Why You’re More Productive in Coffee Shops

Do you ever wonder why it is you’re more productive when taking your work to the coffee shop? There’s a scientific reason why people are more focused and creative when working at their favorite café, and it’s not just the caffeine. If that were the case, then your 4th cup of joe in the office or at home should be doing the trick.

New Stimuli

When you get tired of being sat at the same desk every day despite how hard you’ve been trying to create a comfortable workstation, your brain eventually starts craving novelty. Fast Company states, “Changing your environment, even just for a day, brings new types of input and stimulation, which in turn stimulates creativity and inspiration.” Taking your laptop elsewhere with the intent to get work done is exciting enough to get the ball rolling.

Ambient Noise

One of the key differences between the noise in an office or your apartment is the levels of sound that occurs. A study published by Oxford University Press in 2012 concludes that the right amount of background noise boosts creativity. For better performance, maintain the noise level at 70 decibels or the bustle that’s common in coffee shops. People who had to work in environments with  50 decibels and 85 decibels weren’t able to work optimally.

Fewer Distractions

It’s already proven that background noise could be beneficial when it comes to productivity. Harvard Business Review explains that in an office setting, it may be another person that’s being a distraction and not necessarily the sounds themselves. Unlike at a buzzing coffee shop, you’re free from the conversations happening across your cubicle or the interruptions of a colleague. This helps you stay focused on your tasks at hand and work efficiently.

This isn’t to say you need to spend all your working days at your favorite café. The idea is to break away from your regular routine every so often to keep you stimulated. Creativity and motivation aren’t limited to a particular place, after all.

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