Where Are You Most Productive?

Posted on 11 April 2008 by


As I sit here typing this on my MacBook Pro at Starbucks, I feel at the peak of my productiveness. Why do you ask? Well I’m easily distracted, and am a shocking procrastinator. I can put off stuff for as long as possible, then race to get it done at the last possible minute.

At home, the TV is a big distraction. Lost, NCIS, Star Trek, Top Gear, Two and a Half Men, and a host of other shows are all sitting there on my Media Center PC, just waiting for me to press the green button on the remote to start up a distraction.

On the train to university, things improve dramatically. No TV and nobody I know to distract me from getting work done. But the times I’m on the train, I’m usually tired from work (on the way in) or tired from uni (on the way home), so that often mellows to an iPod listening session.

It’s only when I’m at the coffee shop that I feel like I can really get some work done. The atmosphere is perfect, a nice ambience of soft chatter, soothing music, plenty of natural light, and the sweet nectar of a skin Venti Cafe Latte just a sip away. Armed with my Novatel HSDPA Data Card and the Battery Geek external battery, I can work for hours. Perfect.

Does anyone else have a place where they feel they can get more work done than you can at your desk?

This post was written by:

- who has written 208 posts on Gear Diary.

Mitchell Oke is a 22 year old Bachelor of Creative Technology (Digital Video Production) from Sydney, Australia. He's previously worked for News Ltd as a Multimedia Producer, and currently works as a freelance editor and videographer. He has a great love for gadgets and cars, always wanting to have the latest and greatest phones, notebooks and other electronic toys. He is a huge fan of Star Trek, Top Gear and Seinfeld, citing them as his favourite TV shows. In December 2006 he became a Mac convert, having used Windows since he was 5.

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  • http://justanotheriphoneblog.com patrickj

    Good post Mitchell. I share the shocking procrastinator trait. I need to try out the local coffee shop more often – I usually go there and don’t even think of trying to be productive – need to take the laptop over there soon …

  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    Well it is 1:35am here, as I wrap up tonight’s review, and I have to say that Starbucks sounds pretty good about now. ;-)

    I have found that for normal blogging I can be very productive sitting outside on the patio, walking on the treadmill, really wherever. But for reviews – I must be at my desk. I am not sure why, maybe it is because that’s where my measuring equipment is and where I can spread out, but I just feel more productive there. :-)

  • Wayne Schulz

    I’m most productive first thing in the morning before my kids get up and before I have to start my day job.

    STarbucks is also a good spot for me. I need to find a slightly bigger spot though as the one by me only has a few tables and one large row of window based seats.

    I subscribe to the T-Mobile service and connect via WIFI in Starbucks which gives about 1.2 mb.

    One of my favorite places to go mobile is in NYC. I can setup my laptop while visiting clients and get work done.

    PS – I’m also amazingly productive with my iPhone — I read a lot of news on that even before I get out of bed.

  • http://www.papergraffiti.com Jessica

    I get a lot of work done later in the day as opposed to the morning, but that is a habit that I am trying to change. I am pretty amazingly productive from almost anywhere with my eeePC. It’s so small and portable that I am ready to be a blogging or writing fool from just about anywhere!

    I share the procrastination trait, too, Mitchell…I guess I just work well when I’m under pressure! :-)

  • Raymond

    Is that still your 2.16GHz Mitchell? Personally… Don’t get me wrong… Starbucks, by my standards, is “ok,” but I’m more of a Coffee Bean guy. But, actually… when I think about it, I’m most productive either sitting up on my bed or on my couch.