Have you been in a state of utter focus, motivation and flow where time either evaporates or slows down?
Its hard to find that focus with so many demands on us at any given time and I bet every single one of you knows the focus that I am talking about, but at times find it hard to find that focus or reliably find that focus when and as it is required.
Let’s have a look at ways that you can find that focus as required, however, if you need a little more assistance then email me and we can work through it together.
Firstly, I will outline what I find works for me, but I am not you, so, I will also provide further ideas for you to work with or try.
- I like to be organised, so that means to do lists being ticked off and starting with a clean desk or a space that is organised, unless, it is a place that needs organising.
- Once the main priorities on the to-do list are done then I can free my mind of thinking about them.
- I evaluate, is it enjoyable? If it is, I quite often find that it is easier to find the flow of the activity. If it is not, I find what it is that I can find or do find enjoyable about the activity i.e. the feeling of when it is finished, the consistency and rhythm of the movement and use that to help me through.
- I don’t have my phone close by where I can answer it or get sidetracked looking at whatever just ‘binged’ in, I also turn these notifications off on my computer if it is a computer-based activity. If I am not taking your calls I am in a state of ‘flow’, don’t take it personally!!
- I find time away from things that I find distracting and this can be anything from cleaning to kids to other jobs that I have to do or can see.
- Done some exercise, I always find it so much easier to find the calm head space to remain focused if I have exercised, it does not have to be directly before the activity but at some point in the day before I encroach on the activity. I am not sure if it is the release of the endorphins or the calm after getting rid of excess energy but it works for me!
These seem like pretty simple things to assist with any activity and finding flow within it, but at times to have all of these things in place can be impossible, so not being too hard on myself to achieve that flow all the time is another thing that I consider.
What else can work?
- Being prepared, prepare for the task, prepare the environment, prepare mentally, prepare whatever it is that you can to ensure that you can go into the activity prepared i.e. you are not running around trying to find the parts, contact the people etc etc.
- If it is quiet space ask your boss if you can sit in a spare office or meeting room to ‘focus’ on a particular activity, if it is at home find that space where there is nothing within the space that needs your attention that can distract you.
- Turn your phone off, turn your notifications off, take the phone off the hook until you have finished what you have set out to do!
- Have a stretch or move before you start so that if you are required to maintain a set posture while doing the activity you can. Honestly, if you are in the ‘flow’ of the activity you will not feel the stiffness or pain until after!
- If you need to, tell those that are most likely to interrupt i.e. colleagues, family members, friends that you need ‘x’ amount of time to achieve something so can they please provide you with that time and space to do so.
- Consider the enjoyment, not necessarily of the activity if it is not an enjoyable activity, but the finishing of it, the meaning of it, how it assists you or others in the future, is it movement towards a set goal?
- Be flexible, sometimes you will not find that flow, sometimes there is no time to indulge in the flow of the activity. That is ok, don’t be hard on yourself, it will happen, it will come.
- Meditation, I personally struggle with meditation that is not guided (sad but true), but the amount of people that I know and work with that are very good at using it to calm and find those brain waves and thoughts and guidance through the stillness of meditation makes me believe that it is great regardless of how you do it.
- Look after yourself and your health, it is very difficult to find the flow of activity when you are not well or struggling with a health issue or pain. Address these things or aim to not to find flow in activity but as a personal commitment to yourself. Sometimes, however, participating in an activity that you find enjoyable shuts of the focus on the illness or pain, however, these come back into focus when participating in activities that are not considered enjoyable. A few things to think about at this point that is not necessarily immediately accessible but need to be aimed for.
- Calm stress levels down, this is very personalised and however you do this, aim to address the stress levels so that you can focus on the activity at hand. Stress when unmanaged will affect focus will affect motivation, will affect enjoyment of any kind.
- Eat, make sure you are not hungry before you start!
- Any nagging voices need to be put to rest for the duration of the time of the activity if there is true flow in the activity the nagging voices usually disappear. Another thing to do is to address those nagging voices with some assistance through coaching so they appear less often and don’t cause so many internal distractions.
There are a few ideas to work with. If you have any others email them through to me so that I can share them here and with others. Contact me!
If you would like some assistance to find your flow in activities regardless of whether you enjoy them or not also email me here!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Bronwyn
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