4 things to access flow at will:
- remove blockers
- instantiate immediately without external interventions
- intentionally trigger flow
- clear goals
- immediate feedback
- challenge-skill balance
- flow cycles
- struggle ( sustain here & practice sustenance )
- release ( flick yourself into flow )
- flow state ( completely immersed )
- recovery ( replenish )
notes:
- Flow state is a state of consciousness that makes work feel effortless, and is behind the success of many high-performing individuals.
- The four pillars of flow state are: flow blockers, flow proneness, flow triggers, and the flow cycle.
Action Items:
Flow Blockers:
- Remove common sources of flow blockers, such as distractions from your phone.
- Practice “flow before phone”: complete 2-3 hours of productive work before checking your phone.
Flow Proneness:
- Increase your likelihood of accessing flow by optimizing your physiology, psychology, and environment.
- Begin your most important work within 90 seconds of waking up, while your brain is still in a flow-friendly state.
Flow Triggers:
- Utilize flow triggers such as clear goals, immediate feedback, and challenge-skill balance.
- Apply these triggers to activities that may not naturally have them, like work tasks.
- Engage in tasks that are about 4% more difficult than your current skill level.
Flow Cycle:
- Understand that flow states operate like dimmer switches, not light switches.
- Persist through the struggle phase by practicing task persistence and attention span stretching.
- Allow yourself to release and recover after achieving flow, to replenish energy and integrate new knowledge or skills.
references: