How do you get into mental flow?

Question

I think many of us here are software people or in a job that requires holding complex ideas in your head for long periods of time. I&rsquo;m curious what you all use to get into the zone and stay there.Do you have a mental hack, a playlist, white noise, etc?I personally use a hand crafted Spotify playlist that works well, but I&rsquo;m always looking for another trick to hold the flow for longer.

kody · Accepted Answer

Turn off my phone completely. Put it in a desk drawer. Clean my desk completely. Flip my notebook to a new page. Close all chat/email apps. Open my IDE. Write down the most important thing to do today (check Jira if I'm unsure). Open Spotify and play a lyricless music playlist (jazz or metal). Work.So far, this is the ONLY way I've been able to reliably get in the zone. It's crucial that I avoid Slack, email, or the web until well into the afternoon. Sometimes I feel mentally "fragile" for struggling to multitask or return to work after being interrupted, but if it works, it works. I'm lucky to be part of a team that isn't too keen on frequent meetings and doesn't expect instant Slack responses.

octosphere · Answer

> but I&rsquo;m always looking for another trick to hold the flow for longer.Flow is usually something not to be sustained for long periods, because sustained flow is actually not practical - there must be an intermittent ebb to every flow state (usually in the form of breaks).I noticed you mentioned Spotify and I commend that. Music makes everything seem epic even though you are doing very mundane tasks.My only tip for making a flow state last longer is getting natural nootropics in your system like coffee, walnuts, omega-3 fish oil, MCT oil, and blueberries, which are all brain-boosting foods.

GoToRO · Answer

Breaks. Lots of meaningful breaks. Things that are not really breaks: documentaries, games, tv (they use your mind power). Things that are: sleep, nature, walks.You do not get into a flow, you get into a rhythm of break - work - break - work.

elamje · Answer

Here is the playlist FWIW: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61RNVG9yeQpFBRi8OAVC9I?si=...There is a section of albums by &ldquo;The New Law&rdquo; which is a good place to start. The list is made to be listened to album by album so there aren&rsquo;t many distracting transitions.

jascii · Answer

Somewhat "tongue in cheek" however: I find I get a lot of work done trying to avoid working on another unrelated task..See also: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

soul4krsna · Answer

I get into it by telling my self its time to get it done and then continue to do it. Everything else people use is a crutch of some sort. HN is turning into a cesspool.

probinso · Answer

I find and listen to a long recording from this YouTube channel.https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJX4OkEJMVGanPPGoydFEeg

wiseleo · Answer

I play songs with lyrics in a foreign language or abstract electronica.

andrefuchs · Answer

I'm listening on noise cancelling headphones to instrumental music.+ turn off all notifications+ block enough time for uninterrupted work+ write down all steps and goals before starting to work

pryelluw · Answer

I do a little meditation. Flow for me is about being in the present.

How do you get into mental flow?

Breaks. Lots of meaningful breaks. Things that are not really breaks: documentaries, games, tv (they use your mind power). Things that are: sleep, nature, walks.
You do not get into a flow, you get into a rhythm of break - work - break - work.

Here is the playlist FWIW: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61RNVG9yeQpFBRi8OAVC9I?si=...
There is a section of albums by “The New Law” which is a good place to start. The list is made to be listened to album by album so there aren’t many distracting transitions.

Somewhat "tongue in cheek" however: I find I get a lot of work done trying to avoid working on another unrelated task..
See also: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

I get into it by telling my self its time to get it done and then continue to do it. Everything else people use is a crutch of some sort. HN is turning into a cesspool.

I find and listen to a long recording from this YouTube channel.
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJX4OkEJMVGanPPGoydFEeg

I play songs with lyrics in a foreign language or abstract electronica.

I'm listening on noise cancelling headphones to instrumental music.
+ turn off all notifications
+ block enough time for uninterrupted work
+ write down all steps and goals before starting to work

I do a little meditation. Flow for me is about being in the present.