FEELING TIME-STARVED AND JOY-CUFFED?
Dive into this guide and learn how to break free from the busy-stress-overwhelm cycle, without having to attend a time management seminar or download another productivity app
Flow. The elusive, mysterious and optimal state of being that so many of us have experienced, even though we have no clue we hacked into it.
Like the writer, who gets a burst of inspiration and pours out three chapters worth of words for her new book, without being tempted to scroll, click or double-tap. Productivity is in her DNA.
Or the motivational speaker who’s so in the zone, that he goes off script and seduces an entire audience with an improvised speech that ‘came out of nowhere’. He’s creating it in the moment.
Or the entrepreneur who whips through a days’ worth of to-dos, before the clock strikes 11am, without needing her double shot of espresso…and still feels energized to do more. Time is her lover.
What’s the common denominator between these three mortals? They’ve all hacked into the flow state.
They are completely absorbed, engaged and feeling fulfilled by the task at hand.
In these moments, the concept of time, the need for food and the ego-self are absent.
Instead, there is a melting of the mind with, dare we say, universal consciousness.
THE OUTCOME OF BEING IN FLOW?
EFFORTLESS CREATIONS, A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND JOY TO THE BONES
And flow is no longer a fluffy concept, friends. That’s right. Now there’s DATA to back up it’s value (ooohhhh).
Did you know that a recent study conducted by the Flow Genome Project found that entrepreneurs, scientists and writers reported being seven times, 700 percent, more creative when in flow
Another 10 year McKinsey and Co. study found top executives 500 percent more productive when in flow?
And happiness? According to the research of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, founder of Flow Psychology, people are happiest when they are in a state of flow.
Flow is your shortcut to boosting your inspiration, solving challenges and outperforming your competition.
Flow is your shortcut to boosting your inspiration, solving challenges and outperforming your… Click To TweetImagine what that boost in productivity would do for your business.
That level of happiness for your relationships and health?
And the good news?
Now you can find your flow – on demand – without needing five thousand hours of happiness training, ayahuasca or a degree in psychology. All you have to do is learn how to get out of the way.
See, we believe that flow is your natural state of being. And while most flow gurus will teach you tips and tricks on how to get there, our approach is easier: stay where you are and your flow will find you.
The ultimate guide to finding your flow:
How to break free from the busy/stress/overwhelm cycle without having to attend a time management seminar or download another productivity app.
In this guide, you’ll discover what the flow state is, why you want to leverage it plus the top five flow blockers that close the door to flow.
WHAT IS FLOW AND WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Flow – the natural state of being that has you on a happy-high, without needing the 4 bedroom house, the Mercedes or the high fives from your boss. When you’re in it, you know it because you feel your best and perform your best.
So what do psychologists have to say about this state? And does it impact our happiness?
Bottom line: Yes. And the benefits go beyond happiness. Think creativity, productivity and an ability to draw opportunities to you. #metahuman
Even your brain waves change when you’re in the flow state so that you can access information and intuition beyond normal conscious awareness.
Dig into the following posts to find out just how good things can get when you’re in the flow zone.
The Flow Model: Balancing Challenge and Skills
Why happiness is the new productivity
Creativity and Flow Interview with Jo Gifford
5 Ways to Experience flow and get crazy productive
The Science of Spirituality: A psychologist and a neuroscientist explain being ‘In the Flow’
Trying vs. Allowing – The way to go with the flow
To get more done in less time, go with the flow
FLOW BLOCKER #1
BREAKING YOUR BONDAGE WITH BUSY
Have you ever uttered the words ‘busy’ when asked “How’s it going?”.
Chances are your answer is yes. And you’re not alone.
The reality of our modern day world is that we’re over-wired, overstimulated and overcaffeinated.
According to Tony Crabbe in his book Busy: How to thrive in a world of too much, today you will consume the equivalent of 174 newspapers’ worth of content (five times as much as you would have back in 1986).
So what? Well with that much information coming at us from the outside, we’re less likely to connect with our natural flow on the inside.
Enter flow blocker #1 – Busy, also known as “the hustle and grind”.
Contrary to what those cute journal covers and coffee mugs want you to believe, #hustle does not always lead to high productivity or sustainable happiness.
#hustle does not always lead to high productivity or sustainable happiness.CLICK TO TWEET
In fact, being so busy could be killing your creative flow, hurting your business and drowning your relationships.
But don’t take our word for it.
Submerge yourself in the goodies below and learn why breaking your bondage with busy is the better way to go.
