cmart's Hardcore Coworking
Join Us
- Every Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 AM until at least 5 PM.
- We meet at Portland State University library, third floor, this spot (one of the tables near the standing desk).
- Unless you are PSU-affiliated, you must sign in at the front desk. You’ll receive a day pass.
- Please abide by the building use policy. We are guests at PSU’s discretion.
- Also join the mailing list where we coordinate and send updates.
Protocol
Arrive at Hardcore Coworking with a pre-meditated idea of what you want to accomplish. Ideally, write a list of tasks before going. It’s okay for your task to be “determine next steps for XYZ project”. Just show up with something to do.
Tasks don’t have to be for a job. Studying, computer chores, or journaling is fine. The only forbidden tasks are leisure activities such as texting, non-work group chats, games, social media, or non-work-related videos. Consider setting your devices to Do Not Disturb or shutting off your phone – you have important work to do.
Each clock hour starts with a 10 minute break. Work time begins exactly 10 minutes past, and lasts until the start of the next hour. Thus, hardcore coworking consists of alternating 50 minute work and 10 minute break periods. Here is an un-postponable timer that chimes at the start of work and break times.
Work time is for working. During work time, limit your conversation to the minimum needed to accommodate others (e.g. seating or power cords). It’s okay to eat or drink iff you are simultaneously also working. Avoid activities that create the appearance of procrastination (marit ayin). If you must do these things, step away where the group cannot see you.
Break time is for relaxed talking with the group, moving your body, and (if you must) checking your phone. It’s welcome, but not required, to say what you just accomplished or what you’re doing next.
It’s okay to continue working past the start of break time (or resume working before work time begins), just do not expect a distraction-free environment. If you must extend your conversation outside of break time: (1) Don’t. (2) Step away where the group cannot see or hear you.
It’s okay to arrive or depart at any time. If you join or leave during work time, try to avoid disturbing others.
It’s possible that some/all of us will take a 1-hour break (skipping a work period) to have lunch somewhere nearby. If your appetite doesn’t align with the group’s, it’s fine to take your own separate lunch break.
After the last work period, we do not linger at the coworking location past the 10 minute break period. The point is to uphold the norm that “this place is for Hardcore Coworking”.
Commentary and FAQ
Hopefully all of this makes sense as applying psychology to defeat akrasia, learning from ~20 years of mistakes, but I expect us to further revise the protocol after trying it once or twice.
“Hourly 10-minute break is not hardcore”.
It is hardcore for coworking. Also, breaks with movement are good for your body, and make it easier to keep going for several hours. Also, you can muster more stamina for unpleasant tasks if you anticipate breaks (“just another <50 minutes”).
“Why cowork if no talk for most of it?”
The short answer is to enable body doubling of the sort that in-person workplaces sort-of-naturally provide, but even moreso to this end.
“Stop every hour would break focus. I want stop when task finished.”
Yes, but if you’re with other people who each have different tasks, there is a coordination problem. I hope this works for most tasks for most people, but perhaps not all for all. Also, you’re allowed to continue working through the breaks.
“Can I attend a remote work meeting while I’m there?”
If you’re just listening, then yes, sure. If you need to talk in the meeting for more than a minute or so, move to your own table.
“Can we have longer hangout or discussion period afterward?”
I am deliberately not organizing this in the same package as hardcore coworking. If folks want to make such plans of their own, please go ahead. I only request that you don’t stay in the same location as hardcore coworking, and don’t frame it as a continuation of the same thing.
“Can I host my own hardcore coworking in XYZ city?”
Sure! I suggest using a library or maybe a cafe where folks are not already accustomed to ‘just hanging out’. Maybe avoid homes for this reason. Avoid table-service restaurants where waitstaff cause interruptions. It’s better for the group to take up multiple tables than to overcrowd one table.