The Greatest Productivity Hack I’ve Ever Learned: How to Get Into Flow

What if you could get more meaningful work done in 45 minutes than you normally accomplish in several hours?

In this Monday Morning Mentor episode of The Jason Wright Show, Jason explores one of the most powerful productivity tools he’s learned: the flow state.

After a conversation with one of his mentees reminded him of his previous episodes on flow, Jason found himself experiencing it firsthand—sitting down, eliminating distractions, focusing on a single problem, and accomplishing an enormous amount of work in a relatively short period of time.

But the real lesson isn't simply that flow exists.

You have to create the conditions for it.

Jason shares his personal process for preparing his mind and environment for deep, uninterrupted work: clearing his desk, closing unnecessary tabs, putting away the phone, using breathing to settle his mind, choosing one clearly defined objective, and—perhaps most importantly—giving himself permission to ignore everything else.

For anyone whose mind is constantly reminding them of the other 20 things they could be doing, that last step may be the most important.

In This Episode

Jason discusses:

• Why flow can feel almost like a productivity superpower
• Steven Kotler's work studying flow and peak performance
• How extreme performers use intense focus to accomplish extraordinary things
• Why flow doesn't simply happen—you prepare for it
• Jason's pre-flow routine, including deep breathing and box breathing
• The importance of defining one task at hand
• Why your phone should be out of the room
• The danger of constantly thinking about the opportunity cost of whatever you're doing
• Why interruptions can destroy deep concentration
• The relationship between flow, deep work, and focused attention
• The "Einstein Method" and the power of self-imposed constraints
• Why saying no may be one of the most important productivity skills
• How too many good opportunities can prevent you from doing your most meaningful work
• A simple framework for creating your own distraction-free flow session

The Big Idea

We often assume productivity means figuring out how to fit more things into our lives.

Jason argues that the opposite may be true.

The path to exceptional work is often subtraction.

Clear the desk.

Close the tabs.

Put away the phone.

Quiet the mind.

Choose the task.

Then give that task your complete attention.

Instead of constantly asking, "What else could I be doing?" make a decision:

For the next 45–90 minutes, this is the only thing I'm doing.

That self-imposed constraint creates the space necessary for deeper concentration—and potentially flow.

Jason's Flow Formula

1. Clear your mind.

Take a few deep breaths or use box breathing to settle yourself.

2. Define the task.

Know exactly what you're going to accomplish during the session.

3. Clear your environment.

Remove anything unrelated to the work in front of you.

4. Eliminate interruptions.

Put the phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. Let people around you know that you're unavailable.

5. Create a time boundary.

Give yourself 45, 60, or 90 minutes when this task is the only thing that matters.

6. Keep returning your attention to the task.

When your mind starts reminding you about everything else you could be doing, remind yourself:

"Right now, this is all I'm doing."

The Takeaway

Some of the most important things you want to accomplish may never require more time.

They may require better attention.

If you're constantly distracted, bouncing between projects, checking your phone, responding to messages, or thinking about everything else you could be doing, experiment with deliberately creating a protected period for deep work.

Go off the grid.

Pick one thing.

And give it everything you've got.

You may be surprised by how much you're capable of accomplishing when your entire mind is finally pointed in one direction.

The Jason Wright Show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Jason Wright Show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a five-star rating and share the episode with someone who could use a little more focus—and a lot fewer distractions.