The Art of Finding FLOW: How to Get in the Zone, Maintain Razor-Sharp Focus, and Improve Your Productivity and Performance at Will! by Zahariades Damon

Author:Zahariades, Damon [Desconhecido]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ArtOfProductivity.com
Published: 2023-05-09T03:00:00+00:00

How to Retrain Your Brain to Monotask

In the chapter The Most Formidable Enemies of Flow, I offered a few tips for reining in your inner multitasker. Some people will find those tips to be sufficient. If that’s the case for you, feel free to skip this section and advance to Exercise #6 below.

Other people will need to retrain themselves to monotask. They need to unravel years of programming that compels them to multitask habitually. I recommend the following course of action for them and perhaps you.

First, incorporate time chunking into your day. Practice single-tasking for short time chunks (e.g., five minutes). As your ability to focus improves, increase the duration of your time chunks. Ten minutes. Then, fifteen minutes. Then, twenty minutes. With practice, you’ll eventually be able to break up your day into large time chunks, confident that you can monotask at will.

Second, schedule breaks as a formal part of your daily calendar. During breaks, avoid work and let your mind wander. This isn’t the time to check your phone for texts. Nor is this the time to check your email. Instead, take a walk. Go outside and people-watch. If you work indoors, go outside and enjoy the fresh air. It’ll clear your mind and prepare you for your next time chunk.

Time each break in proportion to the duration of the preceding time chunk. For example, take a five-minute break after a 20-minute time chunk. Take a 20-minute break after a 1-hour time chunk.

Third, develop the habit of completing tasks before moving on to others. If you can’t finish a task by the end of your scheduled time chunk, return to it after your break. Complete it, then work on something else.

Admittedly, this may not always be possible. For example, you may need input from other people before you can complete a task. If you’re forced to wait for this input, work on something else rather than allow that time to slip through your fingers. Assign a time chunk for the new task. Complete it even if you receive the input needed before the time chunk ends.

This 3-step protocol will help you to break the single-tasking habit. But note that it’ll take time to retrain your brain. It might take weeks, or even months, depending on how ingrained your multitasking habit is. But the return on your time investment will make the process worthwhile. Not only will you be more productive, but you’ll also be one step closer to gaining the ability to trigger flow at will.

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