How to match your task to your space

We’ve all heard the advice. Stuck on something? Go somewhere else. Take your laptop to a café. Walk around the block. Set up shop in a library or park.

And yes, a change in location can help. But there’s a crucial bit missing from that guidance: if you’re not changing the work you’re doing too, it probably won’t get you very far.

A huge caveat to this article is how different people’s brains respond to different environments. This is simply what I’ve noticed for me; it will likely be very different for you.

Different spaces suit different tasks, so match them properly

The spaces we work in are more than backdrops. They actively shape our ability to think, focus and connect. But we often default to the wrong environment for the job we’re trying to do. Instead, think about what each place enables.

• Cafés are great for sketching ideas, writing early drafts or doing admin you’ve been putting off. The buzz can act as just the right level of distraction to break through a block.

• Parks give you room to step back and reflect. Useful if you’re chewing on a big decision, trying to come up with creative ideas or need a mental reset.

• Walks are brilliant for calls, especially if you’re trying to unblock something with a teammate. No agenda, no slides, just walking and talking.

• Libraries or coworking hubs are ideal when you need to plan or workshop something, assuming they’re set up to let you do more than just sit still and stay quiet.

The trick is not to try and do the exact same task in a totally different environment and expect it to work. Moving a developer to a café without their usual coding set-up isn’t creative. It’s counterproductive.

This isn’t about where’s ‘better’ or ‘worse’. It’s about fitness for purpose.

It’s not just productivity, it’s mental wellbeing too

Changing your surroundings isn’t just about ticking more off your to-do list. It’s about creating headspace. Movement and novelty can be a shortcut to energy and perspective.

• New environments wake the brain up. Our minds respond differently to unfamiliar stimuli. If you’re stuck, seeing something new might be what helps you see your work differently too.

• Small bits of movement have a big impact. Just walking between places breaks up long stretches of screen time and helps our minds process.

• Neutral, informal spaces encourage openness. It’s easier to speak freely when you’re not perched in a boardroom or on a Zoom grid. Third places help reset dynamics.

The point isn’t fun, it’s function

This isn’t about making things more ‘flexible’ or ‘fun’. It’s about making them work. Treat location like any other tool, by choosing the right one for the job. Doing so will create more opportunities for clear thinking, better conversations and actual progress.

So if you want to get more from your time and energy, make a habit of shifting both where you work and how you work. Give yourself, and your team, permission to move not just for novelty, but for need.

Try it out. See what changes. Then build from there.