Doing The (Easy) Work

GM. This is Harry. Welcome to another episode of Execute 🤌🏻, where you learn the best spells to take on the dark arts. Just like Hogwarts, but less floating candles. And less turnover.

Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

Four ways to get into flow state REGULARLYResources to help you write your own book (if you want)Entertaining Gifs

Part 1: Falling Into Flow State

START. Progress will come.

Flow state doesn’t accompany you as soon as you sit down, it overcomes you like sleep. You don’t know when you start sleeping – one moment you’re restless and trying to make ‘sleep’ happen, and the next thing you know your alarm is blaring in the morning. The transition is invisible and instant.

Every time I think about what I want to write - it doesn't come to me.

I could be on the train, on the bus, walking or doing a kettlebell exercise at the gym and I usually can't find something to write about.

But when I START writing, I know. I know what it is. I know exactly what I want to write about.

I’ve done this enough times that I know there’s something in my head, I just have to open the tap and let it run for a while before the water gets cleaner.

Start without expectation.

Start in the morning.

Now, this is not always easy to do. We’re assaulted by notifications and distractions as soon as we wake up. It takes some willpower to NOT be drawn into the world.

Fight through it.

Because in the morning, it’s easier to find flow. The front part of your brain, the pre-frontal cortex doesn’t wake up for a while. That’s why you usually feel a little calmer when you wake up.

Early in the morning - it’s hard to overthink. Your mind is empty. So it’s easier for the flow to take over.

I’ve written about this in more detail in the past here.

Action:

Step 1: Set the alarm for 30 minutes earlier than your usual wake up time.

Step 2: Wake up and create.

Raise your heart rate

For the last two weeks, my gym workouts have only consisted of Kettlebell exercises.

I've stopped 'lifting' heavy weights and am working on something new, something I can sustain when I'm in Spain without access to a gym.

And man...does it hurt.

I feel like a beginner. And it's great.

The workout really gets your heart rate up, especially when you start getting to 20kg+ kettlebells. I can't really focus on the music and I definitely can't listen to a podcast while I'm doing the swings.

I'm totally immersed in the exercise - and it feels amazing.

And as soon as my heartbeat is at a certain level and I’m breathing hard – I’m back in flow.

IF you’re interested in the workout I’ve been doing (it’s not for the faint hearted), it’s here.

Manipulate your environment (and senses)

On Monday, if you were in Sydney you would've seen some serious lightning. I was at the gym in the afternoon and I saw the sky darken. It was like the sun had set at 12.30pm. I heard someone even got struck by lightning that day...poor dude.

But anyway - that day was amazing for my deep flow state. I occupied a meeting room, opened my laptop and punched out some serious work that needed to get done.

It was pretty epic. And when I needed to think, I just looked out at the soul-drenching rain and lightning.

Here's a hack: there are playlists on Spotify and YouTube that give you sounds of thunderstorms and fireplaces. Those two things are my go-to for focus. I can have rain sounds playing on a sunny day and I feel like it's raining outside.

It helps me relax.

And when I relax, I get into the flow. The flow is triggered by relaxation. You can't make it happen by force.

So first, learn to relaxxxxxxxx…. and you don’t have to wait for lightning to strike.

You can get yourself relaxed pretty quickly. Scrolling on social media is not a form of relaxation, despite what your brain says.

Part 2: How to Write A Book

Since I haven’t finished mine yet, this is an unqualified opinion.

I got a request to share what I’ve learned about learning to write. So I complied this. Feel free to dig in.

I’ll keep adding to this as I learn, so feel free to bookmark if you’re on the writing journey too.

That’s about it for today.

Have a great week.

And dive into the flow, man ☮️

Harry

P.S. if you learned something useful, forward this to a friend. If you like your friend.

P.P.S. Right now, I’m reading ‘The Surrender Experiment’. Great book so far. Check it out here.