Janelle Zacherl
September 1, 2021
Who doesn’t love a perfect cup of java? As freelancers, coffee fuels our work productivity, and even sometimes our social lives. Before the pandemic, coffee shops were freelancer havens, and we’re finally able to get back to that lately. Isolated freelancers who work from home can get back out into the daily social scene and switch up their surroundings. Scene changes are good for mental health! Clocking into your midtown skyscraper is just not for everyone.
Read more for some fun coffee facts and the exploration of this love affair. What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Just the smell of coffee has been shown to reduce stress. Workers breathe a sigh of relief just with the smell of coffee, especially if the worker is not the best sleeper. Sleep is insanely important for a productive day, but just the smell of coffee can reverse some of the effects of sleep deprivation. Although, watch out for drinking too much caffeine - it can actually make your sleep worse. While we love that stuff, caffeine is no substitute for a good night’s sleep. According to this Healthline study which makes it clear that sleep is the most important factor in your productivity.
Although coffee is a common drink of everyone trying to be productive at work, freelancers have a special relationship with coffee and coffee shops especially as a “coffice.”
Caffeine, of which coffee is abundant, by itself is not a pain management drug, but it can boost the effects of pain-reducing drugs, such as Aspirin or Tylenol. We’re not talking about severe injuries here, but the common everyday injuries like minor headaches and backaches. Don’t take our word for it. Talk to your doctor if pain is inhibiting your productivity. There are even studies suggesting that your personal genetics may influence your pain response to caffeine. Science, eh?
Caffeine helps keep you moving, and therefore, expending energy and calories. While caffeine consumption is not a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise, it gives you the energy to keep your body active and keep the driving focus on meeting your freelance goals.
Since coffee shops tend to attract freelancers and creative professionals, it’s also a great place to meet each other. Networking and getting to know other freelancers can not only be good for your social and mental well-being, but it can also lead to exciting professional opportunities that you would have otherwise missed out on.
Changing up your surroundings from at home to a trendy coffee shop can spur creativity, lead to new ideas, and jump start your mind if you’re suffering from writer’s block. While it seems counterintuitive, visual variety and external stimuli can “give us a poke” in our creative processes. Sometimes, this takes a little trial and error. Finding “your place” to write, code, or design is not as simple as just going to your local cafe. Find the ambiance that best suits you.
A coffee shop outing can be a small way to be proactive about your own self-care, especially if it’s not something you can afford to do every day. Grabbing some fancy coffee and a sandwich or pastry is a small way to reward yourself for a job well done, personal victories, or just because you’re you!
Even though being able to work from anywhere can be liberating, it can also lead to a lack of focus and motivation. Going to the coffee shop can get a freelancer in a better headspace because it can feel like “going to work.” Not everyone, but quite a few people, get an extra boost out of that different setting. They like the feel of going to “this place” to work and “this other place” to relax, or do chores, or spend time with family and friends.
Need more freelance inspiration? Listen each week to the Your Brand. Your Story. podcast. for an extra entrepreneurial boost.
September 1, 2021
