- Better performance
- Fewer distractions
- Less self-judgment
- Greater motivation to complete tasks
- The ability to spend a longer time on a task
- More practice, allowing someone to gain skill and competence
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage – pleasantly, smilingly, unapologetically – to say no to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside.”
Let’s first tackle what is keeping us from accessing a flow state more often. A few years ago Jim Kwik, who is a best-selling author and leading brain coach shared the top four flow killers that he uncovered in his years of research and coaching:
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- Multi-tasking: We all think we can multitask, and perhaps in some areas of our lives we can. But the simple truth is this: we cannot multitask our way to flow. It’s demanding and that constant alertness comes at a price.
- Stress: Stress is a killer to many areas of productivity, but it’s particularly deadly to achieving a state of flow. The problem with stress is that it creeps into your thoughts, disrupting your focus and concentration when you least expect it.
- Fear of Failure: The fear of not succeeding will keep us out of flow. And that fear can take many shapes. I know for me it looks like doing “busy work” to check something off the list, but it’s not the work that will move the needle in my life or business.
- Indecisiveness: Nothing will prevent us from finding our flow faster than doubt. And nothing breeds more doubt and anxiety than indecisiveness.
Finding our flow state is not always easy, and no matter how much we practice things like fear, stress, doubt, and distractions will always be there, trying to hold us back. Four signs to know if you are in a flow state, which often happens after you’ve completed your task:
- You’re focused and not thinking about anything else except the present moment and task at hand.
- You are not self-critical or worried about how others perceive you.
- You feel a sense of enjoyment, challenge, or excitement with the task at hand.
- You are committed and persistent to completing the task; nothing else matters.
Lastly, I want to share my 5 favorite tips and tools I like to use to get myself into a flow state.
Eisenhower Matrix:
This tool works very well for key leaders who are dealing with decision-making daily.
- Divide your work into four quadrants.
- Decide what is important and what is not important.
- Decide what is urgent and what is not urgent.
- Then break it down visually:
Seinfeld Strategy:
- Set a goal and then create a visual calendar of this goal you review daily.
- Mark off each day you do it and keep the streak going as long as you can.
- Never miss two days in a row.
Pomodoro Technique:
- List your top 1-2 needle-moving tasks for the day.
- Set a 25-minute timer and focus on work for that entire time.
- Take a 5-minute break.
- Repeat 4 times, then take an hour break, and if needed repeat once more.
3/3/3 Method:
- Spend 3 hours working on an important project.
- Complete 3 shorter urgent tasks or meetings.
- Do 3 maintenance tasks to keep life and business running smoothly.
The 2 Minute Rule:
If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it right away and do it until completion.
Click HERE to download a PDF tip sheet of these tools.
With commitment, reflection, and practice you’ll be able to find your flow and once you do, you can use it as a fundamental tool in unlocking your limitless potential.
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The Amplified Life Company loves FLOW so much that
we even made a corporate culture acronym about it:
FLOW = Faith, Leadership, Opportunity, Wealth
Find out more on our website HERE.
