As soon as I came to Chennai, the first thing I typed in google is “Coworking cafes in Chennai”, Mr.Google listed a few cafes. The topmost one is the one named “Backyard” which is located in Gandhi Nagar, Adayar. I had difficulties working from my hostel room, so I chose to work from this cafe. On the first day I came with a lot of hesitation and but later the end of the day I decided to pay for the entire month. So this article is more about my experience with how this cafe helped me in redefining myself.
They have two floors including the ground floor. The first floor was kinda more spacious and light-filled, so I have chosen the first one to sit and work. The colors they have added to their space make me feel as if I am adding more colors to my life every day. There is a quote “Colours affect emotions, emotions affect decisions”. Every day when I see these colors my emotions are kinda changed and I was able to make better decisions. Narrating a simple incident that could make you understand the importance of colors in our life. Most of the days I come here by auto. Sometimes I choose to use public transport. Likewise, it was a day when I chose the bus to come by. As soon as I entered the bus I was asking the conductor whether the bus goes to a place and he scolded me straight away saying, “Don’t you have eyes? Do you have sense ?”. I smiled and replied, “Ok, I will get down at the other stop”. I am not a person by nature who could control emotions. But that day I was able to channel my emotions so that my day wasn’t spoilt by a comment /scolding made by a random stranger. My guess is that the books I read helped me to do that, but subconsciously these colors also might have added potential value to this incident.
They have written this saying “Smile there is a coffee”. Yes, I smiled when I saw that. Undoubtedly I m a coffee addict. This place offers unlimited coffee/tea. I used to take at least 3-4 coffees a day. But every time I ask for a coffee a pang of guilt that pressurizes me that you are drinking coffee that could potentially spoil my gut health. That guilt feeling made me ask for coffee without sugar these days so that instead of drinking that bitter coffee I would stop one day and go for water instead.
Speaking of water, staying hydrated throughout the whole day is really important. When I was at home, I never used to drink water. I don’t even remember such a chemical formula existing H2O. But here they have kept H2O-filled bottles which made to drink more water and also keep track of how much water I have drunk a day. I was able to notice potential differences wrt my physical and mental health after staying hydrated all throughout the day.
Next comes the overall productivity and that proper border between personal life and professional life. I reach this cafe every day around 10 am and leave by 6 pm. Somehow this is in adherence with my login time. I will have a proper 30-40 minutes of lunchtime. Sometimes when I wrap up the work earlier I won’t leave the cafe instead I will sit there and started exploring what I like other than work. Fortunately, I was able to find a few serious hobbies which I could do. One of them is writing articles. I should be grateful for this wonderful space that let me find the other side of myself.
Is this just a place to make loads of productivity? If you ask me this, It’s definitely no . I have made a few friends here with whom I started hanging out even after work timings. Finding people with the same vibe is really difficult but this space has helped me to find a few. I attended one of the open mics conducted here. This kinda opened a new door for me and I was able to network with people. Eventually, I performed in one of the open mics conducted by one of the networks in another space, but this space only made me open up and look for opportunities out there.
I am doing my part-time MTech. I always needed a space where I can politely sit and revise the concepts, and read some reference books/textbooks to understand the concept. This place was actually perfect. I had attended a few quizzes and also I prepared for this semester exams here. I was able t complete it so quickly than I could do from my hostel room. If pass this semester, I would give some of the credits to backyard designers 😂. “Mapla ivar than aana Ivaru poturka dress endhu ila” moment - You could get it if you have watched Padaiyappa movie.
There is a Bodh Gaya kind of place in this cafe where it has two chairs and is surrounded by a mango tree. Most of the meaningful and intellectual conversations happened here only with my best friend. Whenever I get stuck while coding/writing content, I go out get a tea/coffee, and just have it, and see those chlorophyll-filled leaves get me some ideas. Apologies if it got personified as if we are next-generation Gautama Buddhas.
Last but not least, I have been coming to this cafe for the past 3 months or so, I have to mention this Akka who used to get us coffee/tea. This Akka’s smile reminds me of this thirukural
மோப்பக் குழையும் அனிச்சம் முகந்திரிந்து
நோக்கக் குநழ்யும் விருந்து.Flower aniccham withers when merely smelt.An unwelcome look is enough to wither a guest.
She always welcomes us with a smile. She wishes us “Good morning”, and “Bye” every day. Hospitality is everything. I have seen in one of the glass doors of the backyard stating that “Art is when a human tells another human what it is to be human”. Obviously, I learned a lot from this Akka about how a human has to be wrt hospitality.
I am so lucky to write about these two excellent designers of this space - Nithya and Akshaya. They have always been an inspiration since the day I met them. I should mention the small, small adorable thoughts they have put in while building the space - “Washroom marked as Thinking room”, “Smile, There is a coffee”, there is a corner where they have mentioned ‘Eat’, sometimes I forget to eat and this note reminds me. The downstairs has loads of arts and innovative things. Once I read a set of cards that told me why the last generation is better than us. They have a good collection of books which we can read.
To be honest this place is something that could allow you to think out of the box and break the stereotypes you have about yourself. I take this article as an opportunity to show my gratitude towards this space. If you are in Chennai, and If you have a smartphone just add this place to your go-to list. It’s definitely worth your time, cost and efforts. Though the cost is optimal, people around me told me, “Who in the world will spend this much to do work from home?”. I told them I would do it cause I care for my mental health. Ending this article here insisting all of you to give loads of care to your mental and physical health meanwhile you are doing your so-called “Work from home”. Happy reading.