Sometimes I Just Need to Work Somewhere Else

I actually like working from home. Most of the time, I am quite happy with my own space and having everything I need around me.

But sometimes, being in the same environment for too long starts to feel a little frustrating. I can feel mentally tired without necessarily being physically tired, and that is usually when I start thinking about taking my laptop somewhere else.

Working from a cafe gives me a reason to leave the house while still getting some work done.

I usually go on weekends because I do not want to spend all of my time at home working. If I have the time, I might go around twice a week, but there is no fixed schedule. It depends on when it is possible.

I also like going with a purpose. I might have a list of things I want to finish, which gives the visit a little more direction. I am not necessarily expecting to become more productive just because I am sitting in a cafe. I simply find that being somewhere different can help me clear my head, look at something from another angle, or find a little inspiration.

Over time, I have also realised something quite important.

A cafe can be beautiful without being a good place to work.

My Two-Hour Cafe Test

When I am choosing where to sit, I have a very simple question in my head:

Could I actually imagine myself sitting here comfortably for two hours?

That is really my informal two-hour cafe test.

I am not expecting a cafe to be an office. I know I am using someone else's space, and I do not need everything to be perfect.

But if I am planning to stay for a couple of hours, I want to feel reasonably comfortable. I want enough space for my laptop and drink, and an environment where I can concentrate.

Then there are all the smaller things I notice once I start looking: how much noise there is, whether people are constantly walking past, whether the lighting works for my screen, whether the cafe feels too warm, and whether I can get to a power socket if I need one.

None of these things would necessarily matter if I were only having a coffee for half an hour.

For a couple of hours, they matter quite a lot.

The Table and Chair Matter More Than the Pretty Interior

I notice the interior when I choose a cafe, but once I am actually there with my laptop, the practical setup becomes much more important.

Is the Table Actually Big Enough?

Most of the time, I only bring my laptop, so I do not need a huge table. A small round table can be enough for me.

Sometimes I bring a portable screen, though, and then I need more space. I also need room for my drink and possibly a snack or something to eat.

I do not want to take an excessive amount of space when I am alone. If there is a slightly larger table where I can fit everything comfortably, that is usually preferable.

I like being able to put my laptop down properly, have my drink beside me, and still have a little room around everything.

Table Height Can Change Everything

Table height is something I pay quite a lot of attention to.

Some cafe tables are fine for sitting with a coffee, but not necessarily for working on a laptop for two or three hours. I do not want to end up working with my laptop on my knees simply because the table looks nice.

I would much rather choose a table at a proper working height.

It is one of those details that is easy to miss when you are looking at photos of a cafe. A setup can look lovely in a picture and feel completely different once you are actually sitting there.

I Usually Choose a Normal Chair

I usually choose a normal chair or sometimes a sofa.

I generally avoid armchairs for working because I do not feel that they support my back properly. I prefer a chair that is not too big or too small, supports my back reasonably well, and ideally has some soft cushioning rather than being completely hard.

It is not particularly exciting, but if I am sitting for a couple of hours, I would rather be comfortable than choose the most beautiful chair in the room.

I Don't Need Silence, But I Do Need the Right Kind of Noise

Noise is probably one of the things I notice most because I am quite sensitive to it.

I do not need complete silence. A cafe with some background activity can actually be nice, and I often like sitting near other people who are also working.

What I do not like is noise that keeps pulling my attention away from what I am doing.

During busy periods, especially summer, I pay more attention to this. If a cafe is particularly noisy, I may decide that working from home or going to the office would be better that day.

If I do stay, I usually look for a quieter corner.

I always bring earphones too. I use noise cancellation when necessary, and sometimes I listen to calm music, generally lo-fi. Music without lyrics works well for me because it gives me some background sound without demanding too much attention.

Loud pop or dance music is different. If the music is very noticeable, I find it much harder to concentrate.

Finding a Quieter Corner

I usually prefer sitting in a corner rather than in the middle of a cafe.

I like being next to a wall or near a window, depending on the season and the light. I would not normally choose a table right beside the entrance because there is always a flow of people coming and going.

