Virtual coworking for getting anything done
I've completed my first session. I get it!
I'm going to use this to finally tackle all the tasks that I've been putting off--like cleaning out the freezer, organizing the garage, the pantry, my closet, and the drawers in my desk. There's a never-ending list of things to do. I'm hoping this comes back as an unlimited lifetime deal! I'm sold!
This is incredible, the kind of accountability I needed. Just having someone there helps me focus on the task at hand. If this comes back, buy it. If not, join on their site. One of the best products I've gotten, thanks AppSumo!
I signed up and had my first session last week. I was surprised about how productive I was during that brief period. Time periods are 25, 50 or 75 minutes. Next time I'll make it 75 minutes. I found having a set time period encourages me to go, go, go on a task. I'm fairly self motivated, but we all have those yucky jobs we have to push ourselves to do, so for me, this tool is excellent to get those ones done. I think I'll end up paying the subscription fee...I have plenty of yucky jobs :)
Focusmate allows you to quickly and easily setup a one-on-one work session, to get things done.
It's easy to use, and effective. I spend a lot of time working by myself, and am always able to find sessions, even at very early, and late hours of the day, due to the global reach of the platform.
The interface is well thought out, as are the various options.
Very much recommended.
I fully enjoy this tool. I literally had this idea myself with others from a groups I was meeting with briefly. (Problem there was there was no way to know when anyone else was free and would be "working" or "meeting up" in the group area of the tool.) So this is great.
In fact, ny very first focusmate try stood me up. A timer came on and offered to hook me up with someone else if I didn't want to wait for my current focusmate. I took the offer and had a really productive time.
There is a minus--but not so much with the Tool. I like the "introduction" to the tool, but prefer to have a real AppSumo deal!
As other sumolings question here, I would prefer some type of UNLIMITED access., especially, since I enjoyed it and I found out that my focusmate only pays $5 month for unlimited access.
Suggestion for the tool: Allow a "break," a time that each person agrees to have the GONG or GONGs go off. I think breaking up longer times to share progress is more ideal. ALSO: If there was an ability to share similar work items and be matched that way!
Still, 5 tacos. It is a great tool.
I just had my first session with Focusmate, and it worked great! I was paired up with a random person who had over 1,500 sessions and had been using it for years as a paid member. We started by stating our goals to each other. Mine was to get through 29 emails. His was to write a cover letter with the help of ChatGPT. We had 25 minutes for the session. Then we started. I was able to focus on my emails and finish the task in 22 minutes, when I had been sitting on those emails all day long up to that point. Now I'm at Inbox zero! So, it works!
I asked him why he liked Focusmate so much, and he said that it helps people who have ADHD or other issues with focus remain singularly focused on the task they want to achieve. It also helps them be accountable when someone else is there with them. I don't have those issues, but do have an issue with getting started on things instead of watching videos online as a form of procrastination, so I figured I'd give it a shot since it's here on AppSumo for Plus members. In the end, I got my work done, and that's what matters.
Yes, it's a little gimmicky, and you could just set a timer and do the work alone, but the price is right, and it's effective, so who cares? I could see this becoming a regular part of my day, or using it whenever I need to buckle down and stop letting myself be distracted. And it was fun to meet someone new who is also focused on getting things done.
It's incredibly easy to use. You simply log in to the platform and book a coworking session of 25, 50, or 75 minutes. The sessions start every quarter of an hour. People are working all around the world at any time of day or night, on weekdays and weekends.
The impact on productivity is incredible.
You set your objective before the session.
Before the session, you briefly communicate your goals to your coworker, just one minute is enough.
During the session, you work on your objective with your camera on and sound muted.
After the session, you share your achieved results with your coworker, again just one minute is sufficient.
The result: my productivity has doubled.
After just two days of trying it out, I have fallen in love with this coworking tool, and I'm going to use it for the rest of my professional life!
Thank you, AppSumo, for introducing me to this fantastic tool.