Live “in the Zone”

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Being “in the zone” is wonderful. You know about the zone – not the diet, but the place and space where you do your best work. Where you’re in your groove. Where your work is exemplary. Where computer solitaire or FreeCell has little chance to derail you.

Regardless of what you call it, would it be useful for you to know how to get into the zone on a more consistent basis? You bet it would! Here’s a simple exercise you can undertake to help create that environment in which you can work at your best.

Recall a time when you were highly productive:

• Where were you?
• What time of day was it?
• Was anyone else around?
• What was the lighting?
• What was the temperature?
• What resources were available?

Think about what you did at that time:

• What were you wearing?
• What did you consume the night before?
• How long did you sleep the night before?
• With whom did you sleep the night before?
• How did you feel?
• What was your level of fitness?
• What did you eat that morning?

Consider the time of day and week

• What time of day was it?
• What day of the week was it?
• What had transpired earlier?
• What was forthcoming?

Think about the tools available:

• Were you using a computer or PDA?
• Were you using other equipment?
• Did you have a pen or pencil?
• Did you have a blank pad?
• Were you online?
• Were other resources available?
• Were periodicals, books or directories present?

Assess other factors that were present:

• Did you have a view? (a room with a view!)
• Were you in a comfortable chair?
• Were you at a desk or at a table?
• Were you in a moving vehicle, such as a plane or a train?
• Was there quiet, or soothing, background noise?
• What were the colors of the walls surrounding you?
• Were you in a room with rugs?
• Could you hear others?
• Was water nearby?
• Were you near the coffee machine?
• Was the coffee decent?

Circle each item in the previous list that was present or was a factor when you
were in the zone. Undoubtedly, insights will emerge. Next, recall another similar experience and read through each of the questions again. Which items now been circled twice?

If you can recall a third or fourth time in which you were highly productive, and run through the questions again, a strong pattern may emerge. You’ll know which factors were present at those times you seemed to be highly productive. When they’re stuck getting started on some task, self-starters emulate their zone scenarios to increase the probability of achieving great results.



Regards,



Timben