Weekend Rituals
My Weekend Ritual: Local Coffee Shops and Non-Fiction Reads
A personal look at how weekends spent at local coffee shops, cappuccino in hand and a good non-fiction book in tow, help turn down the noise of a busy week.
Relaxation. Iced tea and a cookie on a small table at Aroma Coffee, in warm sunlight.
As life gets busier every day with work, chores, and networking, it takes a lot of energy. By the end of the week, I'm usually completely exhausted. Over the past few years, I've tried different ways to de-stress on weekends: meditation, movies, even drinks with friends. But my favourite thing to do is read a good non-fiction book at a local coffee shop.
I go local because I like supporting small businesses, and honestly, I think most local coffee shops make better coffee than big chains like Starbucks or Tim Hortons. If I need a quick to-go cup or a Frappuccino, I'll stop at a big chain. But for a proper sit-down coffee, I go to a local shop. It's not just the coffee that draws me in, either. Local shops usually have nicer seating and better views, which elevates the whole experience even more.
Personally, I also want to feel productive on the weekend, so my time doesn't feel wasted. That's part of why non-fiction works so well for me: it makes me feel like I'm learning something, whether it's about myself or the world around me. Non-fiction also tells the stories of people who've lived incredible lives, and following their journeys can feel even more unbelievable than fiction.
I got into the habit of reading thanks to my friend Victor. After he told me about all the wonderful things he learned from books and how he applied them to his daily life, he became a more productive person—and that's who I wanted to be too. Once I started reading, it inspired my family members to pick up books as well, which helped boost our whole family's productivity.
I understand that books and coffee shops can be a luxury for many people. When I was a student, time was hard to come by, books were expensive, and a nice coffee shop wasn't always easy to get to. One easy way to get your hands on a book is to borrow it from your local library or a friend. You can pair it with a morning cup of store-bought coffee on the balcony—that's good enough too, since you'll soon be drawn into the book and stop noticing your surroundings.
So if you don't have any plans next weekend, consider heading to a local shop in your neighbourhood, grabbing a cappuccino or an iced tea, and settling in with a good non-fiction book. You might learn something new while feeling relaxed. Who knows, maybe I'll see you at a coffee shop this weekend.