I’m writing this sitting in the middle of my university cafeteria, in the middle of the day.
The place is loud and chaotic. People are having lunch, talking, and moving around. Shoes scrape the floor. Chairs drag. Plates hit tables. Cutlery clinks. Phones ring. Laughter interrupts conversations.
The outer walls are made of glass, so I can see everything happening outside as well – people hanging out in the courtyard, the snow, the sky, and the construction of a new building.
With all this happening around me, I can still write.
I used to believe I needed a calm, quiet place to do any real work. I was always waiting for the perfect environment and the perfect time. When work didn’t happen, I blamed the noise, the place, or the situation.
Not anymore.
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with changing locations while studying and working. Sometimes I sit in the comfort of my room. Sometimes, among dusty books in the library. Sometimes on a train. Sometimes in a park. And sometimes, like today, in the cafeteria.
Now, I can work almost anywhere. In fact, most days I prefer noisy places. The movement of people and events around me feels oddly relaxing.
I’ve stopped looking for the perfect spot or the perfect time to be productive. I trained myself by putting my attention to work in different environments, and slowly, it stopped depending on the environment at all.
The only problem with working in a cafeteria is the smell of food. It’s making me hungry.
I think I’ll grab something to eat before I continue.