ASK ERIN: FIND YOUR FLOW

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE | [email protected]

Do you know what it means to “find your flow” or be “in the flow” of life? I believe that it is a space –or moment in time – where you are truly happy and fulfilled with every aspect of who you are and what you are doing. For instance, when I am in flow, I feel rejuvenated, excited and optimistic about the things to come. During these times I can come up with (and implement) great ideas that will propel me forward in my career and in my home life. No job or goal feels too large or overwhelming, and I can get things done! Needless to say, I love finding my flow and I try to stay in it as long as possible. So, have or ever been “in flow” or are you in it right now? If not, I am here to help you find it and you can thank me later!

STEP ONE: Recall the last time you were in your “sweet spot.” How did you feel? What were you doing? What time of the day did it begin and end? Did it last several days to weeks or mere hours? If you have never been in an optimum place, this is your time to use your visualization skills and actually imagine yourself there. Then you can answer the same questions above. The answers to these questions are important because they will help you to replicate the flow experience. After all, you have to know where you are going in order to get there!

STEP TWO: Work on fighting distractions. When you are in flow, you are so focused that you are not easily distracted. However, this is a learned skill. You have to become mindful of the distractions and then let them be. Do not entertain them during your most important tasks, and you will be able to hang in there longer. The good news is that once a task is completed while you are so focused, the easier it is to move onto the next task and actually complete it. Flow is a compounding state. The more you flow, the more you flow! This good place can be almost perpetual if you practice it enough.

STEP THREE: Make sure that you enjoy what you are doing. Unfortunately, this is a KEY part of getting in or being in flow. You have to love what you are doing or you will never reach flow. So if you are currently in a job or situation that you do not love, change it now. As stated above, being “in flow” makes you feel happy and creative but your situation has to lend itself in that direction before it can occur.

STEP FOUR: Create a space that inspires change and new ideas. You should have an organized and clean space that is full of things that inspire you – books, pictures, pets, etc. All of these things will remind you of the task at hand and will contribute to keeping you in or getting you in flow. Think about it, can you concentrate in chaos and disarray? I bet not. Do you feel more alive when you are reading a good book and have your kitty in your lap? I do! I also keep a notebook and pens near my workspace so I can jot down ideas as they come into my mind!

STEP FIVE: Schedule the time! When are you at your best? Early morning? Late night? Or somewhere in between? To find your flow you MUST know your best times of the day and then schedule tasks accordingly. Be sure to schedule thinking time and reading time, too! It is imperative that you do things that inspire you and make you feel alive! What does that look like for you? For me, I feel alive and excited when I am reading, playing with my kids, decorating, and organizing. I make sure to include at least one of these activities into my every day.

STEP SIX: Do something that scares you every day. I know you have heard this advice before, but did you take it? Do you do one thing every day that scares you or pushes you out of your comfort zone? I may not fit something into every single day, but I certainly look for ways to do this multiple times per week. Some ideas include – Trying a new restaurant, going to a networking meeting, reaching out to a potential client that you have never met, posting a less than flattering picture of yourself on social media, etc. The ideas are endless!

STEP SEVEN: Include gratitude. To stay in flow you must begin to notice the things that you are grateful for. Make it a ritual to think of two to three things that you are grateful for every night before going to bed. What happened to you today that made you happy, for instance? The bird that visited your garden? The smile your daughter gave you after bath time? The friend who called just to say “hi”? There are plenty of things to be grateful for and when you begin to call attention to them and notice them, they will multiply and so will your state of flow.

STEP EIGHT: Reap the rewards!! Now that you are in flow, you can reap the rewards! You will feel happier and you will get more done than you ever thought possible. You are the only one who can stall your flow. Will you let that happen? I hope not.

If you ever get out of flow and need help getting back in, please email me! I can help with just a few suggested adjustments to your schedule and/or your environment.