Hi, Hello! My name is Sarah - the writer behind redgregory.com.
Seeing as I had a bit of a mental flop in the past week regarding checking off my to-do list, I thought I'd discuss focus in this week's newsletter.
The feeling of being immersed in a task or project without the burden of outside forces; a full devotion to the process. This is referred to as a 'flow state.'
When a task feels effortless, time slips without noticing, and negative feelings are almost non-existent. A flow state feels like tapping into a child's natural mental course.
For me, the flow state can be a blessing and a curse. For one, I find myself in a flow state only at the start of a project which is common for most. As forks in the road emerge, enthusiasm dips.
And so, I chase new projects regularly.
I also fixate easily on details and less on big picture. Flow state is good and all but unproductive fixations are not (this is partly due to my ADHD).
From the consistency maintained with redgregory.com, my YouTube channel, and a 3rd draft in the works for my first book manuscript, I learned how to replace unproductive fixation with a healthy flow state that pushes the needle forward. Albeit a simple list, here are some of my most valuable takeaways I'm bringing into 2021.
- I make room in my schedule to explore/brainstorm. I confine this time to 1-2 hours in the morning over breakfast and a coffee.
- I try to write more with pen and paper which forces me to slow down and approach a task deliberately. This pads the barriers of focus and helps keep curiosity pitfalls from distracting me. The opening of another web tab is a recipe for disaster.
- I go with the flow. I do not set hard deadlines. It seems that I have a hard time coming to this realization that I work better without boundaries. I publish, create, and commit far more when there is no looming date attached. This is why I've started to think in big goals over daily tasks.
- I try to be lenient on myself if I did indeed waste my time on something unimportant for a couple days. In most cases these pitfalls render creative results, nuggets of ideas I can utilize in the future, and a chance for me to reset.
- The last thing that is of utmost importance is a standing desk. Well actually, I use a shelf on my bookshelf at shoulder level as a laptop cubby. Nonetheless, it's boosted my productivity ten-fold.
