Two friends sitting on a sofa, laughing at something and looking happy and relaxed.

Chloe Codling

Your first place is your home, your second place is your workplace, but what is that all-important third place?

Coined by sociologist Ray Odenburg, third places are non-compulsory places of community, relaxation, and recreation. Think Central Perk in Friends or the Rovers Return in Coronation Street.

Having a third place in your life is crucial to fostering a sense of community, belonging, and inner peace.

Image courtesy of William Warby on Flickr. Image license found here.

Do You Have A Third Place?

Common third places include cafes, community centres, outdoor parks, pubs, gyms, and libraries. However, third places are not about the type of establishment you go to. They’re about your intentions when going there. Even if you visit one of these spaces regularly, it doesn’t necessarily make them your third place.

To count as your third place, you have to go there with the primary aim of switching off from stressful aspects of your life. What defines a third place is having no strict obligation to be there. If you force yourself to go to a cafe in order to do work or to the gym for your minimum daily exercise, it doesn’t really count. You should go there willingly, voluntarily, and look forward to the downtime offered there.

Most third places have a social aspect to them. Perhaps you attend a weekly class at your local community centre or regularly meet up with friends for a game of pool at your local pub. These are prime examples of third places, as they enable you to enjoy time away from your commitments.

Why Having A Third Place Is Important

We live in an increasingly fast-paced, work-dominated world. Finding time to relax and switch off from work and family commitments can be difficult. But this means the value of having this downtime is greater than ever.

Third places are useful in differentiating between the various aspects of your life. When the characters of Friends walk into the Central Perk coffee shop, they enter a safe and relaxing place where they can talk about their day, laugh it off with friends, and enjoy a nice coffee. This is because Central Perk is a place with this purpose. You rarely see them working at the coffee shop (except Rachel in her short-lived waitressing days).

@dr.tpanova

We need to make more third places. There is so much demand for them. If you know of any in New York, leave them in the comments! #urbanism #urbanplanning #nyc #fyp

♬ Golden Hour: Piano Version – Andy Morris

 

Third places are also useful in combatting loneliness and social isolation. Research shows 49.63 percent of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK feel lonely occasionally, sometimes, often, or always. Social media, increased rates of working from home, and our increasingly digital world have likely contributed to these astonishing figures.

But third places provide opportunities to connect, socialise, and engage your mind in something fun or constructive. And not on Zoom or Microsoft Teams; if there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s that real-life human interaction is irreplaceable.

Is Capitalism Killing Third Places?

It is almost impossible to discuss third places without recognising that capitalism is hindering access to them. Gym memberships, pints at the pub, and overpriced coffees cause a significant dent to your bank account over time. For people with little disposable income, having third places that are free or reasonably priced is crucial.

The inherently fast-paced and ever-expanding nature of capitalism means that public spaces are constantly under threat. Many are taken over by the big corporate chains, looking to profit off any space that isn’t currently generating revenue. This is why preserving outdoor parks, libraries, and community centres is important in providing that safe space that doesn’t break the bank.

Often, the cost of socialising results in people remaining within their first and second spaces (home and work) most of the time. Unfortunately, this is becoming more common. But recognising the problem is the first step towards mitigating and solving it.

Hiding In Plain Sight

Perhaps you look forward to going to the gym because you go with a friend and it gives you a chance to catch up, while getting your workout in at the same time. This is a great way of finding the balance between productivity and downtime. Multitasking allows you to feel on top of your life, while sharing any worries or stresses you may be experiencing. The bottom line is that connection is the foundation upon which the other aspects of your life rest.

Libraries and what they can offer are often overlooked. But it’s definitely worth looking into what classes, get-togethers, or workshops your local library hosts. Most libraries are free to browse and explore anyway, so if you fancy going somewhere peaceful and quiet, add the library – or an art gallery – to your upcoming plans.

Whatever shape or form it comes in, remember to always save a space for your third place.

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Featured image courtesy of Surface on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.

Hey! I'm Chloe, a recent Durham graduate and aspiring culture and lifestyle journalist interested in all things pop culture, the internet, environmental awareness, and Film & TV. Connect with me over on Twitter @chloetypeswords

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