A Q&A interview with, er… me! I did an “ask me anything” on my Instagram stories all about Tomato Tuesday Coworking approximately 100 years ago. I didn’t want the helpful information to be lost to the Instagram story graveyard. So, I nabbed the questions and my responses and… *ta dahh!* we have a blog!
It’s like I always say, “ya gotsta repurpose ya content”. (I also always say “yes please, I’ll have another vegan brownie.)
Anyway, dive in to 10 (edited for clarity) questions all about coworking, the Pomodoro Technique, and all the reasons you’ll love it.
There’s also a link at the end for you to join me next Tuesday.
One: Why do you use the Pomodoro Technique?
It’s simple, it works, and it already existed.
The Pomodoro Technique was invented by Francesco Cirillo (who I sincerely hope is a millionaire) in the 1980s. The story goes he used a tomato- shaped kitchen timer to help him focus on his university assignments. In short bursts of time, he zeroed in on his work with no distractions. When the timer went off, he had a nice break and a stretch and a snack (probably).
It’s evolved over the years to be a huge productivity movement. Now, the exact system of timings and breaks have been refined to be as effective as possible.
Two: What do people who come to the sessions (AKA: ‘The Cherry Tomatoes’) say?
- “It’s a staple of my week. I look forward to it and keep my morning clear if I can help it. A total mood-lifter and great for grounding the chaos.”- Freelance Creative Andi Best
- “Thanks for the Tuesday joy. I can’t imagine working Tuesday mornings without Tomato Tuesday sessions.”- Brand & content strategist Emily O’Brien
- “Tomato Tuesdays are amazing, and you’re a wonderful host. Thank you for the weekly accountability and positivity.”- Copywriter Meghan Downs
- “I’m so glad I found you and Tomato Tuesday!”- SEO super-expert Nikki Pilkington
- “Thank you for the fabulous Tomato Tuesdays. You run them brilliantly and they are a highlight of my week!”- Copywriter Hannah Rose
- “I love coming along to your Tomato Tuesday sessions every week. You always make me feel welcome and they really brighten up my day.”- Content writer Eleanor Jones
Three: Who comes to Tomato Tuesday Coworking?
Absolutely everyone is welcome: small business owners, freelancers, and work- from- home-rs. There’s a real mixture of people and types of businesses.
Some people have been coming every week since the first session. Others come regularly and then disappear for a while, depending on their job, their workload, and general life shenanigans.
It’s a safe space for people to turn up however they are. I’m always in comfy clothes and my hair is usually up in a messy bun. The numbers of each session fluctuate but there are usually around 8 people. We could accommodate up to 12-15, but I’m keen to avoid break out rooms.
It’s much better when we’re all together.
Four: They’re FREE?! Why don’t you charge for Tomato Tuesday Coworking sessions?
Three main reasons.
- I can’t be bothered.
Maybe you can whip up a payment portal on your website in your coffee break. Me? It would be such a headache. More than a headache, a migraine. A migraine which lasts a week and makes my eyeballs feel fizzy. NO THANK YOU. - I get more out of it than money
Don’t get me wrong, I love money. It’s fabulous. BUT, I get a real kick out of helping people and bringing people together. I love being part of a community. Now it’s all set up, Tomato Tuesday sessions are low effort and high reward. I’ve made friends, witnessed people connecting with each other, and met people I’d never meet any other way. Not everything has to be a money- making endeavour. - It keeps me accountable
If I’m not careful I’ll become fully nocturnal. My brain loves to get creative and motivated when everyone else is asleep. In many ways, it’s wonderful and I love it. But, it does mean my working schedule can be all over the place. ‘So what!?’ I hear you cry. ‘You’re a freelancer, work when you want!’. While you are right and that is true, I do appreciate the accountability which Tomato Tuesday brings. Each Tuesday morning I’m at my desk, awake and productive, at 9:30am.
At the kind insistence of some of the regulars I set up a “Buy Me a Coffee” page, and I’ve got a few oat milk lattes waiting for me, which is lovely.
But Tomato Tuesday will always be free. It exists so people find community, get some work done, and share some joy.
Five: Why did you start Tomato Tuesday?
Way back in April 2022 (when I was a newbie freelancer) I was getting a little lonely. I wanted to meet other freelancers, work from home-rs, and small business owners. But, importantly, I didn’t want to leave the house.
I had also been experimenting with the Pomodoro Technique in my new freelance life. I used it a lot at university when a group of us would work on our essays in the library. It wasn’t working so well now though. I get easily distracted when I’m working solo.