I also avoid sitting near the toilet for the same reason.

A corner can have another little advantage too. If there is a socket nearby, I am more likely to have somewhere convenient to charge my laptop if I need it.

Why I Usually Avoid Online Meetings in Cafes

I do not really think cafes are the right place for online meetings.

Working quietly with my laptop is one thing. Having a conversation is another, especially in a busy cafe where other people are trying to enjoy their own time or work.

I would rather avoid taking meetings or calls that could disturb the people around me.

My Ideal Cafe Changes With the Season

Winter: Give Me the Window

In winter, I especially appreciate large windows and natural light.

When the days are darker, I like having as much daylight around me as possible. If I can sit somewhere near a window without the sunlight reflecting directly onto my laptop screen, that is usually a nice setup for me.

But natural light is not enough on its own.

One winter afternoon, I went to a familiar chain cafe. It was not evening yet, but it was already getting dark outside because of the season and the weather. The indoor lighting was also very weak.

I know many people come to this cafe to work, so the low lighting felt a little strange to me. It might have been fine for sitting with a drink, but for working, the combination of the darkness outside and the weak indoor lighting was too much for me. I could not stay for very long.

That experience made me think a little differently about what "soft lighting" actually means. I like softer lighting, but I still need to be able to see comfortably.

Summer: Find Me a Cooler Corner

Summer changes things again.

I might prefer a darker, cooler corner with air conditioning rather than sitting right beside a sunny window. I also pay more attention to how busy the area is.

During summer, I may prefer a cafe in a business area or city centre rather than somewhere particularly coastal or touristy, simply because I would rather avoid unnecessary crowds and noise.

I have also had an experience where the cafe itself seemed like a good choice at first.

It was a small cafe with a comfortable setup for working. The problem was that it was summer and they kept the door open. The air conditioning was almost working for nothing because all the heat was coming inside.

On top of that, people were smoking near the terrace, and the cigarette smell was coming into the cafe.

The actual working setup was comfortable, but the heat and smell made the experience quite difficult. I could not focus properly for very long.

It was one of those situations where the chair and table passed my test, but the environment did not.

The Atmosphere Still Matters, Just Not as Much as Comfort

I do care about how a cafe feels.

I notice the interior, lighting, music, people, seating and general atmosphere. I also like checking the drinks menu because I enjoy having a few options when I am going to sit somewhere for a while. Coffee, matcha, juices and smoothies are all nice to have available.

I think our surroundings can affect how we feel. Sitting somewhere visually pleasant can sometimes make me feel more creative or help me look at something from a slightly different angle.

That is one reason I enjoy changing cafes rather than always going to exactly the same place.

Sometimes I like returning to a familiar cafe or even sitting in the same spot. Other times, I like having a completely different environment around me. There is something about changing the view, the people around me and the general atmosphere that can change how I approach what I am working on.

But I still come back to the practical things first.

How I Choose a Cafe Before I Go

I usually look into a cafe before I go, especially if it is somewhere I have not worked from before. I would rather have a rough idea of what I am walking into than arrive with my laptop and immediately realise I need to find another place.

My process is fairly simple:

• Start with the area I want to be in.
• Check Google Maps.
• Look at the ratings and reviews.
• Browse customer photos.
• Check the seating and general setup.
• Check the opening hours.
• Look at the drinks menu if it is available.
• Think about when the cafe is likely to be busy.

Customer photos are particularly useful because they can show you what the cafe actually looks like when people are using it, rather than only showing the nicest professional-looking photographs.

I also think about timing.

On weekdays, I generally prefer working between 9:30 and 12:00, or between 14:00 and 17:00. I try to avoid particularly busy periods such as business lunchtime or very early morning.

On weekends, I usually prefer early morning or going after around 15:00.

Of course, I cannot control how many people will be there. I can tolerate some busyness, especially with my headphones, but I still prefer fewer people when possible.

What I Bring With Me

I try to keep this part simple. I do not need to bring my entire office with me.

