If you’re the “work-life balance” person, this post isn’t for you. But if you’re the type who aspires to be world-class and believe to be doing your life’s work, here are a couple of adventures you should be exploring if you struggle to get into the state of deep focus and flow:
- Give yourself uninterrupted time with the work at hand. That might mean as many hours in a day or as many days in a week as possible. It would help if you blocked out all the usual distractions during this time. Disconnect from the internet, or lock up your door (this one’s my favourite), or if that’s difficult, disappear into a different place altogether. I know it sounds extreme, but you can do it almost anywhere once you become adept at getting into the zone. It takes a bit to get used to.
- Focus only on the work instead of yourself or the praises and accolades that the people will shower on you after you break the news about your ground-breaking idea. Remember, your life’s work isn’t about you or what others think. It’s for a higher purpose, and your ego, doubts, and obsessions will interrupt the flow, which will impact the outcome. Pour every ounce of your being into the project and forget about everything else.
Don’t be surprised if you develop an affinity towards what you’re doing. It’s bound to happen. One can’t help but become “one” with their projects; they feel so ecstatic while working on it and finally putting it out to the world or their clients.
The only caveat here is to understand and accept that the strategy above is the most useful when you’re way deep into a project or pursuit. Because your mind’s well acquainted with the information, practice, and the outcomes you’re after. It’s ready to help you achieve peak experiences that’s hard to achieve otherwise.
Some folks isolate themselves right from the get-go, and that’s not ideal.
Speaking of which, do you have to do this? No, not. But one of the biggest hurdles high-performing leaders and creative professionals face is their inability to focus or ideate for real, tangible, and measurable impact. Their powerlessness to focus often gets in the way of their and, eventually, their organization’s progress.
Also, if the strategies above were good enough for people like Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Abraham Lincoln, it should serve you pretty dang well.