruce good advice, Zack! Thanks for sharing!
It was always interesting for me if the cafe workers hate all these remote workers 😅
One that I didn't see in the list of replies — have a list of things to do before you step in. It helps keep you focused!
Nah. Honestly, anywhere other than my humble abode is a "distraction". Plus, people talking around me is complete chaos for an anxious little humanoid like me. 🥹
Noise-canceling headphones are where it's at, especially the circumaural types. I find the energy and bustle of people to be stimulating as long as it's not a downtown coffee shop packed with tourists. But the noise is distracting so relaxing music in my own "personal space" offered by the noise-canceling features works wonders!
Launching soon!
Love working from cafes, but for a change. It's difficult for me to do that on an ongoing basis. But, it works like a charm to do it once or twice a week. Helps to break out, think long-term, reflect back and plan. Not to mention, love the coffee at Starbucks :)
@mjain_mayank I've recently also tried it to change atmosphere. So far, works good only to spend there 2-3 hours. How long can you work from cafe?
It is possible with the proper hardware.
I have
- a portable secondary screen: https://www.mobilepixels.us/
- good headphones with noise canceling.
With this setup, it is easy to work from cafes or tea houses.
For me, it works best to work out of a cafe with a colleague.
Good to step back and brainstorm. But this is like once a week for me.
If I am working alone, I am not able to spend more than a few hours. I also tend to gulp a good amount of tea :)
I spent at least 30% of my time building Product Hunt inside a cafe (mostly in Philz). I love the buzz of working around people and usually listen to house music or something chill with my noise-cancelling headphones.
For me, it's the opposite. I’m very productive outside the office or home. And I love working in a cafe. It is very convenient when someone feeds you and you don't have to think about it ;)
