There’s a Spotify playlist called Living in a 90s Romcom and it’s spectacular to listen to all day, every day as it’s about 18 hours long - highly recommend if you need a new 90s film playlist!
You won’t believe this, but I am sat in ‘my office’ aka my favourite coffee shop writing a substack called ‘a love letter to my favourite coffee shop’ with my earphones in, but playing no music. It has a little snug with a sofa in and is my absolutely favourite place to write. I get so lonely at home, so start almost every day with a couple of hours here to write with a coffee. Wishing you a lovely weekend
Funny. This made me giggle more than once. I’m also guilty of popping in earphones and then not playing music but just listening in to other people’s conversations! I also really love loop ear plugs when I want to dim out background chatter! X
I find them helpful - I’ve got the sleep ones and they’re def not 100% noise cancelling but really handy to keep in your bag, especially when travelling, I use them mostly when I want to read on trains/planes!
So funny, sat in a coffee shop writing my substack with my headphones in and no music right now. Catching little snippets of conversations, this piece really makes me feel like I have found my people!
They're hard to find, those coffee shops with lovely staff and great (available) seating and manageable levels of noise that aren't miles from home. They feel different to co-working spaces. And yes okay, they do make me feel a tiny bit Carrie Bradshaw tapping away in Starbucks while Aiden renovates my apartment and that's weirdly thrilling and I'm ok with it! Hold onto your fabulous coffee shop (and make them open one near me?)... it sounds like they enjoy you being there as much as you do! x
Do you know, I’ve actually never ever tried a coworking space - they’ve always been out of my price range. If you could choose, would you pick coffee shop or co-working? And I KNOW, so lucky to have found this gem as I spent most of last year lugging a laptop round a few days a week, trying to find somewhere to work but never being able to find any empty seat anywhere.
I have used McDonalds as my office before. They don't care how long you stay and they have Internet! I now have a great big office in my home, and I shut the door and create my own little world all day long. Being a writer is the best!
That's not a bad idea! And there's an affordable lunch on hand too! 😅
I can't wait for the day when I finally have an spare room to call my own, with a desk in front of the window (the window/desk pairing is a non-negotiable in my future dream office).
Welcome to the wonderful invention that are airpods (or any competitition-made devices). The scene from 500 Days of Summer is great, but wait until you get on audiobooks and you're nonchalantly waiting at the traffic light while fantasy-erotica plays in your ears. Nothing to see here, just a functioning member of society.
I’m defo ready to progress to audiobooks I think - never tried to listen to a book before but my headphones purchase has taught me to live dangerously 😆
I know, very lucky indeed to have found one that doesn’t time-limit laptops. Some are so strict with their one-hour (or laptop ban) policy and I do get it but it makes life hard when you need to work somewhere other than home for your own sanity!
I didn’t, I got the normal ones as I have a pair of over-ear headphones that I only wear for flights and when the noise cancelling function is turned on, it makes me feel really dizzy and motion sick. I have been wondering if I made a mistake though as I have to turn my music up so loud to drown out the conversations around me - you can still hear them otherwise.
Definitely worth a try to protect your ears from the noise level and with the AirPods Pro you can switch modes and turn noise cancelling off so you have options.
Love it when one finds a great local coffee shop! I’ve got my go to. It’s great when the staff are warm and welcoming (plus...always a bonus when they become friends too). I’ve been holding off on AirPods but this might be my reason to get them...
It’s the best feeling! Like a real-life sitcom. I can definitely recommend AirPods and as the person above suggested, maybe the noise cancelling ones are even better?
I love coffee shop writing. I also like my local library, no snacks, but nice big tables and I’ve made friends with the librarians. And I get to snark on the teens who hang out there... last week, they had the bad idea bear to make a list of all the cute boys in their French class and write why they were cute and made 30 attempts to take a selfie where they all agreed they looked cute.
The library next door to my flat used to be my work spot of choice but there are no plug sockets and because it’s next door to a university, it’s so hard to find a seat. Shame as I did love working surrounded by the books and interesting local characters!
Perhaps there's a coffee shop in London where you pay-as-you-stay per minute ? Or dedicated open-laptop coffee shop ? (Even though vibe is more work-oriented there.)
There’s a Spotify playlist called Living in a 90s Romcom and it’s spectacular to listen to all day, every day as it’s about 18 hours long - highly recommend if you need a new 90s film playlist!
Well I know what I’ll be listening to for the next month! That sounds like my dream playlist!!
Checking this out right now Nancy, as I am sat in ‘my office’ aka my favourite coffee shop with my air pods in!
Oh excellent! I hope it’s as much of a success for you as it is for me. I immediately start acting a little bit more Meg Ryan whenever it’s on...
Loving it already and this would be a very welcome side effect!
i second that, i listen to that playlist all the time!
