How to Get into the Zone
Many people write about how to best get into a productive work mode. There are books and articles galore. The zone is that magical part of each and everyone of us, it’s a state of high focus and extreme productivity.
That being said here’s an amalgamation of different tips I’ve found through various sources.
1. Setting up your environment
Having a fertile environment is paramount to harvesting good efforts, ask any farmer. Most of the work we do as designers comes from the mind but if we are to extract those creative juices from that resource hogger we call a brain, then it’s best to set the stage right.
SPACE. A clean work area. It helps if all your possessions are in the right place. This means papers stacked, clothes in the closets, dishes cleaned.
BODY. Similar to putting a movie on for the kids, you want those primal bodily cravings at least somewhat satisfied before trying to get your mind into work mode. Eat something light or have a snack nearby that you can munch on and a beverage to satiate your thirst. Empty your bladder and bowels, brush your teeth, wash your face. Do 3 minutes of stretching.
MIND. For the mind the most important thing is that you feel comfortable setting aside this amount of time to get into the zone. You have accepted that this time is for work there’s not something else in your life that more important than the task at hand. If your mind is chattering, you can do 10 minutes of meditation or free write to empty out your mind.
SOUND. Set the mood. How are we expected to dance when there’s no music playing? For me, I usually play music without lyrics. I find that music with lyrics can often trigger memories or emotions from the past. We’re trying to stay in the now. Silence is also works for some people but I find that the rhythm of a beat keeps me moving forward and helps to regulate my mood.
2. Protect your environment from distraction
Turn off social media. And make sure you don’t have to respond to any messages in this time period. Phone on silent. Mail app hopefully closed for the next chunk of time. The best thing is to close your web browser, but if it must be open be sure to use a website blocking extension (ex: blocksite) for those annoying temptations to browse.
However all this being said, sometimes you can’t wait for your environment to be perfect. Time is a wastin’ and if you procrastinate every time conditions aren’t ideal you’ll never accomplish anything.
3. Time box & map out your goals
Figure out how much time you can allot for this concentrated period of work. List out 1 to 3 things you want to work on in this time and ONLY work on those 1 to 3 things.
Create a schedule of how your going to work through them.
- 5 minutes to outline
- 25 minutes to write
- 15 min to edit
- 15 minutes for feedback
- 15 minutes to revise and fine tune
Then actually visualize yourself going through your schedule, accomplishing each item one after another. Also take 15 seconds to visualize how you’ve previously accomplished similar tasks before. Remember how you felt when you were really making progress. This will psych yourself up with the confidence to attack the problems you’re about to face.
4. Start
Produce work, it doesn’t even have to be great in the beginning, the main thing is to create momentum of movement. Whether it’s typing, sketching, drawing or coding, sending out requests, just keep those hands in motion. Focus on producing more and more, ignore perfection. As you continue to work your mind will consciously start to sharpen and eliminate inefficiencies.
5. Pace yourself
Keep working and if you start to hit a road block. Go back a few steps and review what you’ve just done. Reread something you’ve wrote or touch up a drawing that wasn’t quite right. You don’t always have to attack the hardest part of the problem. Sometimes going back and getting easy wins will help you maintain your focus and boost your confidence. Let your subconscious start to take over.
6. Take breaks when needed
When faced with overwhelming resistance take a break. When inspiration is not hitting and all efforts seem to hit a dead end, get up and reset yourself.
- Maybe you’ve been siting too long and you need to take a walk.
- Maybe there’s a suspicion that you’ve received an really important email or message in the last hour and you’re dying to check.
- Maybe you need to take your dog out.
- Or maybe your snacks have run out and your hunger is started to kick in.
Whatever it is that’s nagging you, address it quickly but don’t get involved in it.
7. Back to work
Hopefully while you were taking a break you mind was still churring in work mode, like a bicycle that still coasts for awhile after you’ve stopped pumping, your mind still moves forward without you consciously addressing it. When you feel like you’ve satiated whatever was bothering you from before direct your attention back towards the work and start again.
Remember - not perfection, just forward action
8. Repetition
Once you’ve set up your own work routine, refine and repeat. The more you practice this routine the faster you’ll be able to get into the zone and the longer you’ll be able to maintain it. It just takes practice to be good at being productive. Don’t despair if you’ve suffered set backs of days or months of being lazy and distracted. It doesn’t come easy, you have to work at it. If you haven’t done it in awhile you’re going struggle in the beginning. Getting in the zone becomes easier each time you practice it.
Consistency leads to mastery
Helpful reads:
- The One Thing… — Gary Keller
- The Art of Learning… — Josh Waitzkin
