JOIN ME FOR CO-WORKING
AND MAKE REAL PROGRESS
ON YOUR MOST MEANINGFUL WORK
Do you ever…
FEEL PULLED IN A THOUSAND DIRECTIONS
because your to-do list is outdated before lunch?
WISH YOU COULD CALL A TIMEOUT
to focus on your “important, but not urgent” goals?
GET STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED
when you haven’t had time to get organized, much less get started on a project?
HAVE A NAGGING SENSE
that your most important work deserves better (and that you deserve better)?
You may not have the fix, but you know the answer is not…
WAITING FOR THINGS TO SETTLE DOWN
Acting with intention is good. But that means pausing, reflecting, and then…acting. Not waiting, waiting, and then waiting some more.
BUZZING FROM TASK TO TASK AND HOPING FOR THE BEST
“I’ll worry about that later” and “I’ll get to it when I get to it” are good strategies for staying busy. However, they keep us in a cycle of avoidance and urgency that requires massive energy to keep up. When we finally get to the good stuff, if we ever do, we have very little energy and even fewer cares to give.
SACRIFICING SLEEP AND PERSONAL TIME
Let’s face it: We aren’t doing great work after hours. At best, we get things done, but we resent it. At worst, we don’t get things done at all, or we make mistakes we could have avoided. Either way, it’s a recipe for burnout and the experience becomes a slog. All that negativity throws us back into the cycle of avoidance and urgency, which is miserable.
“The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control—when the flood of emails has been contained; when your to-do lists have stopped getting longer; when you’re meeting all your obligations at work and in your home life; when nobody’s angry with you for missing a deadline or dropping the ball; and when the fully optimized person you’ve become can turn, at long last, to the things life is really supposed to be about. Let’s start by admitting defeat: none of this is ever going to happen. But you know what? That’s excellent news.” —Oliver Burkeman
Reality check! And good reason to try something different.
Instead, it would be awesome if you could…
SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF
Just by blocking time and showing up, you are taking action to break the cycle.
PRIORITIZE LIKE A CHAMP
Prioritizing requires two big muscles: discerning what should come first and saying no to the rest. You can strengthen both with regular, dedicated practice.
REALLY FOCUS
Turn off notifications, set a reasonable timer, and do just one thing. The research on single- vs. multi-tasking is clear.
TAKE ACTION
Even the tiniest actions make a difference when you keep them up over time.
BE PART OF A CREW
It helps to feel “in it together” with friends. It’s relaxing to work alongside others who aren’t asking anything of you. And it’s fun to see how different people do the whole focus thing.
This is exactly what you sign up for when you join me for co-working!
FAQ
How does it work?
Co-working sessions last one hour and take place on Zoom.
0 - 10 minutes: Welcome, set up workspaces and distraction guardrails, and transition to focus.
10-35 minutes: Focus session. This is a longer session to tackle a specific step, task, or goal.
35-40 minutes: Break, stretch, rest your brain.
40-55 minutes: Focus session #2. This is a short session to wrap things up and leave a trail of breadcrumbs for next time.
55-60 minutes: Transition back to the regular flow of your day.
This design is a modified Pomodoro: a time management technique that is based on the human brain’s ideal cadence for focus and rest.
Are there any rules?
There are three simple rules, which protect the focus of your co-workers:
Mute yourself when you are not talking.
No talking or chatting during focus sessions.
You are welcome to join or leave mid-way, but please do not disrupt others.
What are distraction guardrails?
Distraction guardrails are optional steps you can take to protect your own focus. Popular guardrails are:
Turn off your phone or put it in another room.
Turn off notifications for Outlook/Teams/Slack/iMessage/etc.
Turn on downtime or other tech guardrails that limit your ability to surf the web, open apps, etc.
Alert anyone sharing your physical space that you’re starting a focus session.
If expected, let VIPs know you’ll be offline for the hour.
You know yourself best, though it may take some experimenting.
How do I set up my workspace?
It’s nothing fancy, and it’s all optional. To set up your workspace, you might:
Gather the tools you will need (pen, paper, tech, art supplies, books, etc…).
Grab a glass of water or a snack.
Get comfortable.
Some people like to add a ritual element, like lighting a candle, using a special pen or notebook, or moving to a different room.
It’s all up to you, of course…how will you set the stage?
What could I really get done?
In one session, you could:
Outline the steps of a major project, and take action on the very first thing.
“Eat the frog”: check off that pain-in-the-neck task you’ve been avoiding all month.
Review and update your to-do list or goal tracker, so you’re organized and ready for the week ahead.
Tackle research or professional development work that will inform a major goal.
Outline your response on a thorny issue that deserves intention and care.
Use oblique strategies to broaden your perspective and tap into your creativity.
The possibilities are endless. The real magic here is the combo of consistency and focus over time.
Amazing. How do I get started?
Join the waitlist for an invitation to my next co-working series, or talk with your manager / HR about bringing me to your organization. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please email me. Thank you!