Combining the Pomodoro Technique with other people working alongside each other is perfect for my productivity. I knew I wouldn’t be the only one who would love this Pomodoro/ coworking combo.
I searched for an existing group I could join. I couldn’t find one anywhere, so I made my own! I spontaneously ‘launched’ it on Twitter and a little group of us met each week.
Tomato Tuesday began and it’s been a weekly highlight ever since!
Six: What tasks do people do while they’re in a Tomato Tuesday Coworking session?
The short answer- ‘is anything you want’. There are no rules or expectations.
However, I’ve noticed the tasks people do tend to fall into one of three approaches.
- Approach A: ‘I find this task annoying or boring and I don’t want to do it’
Tasks which fit into this category include: your own business admin, writing to-do lists, scheduling content, doing data entry, dealing with emails, or tidying your work space. Having people keep you company and breaking up the dull tasks with chats really helps - Approach B: ‘I need to concentrate on this task, but I keep getting distracted’
Tasks which fit into this category include: blog writing, photo editing, client work, strategic planning, accounting tasks, and creating content. Having 25 minutes of quiet focus means you slip into quite deep concentration. - Approach C: ‘I have lots to do and having some structure means I’ll get it done’
This category is more about the number of tasks you have rather than the type of tasks. The Pomodoro structure and clear end time means there’s a “deadline”, which is often very motivating. There’s nothing more satisfying than racing through the to-do list, one tick at a time.
Seven: What happens in each session?
The vibes are relaxed, but the Pomodoro Technique gives us some structure. The sessions pretty much look like this:
🍅 We start at 9:30am on Google Meet. (It’s ok if you’re not there bang on time.)
🍅 There’s a chance to introduce yourself and say what you’re working on. (If you want to.)
🍅 You don’t have to put your camera on or even talk if you don’t want to. (That’s what the ‘Chat’ feature is for.)
🍅 I hit ‘start’ on the Pomodoro timer and say, “good luck, I believe in you, you’ve got this!”. (This has accidentally become my catchphrase.)
🍅 After 25-minutes of silent working, I’ll let you know when the Pomodoro timer has gone off. We all have a 5-minute break.
🍅 In the breaks we have little chats about what we’ve done so far and any “wins”. (You don’t have to stay for the chat; you can do whatever you want. Get a snack, scroll on Instagram, put the washing out…)
🍅 This 25-minute work/ 5-minute break pattern happens 3 more times.
🍅 The coworking session ends at 12pm! Then, everyone has a longer break, eats lunch, has a little nap, and follows their dreams.
Eight: Why are Tomato Tuesday Coworking sessions good for productivity?
There’s magic in saying, out loud, “I am going to work on XYZ”, and then immediately cracking on with it. Everyone just gets more done in the sessions.
Maybe it’s because we’re all in a call together, so no one else can call you. It could be because there’s momentum in the sessions, with a bunch of little deadlines throughout. Perhaps it’s because we’re pack animals and we feel comforted in groups. I dunno. But it works.
Even if your plans change mid- session, or there’s a tech hiccup, or the task is more complicated than expected, it still works. The chats help me refocus, pivot, or reevaluate before diving into the next pom.
Something I’ve recently started experimenting with is getting a weekly task done in the Tomato Tuesday session. Every week I use Tuesday to write or plan social media content. You could use the 2 and a half hours to update your accounts, write your newsletter, or list new product categories.
Nine: Why are Tomato Tuesday sessions good for networking?
It’s nothing like “traditional” networking. You aren’t expected to “sell” yourself or what you do. But:
- You (mostly) see the same people each week, so you get to know them
- You explain what you’re working on at the start, showcasing what you do
- You’ll naturally, casually talk about your client and how you’re helping them
- You share your work (like you might say “In Pom 2 I published my blog!” and then put a link in the chat..)
- You’ll share your website, LinkedIn profile, or Instagram profile to connect with others
I absolutely love how supportive the group is. For example, someone might share an issue they’re having. In the past we’ve discussed pricing, finding clients, software suggestions, client boundaries, and work prioritisation. Inevitably, others in the call will have had their own experiences with the issue, and they’ll offer suggestions or solutions.
Freelancing sometimes feels lonely, but never more so than when you’ve got a problem. A quick chat with people who have seen it before or who can offer support is a brilliant thing.
Ten: How can I join Tomato Tuesday Coworking?
Easy! Pop your name and email address into this form. You’ll get an email straight away with the Google Meet link for the weekly coworking session.
