I like to describe myself as a performance coach because no matter what we do, it’s a kind of performance. We all perform on various levels in our lives; work, family, creative expression, sports- everything is performance and requires us to be at the top of our game, to rise to our highest self..
But the question is, how do we prepare ourselves to do our best, especially at our life's work? Athletes describe being "in the zone" as a space in which a person's performance seems effortless but supernormal. Artists sometimes call it "aesthetic rapture". Mystics describe it as "ecstasy". It has even gained attention in the field of psychology as the state of effortless concentration and enjoyment they call "flow" (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi).
Did you ever get involved in something so deeply that nothing else seemed to matter and you lost track of time? What you have experienced at times like these is flow and what results is most often your best work. For myself, I'm usually amazed at what I am capable of and I can feel that the impact is palpable. But it's also a state that can be elusive.
Flow doesn't just happen. I need to set myself up for it, giving myself the time and space and permission needed to focus solely on a task at hand. Here are a few simple strategies to be able to access the state of flow to perform at our highest level.
1. BRING IT ON- The first step is to recognize the importance of FLOW, to value it.
2. LONG STORY SHORT- Successful people often make lists or flowcharts of all the things they have to do, and quickly decide which tasks they can delegate or forget, and which ones they have to tackle personally, and in what order. Schedule your flow time and hold it sacred.
2. BOTTOM LINE- Turning a dull job into one that satisfies our need for creativity and achievement involves paying close attention to each step involved, and then asking: Is this step necessary? Can it be done better, faster, more efficiently? What additional steps could make my contribution more valuable?
3. BARE BONES- It is also important to develop the habit of doing whatever needs to be done with concentrated attention. And it’s important to be aware of the ways we sabotage our own flowing. Eliminate the distractions-- The phone can wait. The emails can wait. Take charge of your home or office environment-- throwing out the excess, redecorating to your taste, making it personally and psychologically comfortable.
4. GIVE ME A BREAK-- Outings and vacations help to clear the mind, to change perspectives, to look at one's situation with a fresh eye. Foregoing time away from the job in favor of logging more hours is not the most effective use of your time. We need balance and time to allow ourselves to recharge.
As I've said before, I love Sundays. It's an opportunity that comes around each week for us to reset, regroup and reconsider what about our lives is working and what we might be able to do a little differently. It's a chance to start anew. So why not think about how you can bring more FLOW into your daily activities?
It’s a beautiful, mysterious process—one that will change your life for the better and bring in a daily dose of creativity. And during those moments of flow, you’ll find yourself making connections, forming ideas, and thinking differently (psychologytoday.com). As you Mind Your Body in the coming week, go with the flow for greater satisfaction and productivity.
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