Have you ever been so focused on something - a task, perhaps a good book - that you completely lose sense of time, forget all other concerns and distractions and perhaps even forget that you're hungry or tired? Most of us have, and often we don't even think about it before we enter this state, colloquially called "the zone".
Now imagine that you could achieve a state of mind that involved maximum productivity, minimal distractions and would even leave you feeling happier?
This is what the "flow state" is, first described by its Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi as an "optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best". After studying a number of high-performing athletes, businessmen and artists, he found that the common denominator among these extremely successful individuals was spending a large amount of time spent in this effortlessly attentive state.
The best thing about Flow is that everyone can achieve it - it's an innate ability, perhaps with an evolutionary origin, to help our ancestors stay vigilant. Of course, sometimes you don't even need to think about it before you enter this state of mind, but there are a number of ways you can "trigger" it so that you can not only complete your work efficiently but enjoy it too.
1. Eliminate Distractions
A clear space is a clear mind. It is important that there is nothing in your work environment that could impede your flow. Turn off unimportant notifications on your phone, and declutter your desk.
2. Know precisely what you need to do
In order to achieve this level of concentration, you need to be able to move smoothly from one step to the next without much conscious thought. When we sit down at our desks to work we all know we have work to do, but sometimes there can be a time lag between moving from one step to the other.
Writing down a checklist to reference as you go along is a simple but extremely effective way of ensuring this. Rather than giving yourself the rather ambiguous goal of, for example, writing a blogpost, you could break it down into researching the topic, writing an introduction, completing the draft, proofreading, finding a suitable title, etc.
3. Charge your body's battery
Making sure your body even has the energy to work is so simple but often overlooked!
Do everything you need to do to ensure optimal physical energy. For many, that can include at least 8 hours of high-quality sleep, a balanced diet, caffeine and water and regular exercise.
The importance of mental energy and clarity is often underestimated. Journalling or practices such as yoga, mindfulness and meditation can help train your brain to stay focused, less stressed and less cluttered.
4. Do something rewarding
Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to enter a state of pure focus if you absolutely detest the work that you are doing. You need to find the work at least somewhat rewarding in order to enter a flow state. However, the well-known adage that "if you do a job you love you won't have to work a day in your life" is only half true. In order for something to be truly rewarding there needs to be a balance between enjoyment, difficulty and a sense of purpose.
There will always be work that you need to grit your teeth and force yourself through, but know that if you are working towards a clear goal that is important to you, then it is possible to focus on your work and truly feel fulfilled doing it.
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