Settling Down at a Coffee Shop: Working or 'Showing Off'?

Many young people choose coffee shops as a place to study and work. But there are also many people who just borrow the space to create an image of hard work.

Many people choose coffee shops to work but spend most of their time on their phones and checking in for virtual life.

Order a drink, sit all day

Mr. NVK (27 years old, living in Tan Binh ward, Hai Duong city) often chooses coffee shops with cool air conditioning, strong wifi and nice seating areas to "work". However, Mr. K's laptop, although always plugged in to charge, mostly displays YouTube, with no signs of typing or online meetings. Occasionally, he just holds his phone and swipes the screen, or takes selfies with an attentive look.

Not only Mr. K., similar images appear in many coffee shops. Ms. HTD, owner of a coffee shop on Hong Quang Street, said: "With small shops with limited space, one person occupying a table for too long makes many other groups of customers have no place to sit. Many times there were groups of 3-4 people coming to the shop but I had to apologize because there were no tables left."

Having worked as a waiter at many coffee shops, TPT also confirmed that this situation is not uncommon: “There are customers who sit for 4-5 hours, order a drink and then set up equipment like a studio. When reminded, they say that since they have paid, they have the right to sit as long as they want.”

In fact, it is not difficult to see people carrying all kinds of accessories: laptops, notebooks, headphones, phone holders... creating the feeling of entering a serious working day. But in reality, sometimes all of this is just to frame a photo to look "professional".

However, not everyone who sits in a coffee shop for a long time is there to... live a virtual life.

Politeness is not measured by sitting time.

Hanh An's group of friends study at a coffee shop. The quiet space, cool air conditioning and affordable drinks make this place an ideal 'study room'.

One weekend morning, a group of students were studying hard for an exam at a quiet little cafe. This was Pham Hanh An’s group at Vo Thi Sau Secondary School. They brought along documents and computers, occasionally chatting, then burying themselves in their books.

“It’s easy to lose focus at home, but here, there’s air conditioning and it’s quiet. Moreover, sitting here without studying is a waste. If we sit for a long time, we order more water or cake to feel less awkward,” Hanh An shared.

There are also people who choose coffee shops as a mobile workplace but always keep their behavior discreet. Mr. Nguyen The Thanh - a freelance photographer - often edits photos, sends files to customers or makes contracts right at the shop.

Mr. Thanh often takes the opportunity to process photos right at the coffee shop after taking photos at the scene.

“I choose a shop near my work location so that I can take photos right away for convenience. It takes a long time to sit, but if there are many customers, I am willing to give up my seat,” Thanh shared.

In Hai Duong City, many coffee shops have proactively designed separate spaces for customers to study and work. Z Cafe on Luong The Vinh Street is one of them. Mr. Le Minh Duc, the shop owner, said: “Customers sit for a long time but do not cause trouble or disorder because they are really working. My shop has separate areas so that groups of students or creative people are not affected by noise. The tables are spacious, there are power outlets, strong wifi, customers just need to be polite.”

Anh Duc designed the space of the shop for working and studying customers with large tables, full power outlets and quiet space.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a coffee shop to work or study. But the difference lies in how each person uses that space, whether to focus or create a colorful version of “busy”?

The line between laptops that actually work and those that are just opened up to... take pictures is becoming thinner than ever. What matters is no longer how long you spend in a coffee shop, but how each person behaves in the shared space, and with their own honesty.

Civilization is not measured by the number of hours spent in a chair, but by respect for others and for the value of honest work.

SUCCESS

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/cam-re-o-quan-ca-phe-lam-viec-hay-lam-mau-413264.html