Coffee Coffee Coffee

Lauren Hannaford

I’ve written about the importance of taking brain breaks during work hours, so I thought a few recent articles about the health benefits of coffee and how to use it to your advantage were interesting, especially as it pertains to drinking coffee at the right time of day to give you that extra boost and not send you crashing into a sugar coma.

I’ve been a coffee drinker for a long time, so I appreciate all of the new research stating numerous health benefits! For example, coffee is now said to aid against Type 2 diabetes, cut your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and lower the risk of several types of cancer. I’m glad the tables have turned in favor of a good old cup of joe.

So, what should you do after your first mug of coffee wears off? Take a coffee nap. Again, research shows that resting briefly during the workday coupled with a caffeine boost can make you a better worker.

But, how do you ensure you are reaping the many rewards coffee has to offer? Here are a few tips:

• Drink organic coffee!
• Grind your own beans.
• Drink it black.
• Beware of bleached filters and use BPA-free mugs.

Drinking the right type of coffee at the right time could help give your sluggish afternoon the kick it needs. If your daily coffee routine has lost its effect, try mixing it up with some of the tips above. If you’re a daring coffee drinker, you may want to give the next big coffee craze a try – bulletproof coffee.

Need ideas? Here are my favorite coffee choices:

• Everyday (grocery store) drip coffee – Starbucks French Roast
• French press – Lavazza, coarse ground
• Keurig – Caribou breakfast blend
• Specialty (my favorite fancy brand) – Café Las Flores

The strong bond brewed between coffee and work

Tiffany Cunningham

No matter what coffee shop I drive or walk by, Starbucks, Sip | Stir Café, etc., there are always people working, studying and conducting meetings at the coffee shop. This recently intrigued me and I stared wondering what it is that draws people to coffee shops and how they’ve turned into the modern working space even when you have an office. Not all work environments allow for working outside the office, or “coffee shop days,” but those that do may increase the creativity in their employees. Here are a few reasons why it might be great to try working at a coffee shop one or two days every month. 

Courtesy of Flickr

Change of environment = stimulates creativity. After so long in an office environment it typically becomes routine. Routine isn’t a bad thing, but creative thinking, motivation and inspiration can dwindle without someone realizing it happening. Changing your environment, even for a day, brings new types of ideas and stimulation to increase motivation and productivity. 

Fewer distractions in a bustling area. It seems strange to think that more interaction creates less distraction, but the majority of the time a quite office can be more distracting. The coffee shop environment combines the benefit of obscurity with the dull buzz of excitement and interaction. You’re able to have human interaction when you want and not when someone request it from you in the office. 

Networking possibilities. Saying hello, people watching or meeting someone new most of the time provides new ideas, a different perspective for different situations, or an interesting connection to a new person. Never hurts to hold a five-minute conversation that may lead to a story idea, published article or potential client. 

Work and coffee will always have a strong bond and if you haven’t experienced it, give it a shot – never know what ideas will come next for your clients. And, out of curiosity through my  “working in a coffee shop” research, I found an interesting website: http://coffitivity.com/. It’s actually an app that produces coffee shop sounds to boost creativity while you’re in the office – great for those who can’t leave the work space, but want to experience the “creative buzz.” 

A few more tips: 

1. Rotate coffee shops if there are a few near each other to avoid a routine. 
2. Purchase a coffee or two. The owners and employees will notice and will acknowledge you appreciate their space for your business. 
3. Make sure your computer is powered up or you have your power cord –you’ll need it if your there for half a day or longer.