Ryan Estrellado

Productivity blog Zenhabits addresses the issue of “flow,” or the state of mind that puts us in the zone as we engage in important work.  The concept is frequently discussed in a number of different contexts such as productivity, sports, and spirituality.  What might be less apparent is the discussion about how to achieve it.

The post presents nine different ways to achieve this “in the zone” feeling.  Tip #4 is one I’ve found particularly useful:

Find your quiet, peak time. This is actually two steps grouped into one. First, you’ll want to find a time that’s quiet, or you’ll never be able to focus. For me, that’s mornings, before the hustle of everyday life builds to a dull roar. That might be early morning, when you just wake, or early in the work day, when most people haven’t arrived yet or are still getting their coffee and settling down. Or you might try the lunch hour, when people are usually out of the office. Evenings work well too for many people. Or, if you’re lucky, you can do it at any time of the day if you can find a quiet spot to work in. Whatever time you choose, it should also be a peak energy time for you. Some people get tired after lunch — that’s not a good time to go for Flow. Find a time when you have lots of energy and can concentrate.

Everyone has responsibilities in their work that require a lot more mind power than others.  If we have the luxury of choosing how we spend our time, it is helpful to strategically schedule those brain-intensive tasks for the times of day when we are most inspired and have the most energy at our disposal.

What are other tips you’ve found useful for achieving this level of concentration and productivity?

9 Steps to Achieving Flow (and Happiness) in Your Work