Are You In The Flow?

I was reading an article recently in the June issue of Inc Magazine about Matt Mullenweg. He is the person behind the blogging tool Wordpress. He likes to wake up without an alarm clock. He does not turn on his computer or check email for one hour after getting up in the morning.  Reading a business book first thing in the morning is part of his ritual. He listens to music when he is working. Sometimes he will put a particular song on repeat and play it over and over again while working on his computer. All these things contribute to Matt getting in the flow.

I have to be in an environment where something is going on in the background or I get distracted. I actually go to Starbucks periodically to work because of the music and the sometimes noisy environment. That gets me in the flow. A friend of mine called last week to set up a meeting. I suggested going to Starbucks and he said it was too noisy. He prefers a very quite environment so he can concentrate on the task at hand. He could never get in the flow in a noisy environment.

Here is how I describe being in the flow. You are fully engaged, times passes quickly, and you are totally immersed in working on your business to the exclusion of all else. This is your most productive time. You get things done and you feel good about what you are doing. If you want to be more productive in your business and in your life, you must learn how to get in the flow and learn how to work within the flow of your energy patterns.

What gets you in the flow? What is your routine for getting your day started and keeping the momentum going? Is there something you need to change? You may not like having early morning meetings. Then schedule your meetings after 11:00 in the morning. You may like to exercise first thing in the morning or you may prefer evenings. Find the things that work for you.

Also, think about things that can take you out of the flow. One of the biggest distractions for most people is email. Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Work Week, suggests checking email twice a week. That is probably too drastic for most people but you may consider checking email once in the morning and once in the evening. Getting alerts from your email on your computer, instant messaging, or your cell phone are all distractions that you can control. When meeting with a client or prospect, turn off your cell phone or at least put it on vibrate. This will help you stay in the flow of the conversation when meeting one-on-one.

Find your most productive time of the day. Learn to work within the flow of your energy patterns. I love early morning. This is my most productive time. The first hour when I get up in the morning decides how productive I will be for that day. The first hour usually determines whether or not I will get in the flow.

Find what gets you in the flow. Discover your most productive time of the day. Find the things that take you out of the flow and get rid of them. You will be more productive in your business and have a better life.