Learn how to build focus and hit peak performance at work and off the clock
How to Reach Flow Mindset at Work and Off the Clock
What “flow” actually feels like
You know the feeling. You're knee-deep in a project—focused, clear, moving fast without hurrying. Hours pass. You forgot to check your phone. You finish up and feel energized instead of drained.
That's flow. It's not mystical or rare. It's a state your brain wants to be in, and you can train it to show up more often.
In both work and life, it’s a pattern of rhythm and clarity—where challenge meets skill just right.
I didn’t always get this. Early in my career as a CFO, I chased efficiency. Blocks of meetings. Long days. My calendar was full, but my mind wasn’t.
Burnout crept in through the cracks.
Then I noticed something strange. The moments I enjoyed most weren’t big wins or payoffs. They were deep-focus tasks— forecast modeling, whiteboarding new ops workflows, even budgeting (yes, really)—when I could just… think.
And on weekends? It was chopping vegetables for a long dinner. Fixing a drawer. Playing with my kid and forgetting the time.
That’s flow. And once I saw it, I couldn’t ignore it.
Why flow is good for business
Let’s start at work.
Flow isn't some wellness trend. It's a performance driver. According to a 10-year McKinsey study, top executives in flow are five times more productive.
You read that right: 500% more effective.
Now think of the hours we waste jumping between Slack pings and email threads. Flow is the opposite. It’s depth over noise.
You need focus to think critically. To solve real problems. To make decisions that stick. You don’t get that in 15-minute chunks.
I started carving out two-hour no-meeting blocks, twice a week. That one change probably saved me more hours than any AI tool we’ve bought.
The work? Sharper. Less rework. Better ideas. Fewer second-guessing loops.
Flow isn’t a perk. It’s a profit center.
So how do you get into flow?
1. Set up your conditions
Flow needs structure. Think of it like lighting a fire—you need the right fuel, space, and spark.
- Clear goals — Know exactly what you’re working on and what “done” looks like.
- A stretch challenge — Not too easy, not too hard. Enough to keep you engaged.
- No distractions — That means phone off. Inbox closed. Tell people you’re unavailable.
Even 30 minutes of deep focus is better than 3 hours of interrupted half-work.
2. Use triggers
I’ve noticed certain cues help me enter flow faster.
- Same time, same place — I do strategic work in the morning. Coffee, headphones, laptop. That routine tells my brain: time to go deep.
- Music without words — Lo-fi, jazz, or ambient stuff. Repetitive sound helps me zone in.
- Small warm-up task — Reviewing yesterday’s notes or sketching out ideas unclogs my mind.
Find your own rituals. It could be lighting a candle or doing 10 pushups. Doesn’t matter. Just make it consistent.
3. Protect your time like money
Don’t let meetings eat your calendar.
This is where I got religious: I schedule “focus blocks” like meetings—with a title, purpose, and no interruptions. I train my team to do the same.
It takes a culture shift, but it spreads. People start respecting each other’s time more. And output improves across the board.
Flow isn’t just for work
Here’s the twist: the more you get into flow outside of work, the easier it shows up in work.
They feed each other.
For me, cooking is a flow activity. So is woodworking, walking, writing, even cleaning sometimes.
What matters is that it’s immersive, physical or mental, and time-flexible. It lets you forget yourself a bit.
I’ve had ideas for company org charts while sanding a chair. Solved budget issues mid-jog.
When you let your brain play, it repays you with clarity later.
Plus, flow reduces stress. It helps you sleep better. That shows up in your decision-making, leadership, and patience.
Don’t think of it as time off. Think of it as input for sharper performance.
What blocks flow (and how to fix it)
You’re probably thinking: “Sounds great, but I don’t have time.”
That’s the first blocker—urgency culture. If everything feels urgent, nothing gets your full attention.
Try this:
- End your day with a “top 3 for tomorrow” list.
- Time-block the first task in your calendar.
- Defend it like a client meeting.
Another blocker? Constant context switching.
We’re wired to task-switch poorly. You lose up to 40% efficiency switching between tasks.
Batch similar work. Answer emails in chunks. Review reports in one go. Don’t check Slack every 5 minutes.
Last one? Fear of silence. We’ve trained ourselves to need noise.
But silence is fertile ground. That’s where the thinking happens.
A few stories from the field
One of our best product ops leads once told me, “My best insights come after two hours of spreadsheets.”
She wasn’t bragging. She was describing flow.
I’ve watched junior team members hit their stride when they learned to block distractions and set better priorities.
One of them even started taking 30-minute “think walks” during lunch—came back sharper every time.
We’ve normalized busy. It’s time to normalize focus.
Book Recommendation
“Deep Work” by Cal Newport.
It’s a practical, research-backed guide to building the kind of focus that drives real results. No fluff, just good habits.
What about you?
What’s one activity where you completely lose track of time—at work or at home?
Reply or share it with someone who could use more flow in their life.
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