I usually take:

• Laptop and charger
• Phone charger or power bank
• Earphones
• Notebook and pen
• Sometimes a book
• Lip balm

The lip balm is just a small personal thing I like having with me because I often find my lips get dry when I spend a few hours somewhere with air conditioning.

Power outlets are useful, but they are not always my first priority. I normally arrive with a fully charged laptop. If I have already been in meetings or moving between different places, I am more likely to look for somewhere with a socket because I know I may need to charge.

Wi-Fi is important to me, but I usually do not worry about it too much. If the connection is unreliable, I am prepared to use my phone hotspot.

Food depends on the day. I might keep ordering drinks while I work, and if I am hungry, I may have a snack or something small to eat.

If I want a proper meal, I would rather eat before or after the work session, or go somewhere else such as a restaurant. I do not particularly like turning a cafe work session into a full meal while staring at a screen.

My Simple Cafe Do's

These are really my own little rules for working from a cafe rather than universal cafe rules.

• I choose the setup before the picture. I can appreciate a beautiful interior, but I want to know that I can actually sit and work comfortably.
• I go with something I want to finish. Having a list or a specific goal gives the visit some direction.
• I think about the timing. I would rather avoid the busiest periods when I have a choice.
• I choose my corner carefully. I usually prefer somewhere near a wall or window, away from the entrance and toilet.
• I bring the things I actually need. Laptop, charger, earphones and a few small essentials are usually enough.
• I remember that I am still in someone else's business. I am there to work, but I am also sharing the space with other customers.

My Simple Cafe Don'ts

These are probably even more important to me because I do not want my working session to come at the expense of everyone around me.

• I don't treat the cafe like my private office. Wi-Fi and a table do not automatically turn a cafe into a coworking space.
• I don't take a large table when I only need a small one. Especially when the cafe is busy, I would rather use only the space I actually need.
• I don't sit for hours with only a glass of water. If I am staying for a longer session, I normally order at least two drinks and perhaps a snack.
• I don't take online meetings in a busy cafe. I would rather avoid speaking loudly or disturbing the people around me.
• I don't stay somewhere just because I have already arrived. If the environment is clearly not working for me, I would rather leave.

When I Know a Cafe Just Isn't Going to Work

Sometimes I can look at a cafe beforehand, arrive, find a decent table and still realise that something is wrong.

It might be a strong smell of food.

The ventilation might be poor.

The table might not be suitable after all.

The music might be too loud.

There might simply be too much noise.

Or, as I experienced in summer, the cafe might have a comfortable working setup but still feel too hot and smoky because the door is open and people are smoking outside.

The winter example was different. The cafe was familiar, but the weak lighting combined with the already dark afternoon made it difficult for me to work comfortably.

These experiences are probably why I pay attention to more than just the table and chair now.

Sometimes I arrive expecting a cafe to work for me and realise that one of those smaller details has changed the whole experience.

And if I already know I am going to spend the next couple of hours feeling uncomfortable, I would rather leave.

A Cafe Can Change How I Look at My Work

I do not go to a cafe because I believe that sitting there automatically makes me more productive.

For me, the bigger benefit is the change of environment.

When I work from home, I can finish, close my laptop and immediately think, Maybe I will lie down for a while.

It is very easy to have a snack, scroll through my phone, watch something or simply relax because I am already at home.

After a good cafe session, I feel different.

I usually feel more satisfied, but also more motivated to continue with the rest of my day. I am already outside, so I might go to the supermarket, meet someone, run an errand, or simply enjoy a little time to reset after a long work week.

Sometimes I might go to a nearby park and take a bicycle for a ride. I might visit a museum if there is a new exhibition I want to see. Or I might simply go home.

There is something nice about finishing work and already being in motion.

I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy working from a cafe from time to time. It gives me a change of surroundings, and that can change how I look at the work itself. But it also means that when I close my laptop, I am not automatically at the end of my day.

The rest of the day is still there.

For me, a good cafe is simply somewhere I can imagine sitting comfortably for a couple of hours, enjoying a drink, finishing what I came there to do, and then stepping back outside into the rest of my day.

Sometimes, that change of surroundings is all I needed.

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