Hitting Peak Performance now and then

How many times has it happened in your life?

You have a deadline to meet, and you have not done much; you have a paper to finish, and you are yet to start.

Then suddenly, on the 11th hour, things finally fall into place.

Your output just skyrockets, your concentration becomes meditative, you are in a different zone altogether.

We all face this situation.

We first procrastinate, and then when the shit is about to hit the roof, we get up, we are shaken, and we somehow manage to pull out.

It used to happen to me frequently.

Now assume, we hit that kind of concentration in your normal course of time.

What could have been the final result?

Sometimes, I cannot go beyond one line even after reading that line repeatedly.

It just does not make a dent in my brain.

Your mind tricks you, and it knows that there is more time, it hovers all around, and you simply cannot concentrate.

But, when stakes are high, like the previous night of your final examination, meeting the project delivery deadline, or submitting an RFP response, you suddenly get all your concentration.

It does not matter if you are skipping your lunch or compromising your sleep.

You get into a state called the Flow State of the mind, where you can hit your peak performance.

It is possible to get into the Flow State by practice.

High performing individuals have cracked the code.

You get into a Flow State when you are doing stuff that you absolutely love to do.

You can get into a Flow State because you are so excited about the work, or maybe you are a bit nervous, and you are under Eustress.

Goals and deadlines can also stimulate your Flow State.

Some people are turned on by the challenges posed to them, and they hit Flow State.

Whatever may be the reasons, once the Flow State is stimulated, the job will get done, and generally, the quality of the output is also better.

However, the entire cycle of the Flow State is not smooth.

You try to focus and get into the zone.

Initially, there are struggles, and you may not get the required concentration.

Then comes frustration.

Some people have a higher capacity to bear Frustration and Boredom.

They will stick to the course and try to bring back the focus; people with a low tolerance threshold will give up.

When you are not getting the required focus, it is better to take a break for some time, not a very long one, refresh, and start again to stay on the course.

Have you experienced that situation?

You are into some real critical job and not making good progress; suddenly, you start doing domestic chores, pick the newspaper, or pick the remote.

I face this.

If I had a paper or assignment to be finished, I would suddenly start a trivial job like arranging the books or doing something in the kitchen.

A clear sign of not being able to focus and hit the Flow State.

In such a scenario, a short, intermediate break can help to hit the Flow State.

Once you hit the Flow State and deliver the output, it’s important to reward yourself.

Recuperate; your brain needs rest because it did intense work for a long period of time, and it needs recovery.

Next time if you have not been able to hit the Flow State, do not give up; take a break and start again.