In the zone: A mental state in which the performance of an activity is handled with focus, skill and energy.
Developers know all about "the zone". That mental space when you get into the flow of writing code and solving problems. It's not just for programming. Any activity that requires time and concentration works better if you can find your way to the zone. I need to be in the zone for learning and for writing course material.
(This post contains no zombies, cows or pumpkins. It's actually serious stuff.)
Beam me up Scotty - in reverse
The problem is that you can't find the zone on your GPS. It's great when you find it, but it's so easy to get sucked out of it.
Here is my favourite cartoon from MonkeyUser.com that depicts exactly how it feels:
On Tuesday I was in the zone twice. And got pulled out of it both times to run errands. Wednesday was worse. It started well. I was determined to focus and finish a project. First interruption: network equipment issue. Second interruption: parental issue. Third interruption ... you get the picture. And that was all before 09:00.
The problem is that the interruptions break your speed until you come to a grinding halt. By 12:00 yesterday, I found myself thinking: "What a waste of a day."
But I can't give up on the day like that. Time is a precious resource. So I decided to find directions to the zone.
I don't know if these tips will help for you, but they work for me.
#1: You can survive 30 minutes
This is an old time management trick that works like a charm. Set the timer on your phone for 30 minutes, or any duration that works for you. (The Pomodoro technique uses shorter intervals, but as long as I've got tea, I prefer 45 minutes.)
You only have to focus on the task until the timer goes off. But you are not allowed to do anything else for those 30 minutes. No emails, no social media, no phone calls. Ignore everything else until the timer sounds. The world will not come to an end.
This is powerful because it is easier to do something unpleasant if you know it's only for 30 minutes. I've used it to get tax returns done. And I use it on my sister to help her declutter.
For me, this has another benefit. Often when the timer goes off, I can still keep going. I have used the timer to force myself into the zone, but now that I'm here, I'm staying.
#2: Don't worry about forgetting
My daily routine is punctuated by things that have to happen at certain times. We all have these - from appointments to remembering to hang out the laundry when the washing machine stops. I find I keep checking my watch, to see if it's time yet. That's a distraction.
Now I set the timer on my phone instead, and I ignore everything until the timer goes off. Unlike a pop-up reminder on one of my desktops, it's not something I will miss.
#3: Clean desk, clean mind
Clutter is bad for you. It makes you feel stressed, anxious and depressed. If your desk is a mess, it affects your ability to concentrate and your productivity. If you don't believe me, check out the research on Google.
I am not naturally tidy, so I pay attention to this. Especially because I like making physical notes, so I have lots of paper around. (Fortunately I am a master at decluttering - I am even planning a declutter course for friends and family.)
#4: Use the left-overs
You know those left-over slivers of time. You've finished one task, and it's only 15 or 20 minutes until a meeting. You don't want to start the next task, because there isn't time to do any real work on it.
These intervals feel too short to be useful. So it's easy to waste them. Checking the phone, watching YouTube videos, reading social media posts. But if you add them up, you will be horrified.
We all have mundane tasks that need to be done. Tasks like filling out timesheets, sorting email or paying accounts. These are great choices for those odd times. Although this won't t get you in the zone, it does have two benefits:
- Those tasks have now been finished. That means they won't take up time that you can use for in-the-zone work.
- You'll feel productive - and that state of mind makes it easier to get in the zone next time.
Do you have any tips for getting in the zone? Please share them.