Happy Monday!
This week we’re gonna find our flow state and #getshitdone, but before we can do that we’ll need to complete our Best Week Basics. Grab your notebook and spend the next 20 minutes laying the groundwork for having your best week ever.
🦋 Following the "Best Week Basics" is essential to having your best week ever. Use this time to really plan for the week ahead and think about what needs to happen for you to feel like you had a productive, fulfilling week.
🪞 Reflection: Reflect on last week. What went wrong? What went right? What can you celebrate? What can you try to do better this week?
✨ Intention: Set your intentions for this week. What needs to happen to ensure you have the absolute best week ever? Take a few minutes to do a brain dump and organize your to-do list if you feel overwhelmed.
📆 Time block: Review your calendar and make sure you have time blocked off to complete your most important and urgent tasks.
🔮 Every week I pull a tarot card to give us guidance for the week. Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.
Week of May 20, 2024: Six of Cups (reversed)
It’s time to leave the past in the past and focus on the present.
The reversed Six of Cups reminds you to evaluate your relationship with the past and the present.
Reflect on whether nostalgia is hindering your ability to embrace current opportunities. Embrace the present moment for true growth and change.
Additionally, consider reconnecting with your inner child to add excitement and curiosity to your life.
Finally, be mindful of any private journeys down memory lane and how they may impact your relationships with others.
Affirmation: I embrace the present moment, releasing attachment to the past and welcoming new opportunities with curiosity and joy.
☕️ Monday Musings are thoughts and stories from my own entrepreneurial and personal-growth journeys. I hope to eventually share more of your stories here, too. Grab your favorite beverage while you read, and please hit ‘reply’ to share your thoughts!
Monday Musings: Finding Flow
I’m a firm believer that a key ingredient to having your best week ever is getting into a flow state multiple times throughout the week.
That feeling when you’re just in the zone, fully immersed in what you’re working on.
Time is different in flow.
You don’t know how long you’ve been working, but you do know you finally #gotshitdone.
We know how incredible it feels to be in flow, yet it isn’t uncommon to go days or even weeks without getting into a flow state.
Why is this?
Unfortunately for many of us, we have the attention span of a goldfish.
And it takes about 10-15 minutes of focused attention to really get into a flow state.
Which means that we usually end up getting distracted or switching tasks before we actually enter flow.
Think about it, when was the last time you thought to turn your notifications off, close all those open tabs, and focus solely on getting something done with zero interruptions?
Has it been a while?
If so, that’s okay! Let’s commit together to get at least 3 flow state days in this week.
Like everything else in my week, I usually have to plan my flow time. I call it Focus Work on my calendar, and I know that I typically do my best work between 11-1 so I’ll block that time off on my calendar so no one can schedule any meetings with me.
Then, here’s some other helpful tips for getting into flow:
Set a goal: What do you want to accomplish during this time? Know exactly what you plan to work on so you don’t waste time trying to figure out what you should be doing.
Come prepared: I find you can get into flow quicker if you show up already knowing what you plan to work on, and have the tools/materials you need to perform the task. That way you can get right to work.
This includes your environment: What kind of lighting do you prefer? Do you like to light a candle, or spritz some room spray? Do you have your beverage(s)? Do you want music? Is your desk clean? Make your space comfortable.
Eliminate distractions: This is perhaps the most important step. Put your phone on do not disturb, close your inbox, mute Teams, Slack, etc, and if you need to, put a do not disturb sign on your office door.
Be mindful of the moment: Take a few deep, centering breaths. Release any tension you’re carrying and just be present without any expectations.
If you find yourself getting distracted or unable to get into flow, don’t get discouraged. Try to recognize what’s causing the distraction or preventing you from getting there and consider how you can prevent/eliminate it next time.
As an example – I find it difficult to get into flow when I’m listening to music with lyrics because I typically want to sing along and that prevents me from fully entering flow. So now I know when I’m trying to get into the zone I need instrumental music or even just silence.
Of course, as with all things in life, the more you do it, the easier it gets to enter flow. You’ll find what days/times work best for you, what kind of environment you enjoy, and how long you can typically stay in the zone.
I’m going to block some time off on my calendar on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. Let me know if you decide to do the same and we can check in with each other at the end of the week to see how things went!
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👯♀️ Are we following each other on Instagram yet? If not, let’s fix that.
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