How to Activate a Flow State
Have you ever found yourself doing something you love and feeling like time disappears because you are so present in the moment?
Ah, the elusive flow state.
What if you could tap into a flow state at will?
Here are the five steps I use to do just that.
1. Clarify intention
Flow states are easiest to drop into when what we’re doing is aligned with our core self. Start by identifying how what you’re working on is in integrity with your values. Will it allow you to be of service? To offer someone relief? To bring more beauty to the world? There’s no wrong answer, as long as it rings true for you.
2. Tap into what works
When I was writing my senior thesis in college, I would camp out at the local coffee shop from dinnertime until closing, sipping lattes and playing John Coltrane in my headphones.
Now I leverage those neural pathways to tap into the “let’s get to it” part of my brain. In the spirit of last week’s letter, I return to what’s worked for me in the past: a beverage of choice, instrumental music, and distractions cleared from view.
3. Prepare your space
Think about what spaces are most conducive to sustained focus, and take some time to replicate that as best you can. Do you thrive in chaos? Focus best when distractions are out of sight? Maybe you put your phone in a drawer, stash extras from your desk in a bag in the closet, or turn on your lava lamp.
4. Let it be a gift
I have a lot to get done today and not a whole lot of time in which to do it. Rather than grumble about “not having enough time,” I’m focusing on gratitude for the time I do have. Because I’ve already set my intention (step 1), cranking through my list doesn’t feel like an obligation, a “should,” it feels like a gift: I get to move forward projects that allow me to be of service.
5. Trust the magic
The final piece is to trust that this is possible. Believe that you can bend time, access flow, and accomplish exactly what is needed in this moment. Be open to it looking a little different from what you had in mind – often, that’s when the magic happens.
