Articles by: Hanna Brooks Olsen

[caption id="attachment_8330" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image: Library of Virginia[/caption] In a Medium piece about how to be polite, writer Paul Ford says that one of the best tricks for fighting awkward conversations at parties is to wait as long as possible to ask someone what they do for work. Then, when the conversation lulls, you have the perfect question — and, regardless of what they do, the perfect response.

[caption id="attachment_8123" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image: Trophygeek via Flickr[/caption] Employers bent on bringing out the best in their employees have tried everything from Beer Fridays to big design overhauls in an attempt to get their workers to be both more productive and more creative. But how you like your workspace — whether you're a tidy person or, well, a little more chaotic — can do more to reflect the kind of working conditions you need, and the kinds of work you may be best suited for, than any design-y furniture or splashy graphics on the walls.

[caption id="attachment_8224" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo: 55Laney69 via Flickr[/caption] Any freelancer who's ever posted up at a local cafe to get some work done can confirm what science has theorized, which is that the soothing hum of a bustling coffee shop can spur productivity and creative thinking. But should you swap your latte for an herbal tea or smoothie?

[caption id="attachment_8278" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Photo via Won Park on Flickr.

[caption id="attachment_8037" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image: Dave Fayram via Flickr[/caption] Conventional wisdom (and your boss, probably) would tell you that browsing on the internet during work hours is a big no-no. But when social media has become a full-time job, and many of us are marketing our own personal brands in addition to those of our employers, the line between work-related and non-work-related tends to get a little fuzzy.