Third Places: And The Most Unique New Year Resolution

"Life without community has produced, for many, a lifestyle consisting mainly of a home-to-work-and-back-again shuttle." - Ray Oldenburg, Father of Third Places

With the New Year arriving, I naturally asked my friends about their resolutions. One, in particular, stood out to me.

"I want a Third Place in my life," quote my dear friend Tejas Shah.

Since I had never heard of "Third Places", this sparked an interesting conversation. Tejas explained that a Third Place is a space outside of work and home—a realm of engagement where people can relax, connect, and feel part of a community. It offers a social outlet, a distraction from life's stresses, and opportunities to meet new people.

Third places can be coffee shops, sports teams, volunteering opportunities, or anything that promotes you to join a community.

The concept of a Third Place was introduced by Ray Oldenburg, an urban sociologist who emphasized the importance of informal gathering spaces. Oldenburg was concerned about the isolating patterns of suburban life, where people often "silo" themselves between home and work. Much of his work focused on encouraging behaviors that foster community and connection through these shared spaces.

The benefits of having a Third Place are profound. Academically, those with Third Places are less likely to drop out, tend to achieve higher standardized test scores, and are more likely to pursue college. Socially, they develop better cooperation, self-control, social awareness, and decision-making skills. As humans are inherently social beings, these spaces can significantly enhance emotional and mental well-being.

This may all seem like a given, but it personally made me think about how I structure my days. I am beginning to prioritize incorporating moments that provide breaks from the day-to-day "rat race." I find these moments in my writing. I hope you find your moments.

Works Cited:

Aquizoncolquitt, & Name. (n.d.). Third places: What are they and why are they important to American culture?. English Language Institute. https://esl.uchicago.edu/2023/11/01/third-places-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-important-to-american-culture/

Beal, J., & Beal, J. (2024, September 24). What are third places and why do they matter?. Shanker Institute. https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/what-are-third-places-and-why-do-they-matter

McGowan, E. (2024, September 26). What is a third place? (and why you should have One). The Good Trade. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/third-place-community-spaces/

Ray Oldenburg. RSS. (n.d.). https://www.pps.org/article/roldenburg