Our lives are changing in every way possible, from the fashion we wear to the foods we eat to how we choose to work.
The world around us is rapidly changing, and by that I don’t mean climate change. One big change – and I feel that maybe this doesn’t mean much to my generation – the level of freedom we have is an incredible privilege because it was that not long ago, that us women didn’t have the right to vote or even wear trousers.
Our lives are changing in every way possible, from the fashion we wear to the foods we eat to how we choose to work. We are not just making improvements to equality rights but also establishing new work/life balance concepts.
It’s the 21st century; not the 1950s, god bless the internet! It’s allowed for there to be several models in place with more and more people having the freedom to work from home once a week, helping combine work and family life; to totally flexible working hours and ‘virtual workspaces’. People no longer need to work in offices, better yet, people no longer have too.
If we are all totally honest, who doesn’t work on their train or tube journey turning ‘lost’ commuting time into valuable, productive office time? We are all guilty of frantically trying to send that WhatsApp message to our boss, just as the Northern Line whizzes back into the tunnel.
Working on public transport, catching up on social media, emails, proof-reading, staying on top of the latest industry news and even (#LifeofanEventPlanner) placing that last-minute call to order canapés for the product launch you’re organising now seems unavoidable. It’s now a standard part of life.
Working during our commute just wasn’t possible 20 years ago, and has changed massively in the last 5 years with more and more Wifi connection points becoming available.
Productive Freedoms
Working in cafes is another unusual spot to work from which is pretty common for young entrepreneurs. I have come across quite a few people recently working in completely different industries who prefer working in cafes rather than places like Workspace or WeWork.
Their reasons to do so are all the same; the spaces provided by Workspace or WeWork are too quiet, too sterile, too clinical, too bland, too boring – in cafes there’s a buzz. Even at quiet times, when nothing is happening and there are just a few people typing away on their laptops it’s a nice atmosphere.
You can look around and see people walking by, listen to other conversations, talk to a stranger, make friends with the barista. It will most likely teach you something new about them or the world. You will get in touch with topics you didn’t even know existed widening your horizon which can only have a positive effect on your work.
I think talking to people is so interesting because we all have such different lives. There are amazing stories out there of how people survive and manage everyday tasks and struggles; especially in London, where you hear stories from people who are working three jobs just so that they can peruse their dreams. To some of us that might seem crazy, but to me as an event professional I simply think: Impossibility is just a kiss away from reality!
These young entrepreneurs see the opportunities life throws at them, and they take advantage of the freedoms they have, to work from wherever they want – to them that is just one of those opportunities.
It doesn’t mean their companies don’t mean serious business; they are usually more hard working then someone who clocks in their 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday, as they take their work everywhere with them; however, they also give themselves the opportunity of a change of scenery every single day.
People are different, and so are their working methods and practices. More established companies should take note and learn from start-up entrepreneurs. Changing up your work environment sparks your creativity, and fundamentally, evolves your work ethic – keeping your employees happy and alert ultimately helps your company to keep evolving!
I am one of the lucky ones. I get to work for a company with high ‘Lifestyle Employer’ values, having written this post from various cafes around London and finishing it off in one of my favourites, Escape the Daily Grind.
On that note, I am going to order myself another soya latte and maybe a cheeky carrot cake – have a productive day wherever you are!
