Why Do I Work in Bars and Not in Coffee Shops
Working from home is a very enjoyable experience. I don’t need to wear real clothes, I alone control the thermostat, and my only physically present colleague is the geriatric spaniel. But the lack of human contact can make a person a little strange, so I try to get out and be around people at least once a day. Most people do this by going to the nearest café; I prefer the bar counter.
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Working in a bar may sound like an oxymoron, but I’ve found that I actually do a lot more in a liquor establishment than in a cozy library café or a trendy café steeped in Scandinavian minimalism. (Coffee shops with a Scandinavian minimalist tradition always have the most uncomfortable chairs.) I’ve worked in diving establishments, breweries and cocktail bars and have always found that I am more productive and creative in these places than I have ever been over coffee. – the place of business. This may seem like a veiled excuse to get drunk at work, but there are many reasons I enjoy working in bars that have nothing to do with the ethanol they serve.
I can’t drink that much coffee
I am a hamster-like person by nature. I fidget, hide food, and my big dark eyes are always darting around looking for potential attackers, even though I live in a very safe environment. So I don’t feel well with a ton of caffeine on board. It would be rude to hang out in a place and not buy anything, though, so a couple of hours in any particular cafe means at least two cups of coffee (and possibly baked goods that crumble my keyboard), which means I get a lot of jitters.
The drinks in the bar are much more suited to my lifestyle and I’m not talking about alcohol (yet). Bars usually have Diet Coke with just 35 milligrams of caffeine per can, but they also have soda that can be flavored with bitters to create a very pleasant low-alcohol drink, or – if your bartender is a game, a mocktail variation -two. Plus, when you’re done, you can reward yourself with a cocktail, which is a great way to tell your brain, “Your work day is over, friend.”
Bar snacks are better than overpriced baked goods
Not all bars have food – well, all bars in Oregon have food, but we’re so special – but those that usually have fries and why do you need a dry raspberry tortilla when you can eat fries? Even if you are immersed in water that only serves jerky or bags of chips, I would still bet these options are better (and cheaper) than the buckwheat croissants your local coffee shop sells.
The bartenders say enough
The whole point of getting out of the house is to have a little chat with people, and – if you’re sitting in a real bar, which is what I do – the bartenders give out exactly as much as needed. Not only are they usually quite charming conversationalists, but they usually have enough to do so they don’t have time for anything more than a quick “How are you?” or “I love the stickers on your laptop.” This type of corny, pleasant conversation mimics the interactions I imagine in offices and makes me feel alive in the world without distracting me from the work I’m trying to get done.
The atmosphere is better
Obviously, the atmosphere in bars and cafes is different, but I usually find the atmosphere in the bar more relaxed, lively and noisy. While a noisier workplace may not be desirable for everyone, it calms me down because I’m a clumsy person who tends to throw things away. The sound of me dropping my laptop charger just fades away in the rest of the noise in a busy bar, but in a quiet, serious coffee shop with many serious graphic designers and industry revolutionaries, it is quite noticeable. Conversations are also much more interesting to listen to due to the small amount of a substance known as “alcohol”.
Creative work is sometimes easier with a little drink.
I’m not saying I’m writing drunk, but if it’s after five and my next day is well structured, writing the first draft under the influence of a Campari or two can provide some pretty interesting content. If I’m stuck on a particular piece and the words just don’t flow, relaxing with a cocktail can calm me down and relax me just enough to release the first draft, which I can quickly polish in the morning. A promise to drink is also a great way to bribe yourself to do a tedious job like editing photos, or something that doesn’t belong to “official Lifehacker work,” like offering a book.
Of course, as with any establishment, make sure you are a polite and good customer. Buy something, don’t take up more space than the average non-working visitor, and take phone calls on the street. I applaud the confidence it takes to have a 20-minute FaceTime conversation in a public place, but that’s pretty rude. Also, charge your computer before you go, and / or bring a portable power source – unless the place is specifically billed as a joint venture, they don’t owe you an outlet and ask the bartender to plug you in next to their well. unacceptable, Jenny. (I’ve seen Jenny do this many times.)