As a senior in high school, I’ve collected countless studying methods: online planners, physical planners, the Pomodoro Technique, finding a third place and accountability buddies.
However, while writing my college supplemental essays, the blaring Christmas music at Starbucks and the public library’s limited operational hours left me distracted at home and facing constant writer’s block.
After a deep dive on the internet, I found FLOWN, a virtual coworking platform that allows users to focus alongside others online. FLOWN runs on browsers and offers three pricing options: free access, a monthly subscription of $25, a yearly subscription of $19 or a one-time lifetime purchase of $900.
Users can either drop-in to a 24/7 silent coworking room or schedule a guided coworking session, which lasts one to three hours.
When you first join a session, you can either have your camera on or off, though most users choose to keep them on. You can then set your intentions and create a small to-do list for the session on the sidebar.
After setting your goal, built-in features such as the Pomodoro timer (a popular time management method of working in 25-minute intervals and taking five-minute breaks) can facilitate your productivity. Everyone in the session works together silently, but you can see and react to others’ goals. I’ve found that sessions usually have at most 15 people working together.
Unlike in-person accountability buddies, FLOWN removed my temptation to socialize. I wasn’t distracted by conversations, since everybody is there to simply get their work done and leave. Even though I still experienced writer’s block, I was compelled by others’ productivity to stay seated until I finished my task.
Another benefit of FLOWN is its flexibility. I can log in at any time, instead of framing my day around the restrictive hours of a library (as Saratoga Library usually opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.).
At the same time, booking a scheduled session beforehand still means I have built-in accountability and a clear commitment. If you book a virtual community-led session, everyone in that session will follow the same routine of setting their intentions, followed by deep work time with breaks and then a reflection at the end.
People use FLOWN not only to study or write, but also to complete everyday tasks like organizing their desks or cleaning their rooms.
FLOWN’s combination of flexible timing and structured sessions gives me freedom to be productive whenever I choose, while still feeling a good amount of pressure from seeing others working.
With FLOWN, I’m less likely to wander off to my kitchen or scroll on my phone while working, and it’s ultimately been a lifesaver to make progress on tasks that sometimes feel impossible.
