The hidden magic of online coworking: Alice's story

We’re bringing you interviews with real-life FLOWN members who use our Flocks to get things done. Focus, ritual and accountability – these members now couldn’t imagine their working lives without it. Be inspired by their stories and discover the magic of deep work!

Alice Boyd is a composer and sound designer who creates soundtracks for film, theatre and podcasts as well as stand-alone music.

With a background in both music and environment, her passion is exploring the human relationship with nature. In a residency at the Eden Project, Alice translated electrical signals in the leaves of rainforest plants into musical notes, giving the plants their own ‘voice’. She’s also teamed up with theatre group Poltergeist to soundtrack their spooky City of London ghost walk.

As a freelancer who works with sound but lives in a shared space, Alice has unique working challenges. “It can get a bit cramped and hinder my creativity and productivity,” she says. “As much as I’d love to have a workspace away from home, it’s impossible to use co-working spaces — or to find an affordable studio in London!”

FLOWN came to the rescue at a perfect time for Alice, who was juggling looming deadlines. Through the magic of online coworking, FLOWN lent structure to her day, and allowed her to feel like she was connecting with others, while retaining the mental space of working alone.

Alice gives us the lowdown on her FLOWN experience…

Tell us about your work set-up

I mostly work from home, unless I’m in rehearsals or off on a project. Working from home can be challenging – my studio is currently the desk at the end of my bed!

But who says creativity always has to take place at a desk? If I need it, I’ll get out for a walk or take a break.

I mostly work solo, although all of my projects are collaborative in some sense. I love the days where I’m in rehearsals with other people, but I also enjoy how freelance life allows you to take control of your day.

How did you discover FLOWN?

I’d been feeling overwhelmed by the plates I was spinning across different projects, and the amount of unpaid time spent on admin and networking. A mentor had suggested FLOWN to help improve my working life: I knew that it would be interesting to try, but felt I didn’t have time.

It wasn’t until a week of rehearsals was cancelled due to Covid that I joined a call – and it was revolutionary. I joined as many Flocks as I could, and was doing as much work as I would’ve done in a whole day across two Deep Dives – just four hours.

I am so much more productive, but also, as a solo freelancer, less lonely. It’s nice to see so many other people also working from home!

Tell us what FLOWN does for you:

FLOWN has really helped provide a structure to my day. In the past, I might’ve procrastinated before finally starting a work session which would have lasted into the evening, leaving me exhausted and dreading the next time I needed to write. But with FLOWN, songwriting over a discrete two hour session feels manageable, and before long I have songs completed.

Even when I’m on the road for a bit, it’s great knowing that FLOWN is there so I can hit the ground running when I get back.

What’s your biggest FLOWN success story?

I used FLOWN sessions to write the songs I performed at the Eden Project this year.

At the time, I was juggling multiple projects, and the Eden Project performance was looming. FLOWN sessions came to the rescue and helped me get into flow state much quicker, while also reminding me to take breaks and put the pen down.

Learn more about online coworking

FLOWN’s ADHD hack:
as seen on Refinery29

And what’s next?

I am planning to release my new music in early 2023 and I am so excited to share it with the world. If you’re interested in hearing it, you can be the first to know about its release here: https://www.aliceboyd.info/alice-boyd-ep

FLOWN helps Alice focus because it provides a virtual workplace for online coworking, allowing her to transcend the physical limitations of her workspace. She also loves how FLOWN helps her keep on top of admin and other busywork.

How can we help you achieve focus? Join a Flock – Take-Off, Deep Dive or Power Hour – and see what it does for you!

More from Alice:

https://www.aliceboyd.info/

Eden Project sounds https://www.aliceboyd.info/alice-boyd-ep

Eden Project-inspired online game https://isleofarden.com/

Ghost Walk interactive audio https://www.poltergeisttheatre.com/ghost-walk-start-here

Root of the Matter podcast https://wellcomecollection.org/series/YsQLZxEAACAAWQ4J