Productivity is the art of managing flowstate. For most of us flow or the zone feels like an elusive, unmanageable, unreliable, flakey muse that comes and goes whenever it pleases. Or maybe sometimes we’re able to build processes around trying to get into flowstate, building habits, routines, schedules, setting up a space, avoiding distractions. So that’s why maybe productivity is usually principled around time management and to-do tasks. And then maybe it feels like there might be some control in getting into flowstate. But does flowstate have to be that rigid and blocked out.
I think there’s a more essential fundamental to flowstate that goes beyond schedules, time management and productivity apps that will actually allow you to maximize the use of productivity apps with more ease and fluidity.
To easily get into flowstate avoiding self-judgment which sometimes looks like expectations, demands, control, fear of failure, results-oriented mindset, overthinking, distractions, procrastination, indecisiveness. Which sometimes feels like fear, anxiety, stress, frustration, urgency, defensiveness, offensiveness. This is the primary first step in getting into flowstate, which also maximizes your energy level for the activity, which you’ll save by not being spent on managing stress and anxiety. But you’ll also find you’ll feel less distracted and be able to freely transition in and out of completely different activities and work tasks.
The second part of managing flowstate is managing your energy. If you avoid the above self-judgment you will find you have so much more energy available for the task your concentrating on and performing. But with that, understand, that is, be mindful of the energy you are expending for each given activity. Don’t grind yourself to the nub, where now you need more time to recover. Managing energy is finding and knowing a good place to stop.
Leaving 10-20% left in the tank will give you a quicker recovery period but also give you a place to pick up when you resume. This method would also mean avoid cramming deadlines. You’ll find by leaving that 10-20% left in the tank you will have a quick bookmark to comeback to when you resume where you left off, instead of having to restart the momentum of finding and generating a new thread.
By leaving 10-20% in the tank, you will not have that burnt out feeling, which will then allow you to move onto another task that you could theoretically utilize a different part of your thought process, intellect and creativity – a different part of your brain. From a workout analogy, before you burn out working out your legs, move onto your arms. Bodybuilders probably wouldn’t recommend this but from an energy output standpoint you’d get more energy output at a higher efficiency.
The point of diminishing returns is a real thing, we don’t have limitless energy at a constant rate. At some point the quality of our output will not be worth the effort and energy we are putting in. Although, I will say, at first, the point of diminishing returns is shorter but with this practice and approach the point of diminishing returns will extend further out as more of the ability and skills becomes more automaticity and new ability gets learned and acquired.
By leaving 10-20% in the tank and coming back to the task or activity, instead of trying to finish it all in one marathon sitting. You will be allowing your subconscious to process, problem-solve, make connections, produce more creativity and insight in the background, so that you’re actually smarter, more thoughtful, creative and open-minded when you come back to it then next time.