Don't go with the flow; get IN the flow!

You know that feeling when you are doing something and you lose all track of time, your energy seems limitless, and the rest of the world falls away and it's just you and whatever you're doing?

That's you in the flow state.

It's euphoric and it gives you a sense that you're doing exactly what you're supposed supposed to be doing.

This week, I chatted with Flow State Expert and Author Diane Allen about how she discovered ways to access flow on purpose and how you can bring it into your work life for more joy and purpose. Here are some highlights.

Listen/watch the podcast here https://bywdreams.mailerpage.com/130

1. Stress vs. Flow

Diane discussed her history as a concern violinist and the challenge of not performing to her full potential in auditions because of the anxiety associated with them. However, when the pressure was off, she was able to play a high level because playing music was her access point to her flow state. Studies have shown that while stress narrows focus and limits ideation, the flow state does the opposite. She mentioned that there are physical things one can do to alleviate the stress of performance anxiety such as massaging one's Achilles heel which tightens as one's stress activates your fight/flight/freeze response. Physically releasing the stress in your tendon can help reduce the mental stress one feels.

2. How to find your access to flow state

For some of us, our work itself might be our access point to flow, however, what if you get into flow most easily doing something recreationally? Diane has a framework for you to analyze how you get into flow so that you can find ways to translate that to your professional life. It involves asking yourself three questions: where, what, why. The first part is asking yourself "where do I get into flow state." While I used to have my desk tucked away in a closet so that I could economize on space, I found the lack of natural lighting depressing. I kept being drawn to a wall of windows in our living room and I found a tiny table and starting working there. I became so much more productive in this space that I made it my permanent office and now, the living room has essentially become my office Monday-Friday. For you, perhaps the "where" is a tropical island. Can you bring plants, colors, images, or scents into your space that can help transport you there? Or can you play music from that place to get you into the zone. Use all your senses as you answer these questions.

After "where" you ask yourself "what are you doing that helps get you in the zone?" In one of Diane's stories, she writes about someone who got into flow on the ski slopes. Before he'd start skiing, he'd clean his goggles and prepare his playlist and that helps get him in the zone. He started doing something similar at work -- straightening up his desk to a play list -- and found that it also helped get him in into flow state at work.

"Why" involves more introspection and thinking about why that thing gets you into flow. Do you love serving people? Do you like challenging yourself? Whatever the answer is, how can you bring that into other areas of your life to take advantage of the creativity and productivity inspired by flow state?

3. Flow State Exists at the Intersection of Purpose, Skill, and Challenge

If you think about video games, they change constantly to match the player's skill level where they are at. That's why they can be so addictive for some people, because the game is never done. There's also something new to do. In Diane's work, she was approached by someone who worked in fish packaging and after speaking with Diane, he realized that the reason why his employees who washed the fishes were always getting injured was because they had no sense of purpose, they weren't doing anything skilled, and they weren't being challenged. People were literally bored into injury because they didn't pay attention. If you are having trouble accessing flow state, try tapping into purpose, skill, and challenge and see how that elevates your experience.

Listen/watch the podcast here https://bywdreams.mailerpage.com/130

Next Episodes

Nov 20, 2025: A Chat with My Friends About Handling Challenging Family During the Holidays

Nov 27, 2025: Planning for Holiday Leftovers (rebroadcast)

Resources:

-http://MeetWithDianeAllen.com schedule a 20-minute chat with Diane to learn how you can access flow

-Get Organized 2026 https://bywdreams.mailerpage.c... (watch the podcast for a special code for 25% off)

-Favorite Planning Tools (stickers, ink, etc) https://tinyurl.com/shopbywd

-Start my life design course "Harness the Power of Planning" now! http://tinyurl.com/hpopondeman...

-Website: http://BYWDreams.com

-My books: http://TinyURL.com/BYWDbooks