If this year-old foray into freelancing has taught me nothing else, it confirms that every afternoon I need a recess break.

Mornings I find I'm usually pretty focused, but if I try to work straight through the afternoon, my productivity decreases considerably and I end up "fake-working" (as Beek calls it). That's not good for anyone, so best to take a break for 1/2 hour or so.

I prefer to call it a "coffee break," as it sounds slightly more sophisticated and vaguely continental. That's a little misleading, because although 80% of the time coffee is involved, the only real main requirement is that I leave the house. (Also misleading because - who am I kidding - most of the time I'm running around in circles, so it might as well be 'recess.')

My other self-imposed rule guideline is no shopping. Unless I'm running an errand that would have to happen anyway, like getting something from the grocery store, or buying toothpaste, etc.

Anyhow, with those random parameters, I give you

Mix-and-Match: 13 tried and true Coffee Break options

1. Coffee to go. If you take your own mug, its 99 cents at the bagel place.

2. Coffee on-site. Starbucks (unfortunately) has the best outdoor seating - on the sunny side of the street in the afternoon.

3. A walk in the park. If you go after 4, you can catch dog happy hour.

4. A trip to the dollar store in Japantown. A little bit dangerous. (This bends the no-shopping rule.)

5. A stroll around the block to get one of the many free daily papers; best read on the front steps if the sun is out.

6. Windowshopping, between Sutter and Jackson. Take camera in case there's anything interesting to put on the blog.

7. A walk west down Jackson or Washington Sts. to ogle homes and landscaping.

8. A trip to Goodwill, to see if its 2-for-1 used book day (see number 6).

9. Procure a good seat at the park for people-watching and catching up on phone calls.

10. Catch-up on non-work email and surfing on free-wifi @ Tullys or Cafe Murano (see number 2).

11. A walk down the hill to Union St. and then back. Good for people-watching at the bottom of the hill; you'll totally break a sweat walking back. Take Fillmore St. back up; the little steps in the sidewalk look lame, but surprisingly they really help the climb.

12. Swing by the Super 7 to see if there's a new art show up. This comix/design store usually displays a collection of prints, by local and occasionally more well-known artists. They seem to not mind if you come just for the exhibit.

13. "Research" at the hardware store. Wander in and see what you need and what it would cost to throw up some track-lighting. Or install a shelf in the bathroom. Not that it will happen any time soon, just for future reference.

*14.* This one is a bonus, as I actually haven't done it yet (but its so obvious I don't know why I haven't)... visit the nearby neighborhood library. Closed Mondays.