What are the benchmarks of flow?
Let’s back up a bit now that we’re clear on how we can protect our ability to get into flow state to clarify the benchmarks of flow itself.
Today’s work: Identify what — just by meeting these seven benchmarks — makes for an ideal flow state in *your* work. This will allow us to work outside-in as it were. When we need to kickstart flow, sometimes we can do work that fires up some of the big seven to remind the chemicals in our brains that we enjoy being in states of flow and can access these states… NOW!
Share your experiences with this way of coming at your flow state. It may be easier for you!
I think what helps is doing the work of “how” before I can get to Flow. Which of course is tricky. Maybe that’s the “release” part for me? Or the “struggle” part? The other day I finally sat down to work on the script for a short video project, and I’ve been struggling with structure. Once I figured out the structure, I was free!! It felt so much more effortless then! Getting through that resistance to work out the kinks is key for me. I’ve noticed, too, that my distractions are RIPE in my apartment (phone and fridge, especially, BE DAMNED) and sometimes the seemingly more distracting coffee shop is sometimes an area of easier focus for me. ALSO, I’ve been struggling with show bible because I didn’t really have a good goal, but the more I see all the players involved in target shows, and the more I search for a legit agent, the more documenting those pieces makes sense for me and, as a result, it becomes easier and KINDA FUN! (I absolutely never guessed I would say that ever. Haha. It’s like CSI ninja! Except the crime is my career. Haha. In a good way)
OMG, I love that! CSI Ninja! Yes! Hilarious and such a good way to frame it. It really is fun after you get going, huh? Wondering if there’s a fridge-and-phone (phridge and fone) challenge you can create as a part of discovering your flow state’s strengths and weaknesses. This is fun!
Challenge! I’ll give it a shot! At least a: “you can only check your phone on the hour” kinda thing.
I like it!
Looking back with this framework, I can totally see how sewing my costumes for comicon fall into the flow category, though I didn’t know that was going on at first. And the steps… from idea, to drawing out the idea, to the struggle of how to actually make it work in the real world, to finally creating it….. ahhh. So much is clicking. I think I fall into flow pretty easily, but I never realized it because it all just felt natural and like my instincts were kicking in and taking over.
So, prepping my flow by turning my phone on do not disturb mode definitely helps a lot. I used to never be productive in my apartment unless I was sewing, but since I started working at Starbucks, I no longer want to go there unless I have to go to work or I’m dropping in for a discounted drink. I’m still figuring out how to maximize my productivity for less physically active work like writing, or targeting work. It’s a slow process, but I’m building up my self-discipline to make myself work on it. Planning out my day hour by hour helps my stay accountable to myself so that when I am working on a specific goal or task, I know how much time I’ll have available to devote myself to it.
I love it! That’s good progress and you’ll see a difference over time for sure. Also, the ability to drop INTO flow when you want to or need to is so much more powerful than you may realize. It’s great that so much of it has been natural for you, but especially with these areas where it doesn’t (yet) come naturally, building up to using intentional periods of flow (even short ones) is a great idea!!
I love this framework! I would say one of my underdeveloped muscles is time management and Flow just resonates with me. Will write more- off to rehearse and get into my zone. X
Yayayayay!
I just had the BIGGEST penny drop!! Every morning before I sit down to write I do a mix between yoga, dance warm up, voice warm up and affirmations. Then when I sit down to write, I am ready to rock for 90 minutes.
I physically prepare myself for flow! I actually loosen my body up so my mind can flow free! What a revelation – of the obvious I daresay, but I never thought of it like that 😉 Oh, I’m loving this!!! <3 flowflowflowflowflow
Yaaaaaassssssss! So good, Julia!
And this is why I love the comments section… years later, and this resonates with me so much! I physically warm up like this before acting (much to the confusion of other actors in the room, lol), but I hadn’t put it together with flow states. Now I can consciously use this as a key in!
🙂