I’m a morning person, which seems somewhat rare compared to most people I encounter who seem to all lean toward being night owls.I don’t know if this behavior is innate or learned. I don’t really remember being geared towards one end of the spectrum earlier on in life. I’m not sure it even matters which one you are, as the importance really lies in the ability to have uninterrupted periods of flow that can create a sense of personal accomplishment. I often feel as if I accomplished a full day’s work or learning during just a few mornings of uninterrupted time.
After my early morning work session, I’ll usually workout, meditate and eat breakfast. Then I’ll get the kids up and prepare us all for the day ahead. This routine gives me a much-needed break before diving into work that involves collaboration with others. Working out is rejuvenating for me, especially following periods of intense thought and it serves as a great transition time before heading into the daily grind of tasks and meetings. This certainly will not be true for everyone and I encourage you to find what will rejuvenate you. My own husband is not a huge fan of working out (although he keeps threatening to take back up running). A long walk is often a great way to get the blood pumping and create the same sense of separation. Maybe you can squeeze in nine holes before having to get into the grind if that’s what works for you.
Find a free downloadable schedule to help you create what works for you!
What is Flow?
You’ve likely heard the term “flow” before and I encourage you to seek out the work of Dr. Benjamin Hardy as he has some insightful resources on the subject, particularly on YouTube. Flow is the state of deep focus where you’re mastering a task or subject without interruption.
This state can turn work into play as you are generally tackling a subject you enjoy and become so immersed and focused that you lose all track of time. It usually generates a sense of fulfillment and real accomplishment.
To achieve flow, it’s crucial to eliminate distractions. This means turning off your phone, email, and other notifications. Dr. Hardy advises against scheduling mid-day meetings during your flow periods because even a brief interruption can derail your mental focus, making it difficult to regain that deep concentration later.
Being in a state of flow is akin to an out of body experience. I know that sounds cliche, but the truth is time will just melt away when you are this fully absorbed. When you’re engaged in something you truly enjoy, work begins to feel like play, and the hours just fly by. Flow fosters creativity and leads to mastery, which is a powerful motivator in itself.
Examples of Flow Inducing Activities:
- Coding for a high-value work project
- Writing a blog on a subject you are really passionate about
- Deep strategic thinking to develop a one-year department plan or reorganization
- Learning or practicing a new skill to grow in your career
- Thinking deeply to solve a problem that is plaguing you at work or in another area of life
- Planning the needs, schedule and map for a two-year long RV trip to see the entire country
The Importance of Recovery
Following periods where you have been in a deep state of flow in an effort to accomplish a particular project, goal or other achievement, it is essential that you prioritize rest and recovery. This does not have to look like a vacation, it could simply involve stepping away from work outside of your required tasks and engaging in activities you enjoy, like exercising or traveling in my case. We use recovery periods to go sightseeing as we travel the country.
Naval Ravikant compares knowledge workers to athletes, noting that they perform best when they “train, sprint, then rest and reassess.” Just as our muscles need recovery after intense exercise, our brains also need time to recharge. So, train and develop your mental muscle, but make sure to take time to recharge as well. And for many of us with small kids, that does not necessarily mean a vacation (does anyone else feel like they often need a vacation from their vacation?).
Training Yourself to Enter a Flow State
Start by optimizing your schedule for uninterrupted work periods. This might involve blocking off specific times on your calendar and turning off all communication channels. If early mornings are when you’re most focused, wake up early and work for a few hours before your day officially begins. Alternatively, you could work late at night and adjust your daytime availability accordingly. It’s not about adding more hours; it’s about structuring your schedule to fit your natural rhythm. (see my blog on Creating a Flexible Work Schedule in a Remote Environment)
If you are in an office environment that requires your presence during certain hours, discuss the options for flexibility with whomever you report to. If none exist, then see if you can close your door and communicate to your team that you need time to concentrate from 8-10am everyday for two weeks and if that will work for everyone. Be flexible and find what works for you, your employer and your team. Perhaps for a couple of weeks, you could work three 10-hour days and then take extra time off later. As you progress in your career, your value should become less tied to the amount of time worked and more closely tied to your outputs, giving you greater control over your schedule. (Or who knows…perhaps you build something on your own and start to travel the world, giving you ultimate freedom of schedule – more to come on that in a later blog.)
Wrapping Up and Creating Your Schedule
I think one of the reasons I enjoy the morning for these periods of flow is that I am in EST, where many of my co-workers and clients are MST or PST and they are still working even after my kids are in bed. I am much more likely to get pinged in the evening than in the morning, offering a greater chance for real concentrated time earlier in the day. But, creating the schedule that works for you and gives you access to uninterrupted mental space that will produce greater clarity in thought, the possibility for mastery and an overall increased sense of accomplishment. In addition, make sure to build in time for recovery and rest so that you can continue that elevation without overloading the brain for too long.
Tips for Transitioning into a Flow State
- Create a focused environment: Declutter your workspace and set a calming atmosphere.
- Use rituals: Small rituals like brewing coffee or listening to a particular playlist can help signal the start of focused work.
- Time blocking or other time management techniques to ensure adequate focus time
- Silencing your phone and turning off notifications from email, slack, MS Teams or other messaging devices
- Start with meditation or another calming technique to close out any items from the day and reset
- Communicate to all necessary that you will be inaccessible during this period
An Example from My Own Life
Last week we were in Fort Meade, MD and found our neighbors to be mostly retired military folk, much like my husband but without the young kids. This meant we pulled some double duty to entertain our children. These times and things are going to rise up in anyone’s life, so it’s really important to make sure you are setting some intention for your week and days, plus creating the schedule that will still allow you to find some flow.
One day last week when we pulled a double school day and didn’t leave the campsite, I decided to use the pre-lunch hour to squeeze in some workout time and get the kids out of the ‘house’ for a bit. That morning a worked a little longer and then during the break they rode their bikes to the library and I practiced my speed walking techniques. We got some new books and then stopped by the park where I did 25-30 squat thrusts while picking up our 55 lb 6-year old so she could reach the high bars on the obstacle course. Two birds, one stone.
When we got back, we had lunch and then they had to get head down in school and I had to get head down in work. We signed them both up for an extra Outschool session that day as well so it gave my husband and I both a little extra focus time. (Outschool is a supplemental program we use for music lessons, subject-matter bootcamps, art classes and even a social group for each kid. It’s real teachers and licensed professionals. If you find you want to give it a try, you can use this link and get $20 off a trial course. Sessions can range from $10-$50 for 30 mins to an hour.)
The next day we were heading into Baltimore, so there was no extra catch up time. Instead, I worked about four hours before we headed out and took the morning off from my workout (don’t worry – I got in 17,000+ steps).
But wait, you’re saying “I’m in an office and have to be there from 8 to 5 every day.” I list some tips and tricks above for that and invite you to explore other possibilities for creating a schedule that works for you. Steve Jobs often held walking meetings – two birds, one stone!
Week in Review
This past week, we got to do a night tour of all the D.C. monuments, explore George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, become spies at the International Spy Museum and attend one of the country’s largest Renaissance Festivals! It was a great break that came at the time I was wrapping up my VP role and kicking off my own business which produced a very busy couple of weeks. I am super excited to start this next chapter of my professional life while we continue the adventure of a lifetime in our personal lives. We ended the week by heading up to a KOA just outside of Philadelphia and with it being a holiday weekend, I am really excited for my kids to spend a weekend doing the vacation camping surrounded by other kids. We didn’t see them for over two hours yesterday except to come and grab some water, but more on that later…
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