I’d like to give an update on my experiences, too (my comments after my first few times in the chatroom are here).
I’ve found that, lately, it seems norms are slightly less enforced than when I first started using the chatroom. However, there are a couple of users who do a very good job, when they are around, and that may be why the other users are slacking (I include myself in this criticism). Also, I agree that we are beginning to consider each other friends, so we feel more comfortable relaxing around one another, and thus, perhaps, we do not have as much of an intrinsic push to tell everyone else to go back to work. However, I emphasize that this only seems to be a slight change to me.
I now can say definitively that I am more productive when working in the chatroom than alone, even when I am using the pomodoro technique alone. I find that I am even more effective when co-working with a single partner in person (preferably someone whom I am friends with, but don’t socialize with much, outside of work times). However, I don’t have the motivation to find a partner and plan meetings right now, so the chatroom is a great second alternative. And I enjoy the time I spend there, which is important to me.
A big problem for a lot of us is making it to the chatroom in the first place. I hypothesize (at the very least, for myself) that this is because it takes more energy to work in the chatroom than to work alone (even if the chatroom is more fun). Being in a social situation is a stressor...and that’s the idea, as it should lead us to to do more work...but the stress in and of itself and/or the more work that gets done leads to a greater expenditure of energy, and thus it takes a lot of motivation to go to such a place in the first place. The precommitment sheet is a good tool, but I don’t use it, and I think I would be best helped by making a routine to come at a certain time on certain days of the week, every week. Others might find the precommitment sheet quite effective enough.
I do like the chatroom a lot; I do think it increases my productivity, and I plan to continue using it. I’m actually connected right now, though no one else is there.
It also would be pretty cool if Eliezer were to join us from time to time. haha.
Thank you for posting this!
I’d like to give an update on my experiences, too (my comments after my first few times in the chatroom are here).
I’ve found that, lately, it seems norms are slightly less enforced than when I first started using the chatroom. However, there are a couple of users who do a very good job, when they are around, and that may be why the other users are slacking (I include myself in this criticism). Also, I agree that we are beginning to consider each other friends, so we feel more comfortable relaxing around one another, and thus, perhaps, we do not have as much of an intrinsic push to tell everyone else to go back to work. However, I emphasize that this only seems to be a slight change to me.
I now can say definitively that I am more productive when working in the chatroom than alone, even when I am using the pomodoro technique alone. I find that I am even more effective when co-working with a single partner in person (preferably someone whom I am friends with, but don’t socialize with much, outside of work times). However, I don’t have the motivation to find a partner and plan meetings right now, so the chatroom is a great second alternative. And I enjoy the time I spend there, which is important to me.
A big problem for a lot of us is making it to the chatroom in the first place. I hypothesize (at the very least, for myself) that this is because it takes more energy to work in the chatroom than to work alone (even if the chatroom is more fun). Being in a social situation is a stressor...and that’s the idea, as it should lead us to to do more work...but the stress in and of itself and/or the more work that gets done leads to a greater expenditure of energy, and thus it takes a lot of motivation to go to such a place in the first place. The precommitment sheet is a good tool, but I don’t use it, and I think I would be best helped by making a routine to come at a certain time on certain days of the week, every week. Others might find the precommitment sheet quite effective enough.
I do like the chatroom a lot; I do think it increases my productivity, and I plan to continue using it. I’m actually connected right now, though no one else is there.
It also would be pretty cool if Eliezer were to join us from time to time. haha.