Working remotely or asynchronously can offer you more flexibility, autonomy, and productivity, but it also comes with some challenges for your focus and flow. In this article, you'll learn what focus and flow are, why they are important for your time management, and how to achieve them while working remotely or asynchronously.
Focus and flow are two interrelated concepts that describe your mental state when you are fully engaged and immersed in a task. Focus is the ability to concentrate on one thing and ignore distractions, while flow is the optimal state of focus where you feel in control, motivated, and creative. When you are in a state of focus and flow, you can perform at your best and enjoy your work.
If focus is understanding the target, then flow is the ability to keep firing arrows and hit the mark (for a set period of time). Flow is the "result" of staying focused. We will end up in what athletes call "the zone." Ironically, once we realize we are in the "state of flow" or "zone," it is already fading. The flow state is when we lose all track of time, all sense of ourselves, and are fully immersed in whatever it is we are doing.
Focus and flow are important for your time management because they help you achieve more in less time, improve your quality of work, and reduce your stress and burnout. When you are focused and in flow, you can prioritize your tasks, avoid procrastination, and complete them efficiently and effectively. You also feel more satisfied and fulfilled with your work, which boosts your motivation and well-being.
Utilizing focus and flow periods throughout the day can maximize your work efficiency. Focus by blocking out time to dig in deep with a particular project and without interruption! Then when you switch into a flow to take care of the day-to-day details and tasks without the project looming over you.
Working remotely or asynchronously can open up more possibilities for focus and flow, but it also requires more self-discipline and organization. To achieve focus and flow in this type of work environment, you should set clear and realistic goals and deadlines, plan your work hours and breaks according to your energy levels, preferences, and availability, and choose a comfortable workspace that minimizes distractions. Utilizing tools that help you organize your tasks, track time, and collaborate with your team effectively and asynchronously can also be beneficial. Additionally, it is important to find a balance between synchronous and asynchronous communication with your team and manager. Lastly, don’t forget to reward yourself for completing tasks and celebrate your achievements with your team.
Here are 3 things I like to use to stay focused. 1. Time Management Tools: I like using apps such as Trello, Asana, or Todoist to create to-do lists and prioritize tasks. There are also Pomodoro technique timer apps like Focus@Will or Forest that I have used as well. 2. Distraction Blockers: Apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey, or RescueTime can help block distracting websites, apps, or notifications. 3. Music: As psychotic as it sounds, listening to a song on repeat has helped me enter into the state of flow. It clears background noise and basically gives me an anthem to work to.
Working remotely or asynchronously can also present some challenges to focus and flow, such as feeling isolated or disconnected from your team and manager, having an inadequate amount of autonomy over your work, experiencing technical issues or delays, and struggling to separate your work and personal life. These issues can have a detrimental effect on trust, feedback, support, motivation, accountability, alignment, work-life balance, and mental health.
To effectively manage focus and flow while working remotely or asynchronously, it is important to establish regular communication with your team and manager. Additionally, seek and provide help when needed, and troubleshoot any technical issues or delays promptly. Moreover, it is important to set boundaries between work and personal life, as well as practice self-care. Finally, taking care of physical and mental health is essential for success in this environment.