We’ve all been there. We have a long to-do list, but we find all the other small things we can do to avoid some of the deep work. This can be especially true for writers where we frequently need to step into deep, creative work.
After procrastinating, however, we find that once we dig into our work, we enter a state of flow. Once in this state of flow, the deep work begins to feel like second nature. We often build up the effort of a task in our heads more than it actually becomes in real life.
As a writer, I’ve developed routines and schedules to help me tap into deep work regularly so I can stay on schedule with my clients while still ensuring I’m not forcing the creativity. It’s all about the flow. Here’s my thoughts on how to best channel it.
Just Start
Like I said, we often put off higher effort tasks because we build them up in our heads to be bigger than they actually are. We wait until we have a bigger block of time in our schedule or more energy to tackle the task.
But oftentimes, we can find our flow by just starting. This does take some patience. I often don’t find my flow in the first couple minutes, but if I stick with the task for five or ten minutes, the words and creativity start to flow automatically. My fingers move with ease across the keyboard, and I’m done before I know it.
This big project that I had built up in my head was completed with ease, or at least completed to a point of being able to edit later, by just sitting down and starting.
Work on What You Care About
As a writer, I never find a state of flow if I’m writing about something I don’t care about or that doesn’t resonate with me. In fact, one of the benefits of only taking on 2-3 clients at a time is that I can be selective in the projects that I take on.
However, I don’t think this is limited to just writers. I believe it is important for all career types. We need to be passionate about, or at least enjoy, what we’re working on because otherwise we feel out of alignment. If we’re out of alignment, it becomes impossible to get into a state of flow because we are stuck in a mindset of being split between what we desire and what we actually need to do.
When we work on projects that we are aligned with, the ideas start to flow more with ease and the work becomes more automatic. We are then able to flow with our work and more creatively serve our stakeholders.
Strike a Balance
While one way to get into flow is to just start, it’s important to be aware of our energy levels and emotions. Are we just procrastinating or is our battery truly depleted? If we’re just procrastinating, the “just start” method will work swimmingly.
However, sometimes our batteries are truly depleted. When my battery is drained, I feel like I have a huge brain fog. It feels like I can’t possibly sit down in front of my computer and produce anything but mush.
Noticing when we are procrastinating versus when our battery is actually low is especially important in creative work. Pushing through with a low battery doesn’t open us up to the full potential of creativity and can lead to mistakes and less vibrant output. Furthermore, if we try to push through, our brain fog prevents us from the clarity and ease of achieving flow.
Pushing through a low battery can then get us stuck in a vicious cycle because if we never recharge, our batteries are perpetually low. However, finding activities to recharge can actually put us into a state of flow outside of our work that can spark new ideas.
If a book is one of those big tasks that you just can’t get yourself to sit down and start, have no fear! I can help you with that. Let’s chat on a free strategy call!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.