Being busy is killing our ability to think creatively
The biggest obstacle to creativity is being too busy
Are you addicted to being busy
Stop being so busy: Why having no downtime is bad for you
How being busy makes you unproductive
11 Differences Between busy people and productive people
Do More and Have Fun with Time Management with the Pomodoro Technique
Our Dying Attention is a Big Problem
https://www.seleni.org/advice-support/article/how-to-stop-being-so-busy-all-the-time
https://www.sarahkpeck.com/2017/09/attention/
Break your bondage with busy and re-find your flow #tapintoflowCLICK TO TWEET
FLOW BLOCKER #2
SAY SAYONARA TO STRESS
When you’re stressed out, you’re in fight-or-flight.
Your immune system is jeopardized, so you’re more prone to getting sick.
Your digestive system shuts down, so your meals get heavy on the sugar and light on the greens (hello increased waistline!).
Your pre-frontal lobe is no longer getting enough blood so you’re less intelligent, which means you’re less productive.
And that’s okay if you’re living in the jungle of Africa and being chased down by a tiger; this mechanism of stress is what will keep you alive. And it’s a good one, for short periods of time.
But if you’re not being chased by a tiger and you stay in this state too long, like most of the world does, you’ll smack straight into burnout city – head first.
It’s a no-brainer to deduce that the effects stress have on us are blocking our natural flow.
The links below will get you started on reducing stress.
A simple technique to relieve stress with your own energy
5 Breathing Exercises to Reduce Stress & Improve Sleep
Say sayonara to stress #tapintoflowCLICK TO TWEET
FLOW BLOCKER #3
OBLITERATE OVERWHELM INTO OBLIVION
We’ve all had them: those hair-pulling, pillow-punching moments where no inspirational quote or happy-clappy colleague even has a chance in flipping your overwhelm switch.
You can’t think straight, and you feel out of control.
You’re tight and you’re ready to fight.
Your heart races, your breath is shallow and you’re this close to flinging your laptop across your living room.
This is what
In another land called flow, overwhelm seems as relevant as dinosaurs. It’s somewhere in the far distance, but has no real impact on your life today.
Trust us when we say, you want to find a way to obliterate overwhelm and here are some resources to do just that, without having to numb it with alcohol. It’s time to throw overwhelm out like it’s confetti!
It’s time to throw overwhelm out like it’s confetti!CLICK TO TWEET
How to Reduce Overwhelm and Get Your Life Back
Take Back Your Time: How to Reduce Overwhelm in a Few Minutes a Day
7 Things to Do If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed? These 6 Strategies May Help
Catch your breath when you’re drowning in overwhelm
FLOW BLOCKER #4
LOSE THOSE LIMITING BELIEFS
Scenario one: You’re about to hit ‘send’ on your TED application, but you freeze in your ‘Who the heck am I?’ tracks.
Scenario two: You’ve dug up the courage to yell “I quit!” at the first sight of your boss, but then you see him and “Morning boss.” come flying out of your mouth.
Scenario three: You’ve ploughed through New York Times best-seller on how to {hot topic}, but you continue on with your life as if you’re none the wiser.
If any of these scenarios sound remotely familiar, welcome to human-hood.
Like the rest of us, you’ve got some limiting beliefs lurking under the subconscious surface that need to be outed.
Your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy, and your first step is to understand who these unwelcome guests and then how you can lose them.
Peruse through these tips for inspiration how to acknowledge and move through in spite of these beliefs.
Your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy #tapintoflowCLICK TO TWEET
4 Steps to Release “Limiting Beliefs” Learned From Childhood
Rewiring Your Mind: How to Erase Your Biggest Limiting Beliefs in Minutes
Link 3: How To Clear Negative Or Limiting Belief Patterns
How To Remove Your Limiting Beliefs In Under 10 Minutes
FLOW BLOCKER #5
GOODBY GREASY GUILT
Ever felt guilty for missing a friend’s birthday or for stuffing your face with a bowl of spaghetti the same day you declared you’d quit carbs?
Newsflash: guilt is a form of punishment.
Guilt is a form of punishment. #tapintoflowCLICK TO TWEET
It keeps you stuck in a place of self-judgment and blocks the flow of forgiveness, compassion and connection with yourself and others.
And what’s so sneaky about greasy ol’ guilt is that it’s not even effective – it doesn’t prevent you from repeating the action that triggered the guilt in the first place!
So when it comes to tapping into your flow state, having strategies to release guilt and recover to your true self is as important as {insert metaphor}
How to Let go of Guilt and Regret and Forgive Yourself
12 Good Reminders to Help You Let Go of Guilt
9 Ways to Talk Yourself out of Unnecessary Guilt
Heal your shame and guilt through forgiveness
