This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Welcome to Hoffice in Toronto! We are celebrating Spring!!
Opening at 8:30am with your arrival, if you are new to Hoffice, please arrive between 8:30am and 8:40am. Settle in to a work space, we will then sit for a 3 minute breathing space meditation. The first check-in will be at 8:45 where we set the goals of the day and for the first 45 minutes. We assume first round 9:00-9:45 could involve some incoming traffic and whispers will help. Generally aim comings and goings for 0:45-0:00 of each hour. Envision what 5 or 6 chunks of work you might do in each 45 minute span and how you’d like to spend the breaks. Bring what you need, come as you are. Shoe-free space. I have a cat, he is usually outside and very friendly.
Please bring your favourite coffee or tea, lunch and snacks. Or, let me know if you would like to have a “potluck lunch” this time, where we each bring something healthy to share : You are welcome to use the kitchen for preparation. I have power bars and extension cords, a toaster oven, fridge space for your foods, tea. Bring whatever else you’ll need to work in silence for 45 minutes at a time ie. headphones, laptops, phone charger, etc.
This Hoffice is good for 10 people. In my apartment, there are 4 spots at the kitchen table, 1 desk spot, where I sit, 2 spots on the living room sofa, 1 bedroom with 2 spots on the sofa. A massage table for sitting on, with your back supported by the wall. A basement area for phone calls or small meetings to keep the upstairs quiet.
Please only sign up if you are really coming and let us know if you change your mind so that everyone who wants to come can come
Feel welcome to join in anytime, and if you come in the middle of a working time slot, just join in silently and you will be welcomed in the upcoming break.
There is wifi internet available. Host’s note: please do not download movies, music or any large digital pieces. The wifi is offered as a courtesy, and as a family, we do not wish to exceed the bandwidth set by our server.
“Everyone in the group works in 45-minute shifts, based on research suggesting people can’t concentrate for more than 40 minutes at a time. When the shift ends, an alarm clock buzzes, and the group takes a short break to exercise or meditate. Before starting again, everyone explains what they hope to get done, to add a little social pressure to actually accomplish something.” http://www.fastcoexist.com/3041322/hoffice-turns-your-apartment-into-a-free-and-incredibly-productive-coworking-space?utmsourcefacebook
For offshoot events, some considerations that came up after Tanya Pillay’s first North American Hoffice on Thursday February 5:
-consider including a longer break in the middle of the schedule for a proper meal break. then breaks after each round could be more about stretching and self care than socializing and rushed eating
-we were sad to have not taken any pictures
-we ended with an impromptu clothing swap!
-we were so very moved by the impact of this concept that we wished to be part of a bigger movement with an app or website or fb group to share the joy and momentum and learnings
-some of us appreciated that there wasn’t a lot of emphasis on hosting/food/entertainment angle. we enjoyed sharing simple snacks and keeping tea mugs full.
-6 rounds felt great for most but not more.
-many wished to start sooner
-my bajillion power bars and extension cords came in handy!
-we displaced the full welcoming and setting up of newcomers until the next break
-it was handy to have someone dedicated to watching the time
-3 people is a nice minimum number to help avoid the temptation to fall into social chatter
-completing the intended tasks wasn’t as important as achieving something useful
-most of us agreed we achieved more in this one short work day than we’d accomplished in an entire week!
Tanya Pillay says: “I’m sure there’s more but this is fresh off the brain for y’all to run with it ’til then anyone can do this anywhere with whomever is around. I highly deeply strongly recommend!”
My deepest gratitude to Tanya Pillay for hosting her the first Hoffice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Thursday February 5, 2015. It was the first in North America! Her ideas and wording here along with Kerry Helston and others who participated. To Andreas Wolf for helping us out as well as Co-Founder of Hoffice.nu, Christofer Gradin Franzen.
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