I read this today, thanks for the recommendation. Great playlist
You won’t believe this, but I am sat in ‘my office’ aka my favourite coffee shop writing a substack called ‘a love letter to my favourite coffee shop’ with my earphones in, but playing no music. It has a little snug with a sofa in and is my absolutely favourite place to write. I get so lonely at home, so start almost every day with a couple of hours here to write with a coffee. Wishing you a lovely weekend
Great minds! I’d love to read yours when you’re finished!
Funny. This made me giggle more than once. I’m also guilty of popping in earphones and then not playing music but just listening in to other people’s conversations! I also really love loop ear plugs when I want to dim out background chatter! X
I’ve been meaning to buy some of those for months! Do they actually work? I didn’t know anyone to ask before now!
I find them helpful - I’ve got the sleep ones and they’re def not 100% noise cancelling but really handy to keep in your bag, especially when travelling, I use them mostly when I want to read on trains/planes!
So funny, sat in a coffee shop writing my substack with my headphones in and no music right now. Catching little snippets of conversations, this piece really makes me feel like I have found my people!
I AM YOUR PEOPLE! As are the other excellent people here 😁
They're hard to find, those coffee shops with lovely staff and great (available) seating and manageable levels of noise that aren't miles from home. They feel different to co-working spaces. And yes okay, they do make me feel a tiny bit Carrie Bradshaw tapping away in Starbucks while Aiden renovates my apartment and that's weirdly thrilling and I'm ok with it! Hold onto your fabulous coffee shop (and make them open one near me?)... it sounds like they enjoy you being there as much as you do! x
Do you know, I’ve actually never ever tried a coworking space - they’ve always been out of my price range. If you could choose, would you pick coffee shop or co-working? And I KNOW, so lucky to have found this gem as I spent most of last year lugging a laptop round a few days a week, trying to find somewhere to work but never being able to find any empty seat anywhere.
This is lovely -- and an excellent ode to why “going to get a silly little coffee” is so much more than what it sounds.
I have used McDonalds as my office before. They don't care how long you stay and they have Internet! I now have a great big office in my home, and I shut the door and create my own little world all day long. Being a writer is the best!
That's not a bad idea! And there's an affordable lunch on hand too! 😅
I can't wait for the day when I finally have an spare room to call my own, with a desk in front of the window (the window/desk pairing is a non-negotiable in my future dream office).
Hope you get one soon
Welcome to the wonderful invention that are airpods (or any competitition-made devices). The scene from 500 Days of Summer is great, but wait until you get on audiobooks and you're nonchalantly waiting at the traffic light while fantasy-erotica plays in your ears. Nothing to see here, just a functioning member of society.
I’m defo ready to progress to audiobooks I think - never tried to listen to a book before but my headphones purchase has taught me to live dangerously 😆
I’m having visions of you working in a cafe like it’s Starbucks in Seattle in the 90s. Obvs in a really great sweater. ☕️
That’s defo how I feel when I’m in there 😁
You're so lucky to have such a great coffee shop to work in. One near me now has a sign saying "no laptops"!
I know, very lucky indeed to have found one that doesn’t time-limit laptops. Some are so strict with their one-hour (or laptop ban) policy and I do get it but it makes life hard when you need to work somewhere other than home for your own sanity!
AirPods are great but are these the ones with noise cancelling? Changed my life and made me such a zen person.
I didn’t, I got the normal ones as I have a pair of over-ear headphones that I only wear for flights and when the noise cancelling function is turned on, it makes me feel really dizzy and motion sick. I have been wondering if I made a mistake though as I have to turn my music up so loud to drown out the conversations around me - you can still hear them otherwise.
Definitely worth a try to protect your ears from the noise level and with the AirPods Pro you can switch modes and turn noise cancelling off so you have options.
Love it when one finds a great local coffee shop! I’ve got my go to. It’s great when the staff are warm and welcoming (plus...always a bonus when they become friends too). I’ve been holding off on AirPods but this might be my reason to get them...
It’s the best feeling! Like a real-life sitcom. I can definitely recommend AirPods and as the person above suggested, maybe the noise cancelling ones are even better?
I love coffee shop writing. I also like my local library, no snacks, but nice big tables and I’ve made friends with the librarians. And I get to snark on the teens who hang out there... last week, they had the bad idea bear to make a list of all the cute boys in their French class and write why they were cute and made 30 attempts to take a selfie where they all agreed they looked cute.
I LOVE this 😂
The library next door to my flat used to be my work spot of choice but there are no plug sockets and because it’s next door to a university, it’s so hard to find a seat. Shame as I did love working surrounded by the books and interesting local characters!
Perhaps there's a coffee shop in London where you pay-as-you-stay per minute ? Or dedicated open-laptop coffee shop ? (Even though vibe is more work-oriented there.)
I know there are some in Paris.