We have suspected for a while that working from home or from your local coffee shop boosts your productivity. Nothing to interrupt your focus, just your laptop and a specialty coffee in front of you, maybe also some pancakes. But did you know there has been actual research on that?
It's known as the "coffee shop effect" by Onno van der Groen, a neuropsychology researcher from Edith Cowan University.
What his research shows is that a coffee shop is filled with a productivity-boosting element, what scientists call "stochastic resonance." And this is nothing more than background noise.
Background Noise
More recent research from van der Groen, published in March 2019, even shows that background-noise-induced sensory signals help the brain break out of a mental rut to see things from new perspectives.
All of these elements are enhancements leading directly to improved productivity. The key is about finding the right level of noise that's not too loud, yet it's not so low that you don't notice it.
When it comes to that background music, by the way, science shows us that for it to boost productivity, not only does it have to be at the right level, it should be familiar music (so you're not trying to sort out what it is)--and it should be music without lyrics.
Motivator
There’s also the fact that in a coffee shop, we’re surrounded by people who’ve come to do the same thing as us, which acts as a motivator. A 2016 study backed up this idea when researchers asked participants sitting next to each other in front of a computer to do a task on the same screen. The study showed that “simply performing a task next to a person who exerts a lot of effort in a task will make you do the same”.
Change Of Scenery
Even if you work in the best office space with a garden view and free overflowing coffee, falling into a routine will still affect your productivity. Coffee shops are a welcome change of environment. Not only does it have the right amount of noise at 70 decibels, but coffee shops also stimulate your mind and bring new inspiration. Your brain is also constantly looking for something new. When you are in a new setting, your brain releases the happy hormone called dopamine, which is linked to an increase in motivation.
Powerful Intentions
For years, scientists have failed to connect intentions to physical reality, but an experiment shows that setting an intention will change your motivation. When your sole purpose in going to a coffee shop is to get a lot of work done, there’s a good chance you’ll reach that goal. It is your primary intention to go there in the first place that will motivate you to finish the tasks.
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