Starbucks

The Christmas cups are back! 

Starbucks has been my saviour over the last few weeks (but not because of the coffee - I reluctantly gave that up earlier this year). Starbucks has been my saviour because it has become my office away from home. My partner works from home a lot, and whilst when I'm alone I work best from home I find it really hard to focus with him in the house.


Luckily we can't move for coffee shops here and so we've become regular visitors to Starbucks with long daily trips (both before and after teaching, if I finish early enough) and although my bank balance is suffering greatly (It seems it's not okay to sit in Starbucks for 8 hours solid, use their internet and not buy anything!) I find it so much easier to focus.  I'd even go as far as saying at Starbucks my partner is a help to my studies, and not a hindrance.

In Starbucks I am able to talk things through with him.  I say "I am able to talk things through with him" and not "we are able to discuss" because my talking far outweighs his responding but talking aloud to another person has really helped.  My partner can't give any insight into my inquiry as he has no knowledge of the dance industry (although I asked him to complete my questionnaire 'just for fun' and his answers weren't bad for someone with no dance knowledge) but by speaking out loud I am able to re-focus my thoughts and ideas and see additional facets I was yet to notice.

These thoughts and ideas have move forward into meaningful research and discussions with my professional circle.

So my advice to anyone who is struggling with their project is twofold:

1. Talk it out. With anyone.  Sometimes someone who has no idea is the best person.  They can't confuse you.
2. Go to Starbucks - or another coffee shop!  (I also love Maan Coffee in Beijing or Coffee #1 in Bristol (Although the latter has no internet. I once asked why via social media and got the following response "Hi I'm afraid we don't have wifi in our stores.  We wrote this to explain why")