Eliminate Distractions To Get Into Flow State

Being strategic is hard. Especially when it comes to sitting down and actually doing the work. This article will help you eliminate distractions to get into flow state. Getting into flow state is key for completing those strategic tasks that often get put on the back burner. The challenge of actually doing strategic focused work is especially relevant for Medical Affairs teams because Medical Affairs professionals are:

1) Super busy
2) Type A folks who want to do everything

Challenges of Doing Focused Strategic Work

Did the week whiz by and you didn’t do a single high-impact task that you planned? Or did you manage to carve out some time but then 1000 other things popped up? It’s frustrating when you realize you aren’t working on the needle-movers.

Doing focused strategic work is counterintuitive to our current work environment filled with real-time notifications and a “go go go” mentality. With so many meetings and “important” things popping up all the time, it’s impossible to get into flow state. The most ironic part is that doing the focused strategic work takes you out of this reactionary work mode in the future and saves you time! It’s the classic chicken and the egg problem.

Eliminate Distractions to Get into Flow State

If you want to be strategic and maximize your impact, it’s imperative to complete your strategic tasks. I’m not going to sugar coat this, you will have to work for it. Distractions are coming in from all angles trying to steal your focus. Eliminate distractions to get into flow state with these 2 simple steps. This way you can actually get your high-impact activities done. Flow state here you come!

1. Identify your distractors

Observe yourself non-judgmentally. What is pulling you away from your focused work and preventing you from getting into flow state? Here are mine:

👉 Email and LinkedIn being open on my computer. My brain absolutely cannot focus when my subconscious knows those are one click away.

👉 Being hungry. I have to be well fed or I will not get into flow state because I am just thinking about snacks.

2. Get rid of them

Now that you are aware of what will prevent you from doing strategic high-impact work, you can make a plan to get rid of them before you sit down to get into flow. For me, this means closing all my internet tabs and putting my phone away. I time block my strategic focused work after having meals so that my belly is not distracting me.

Conclusions

Be realistic about how much distractions prevent you from doing strategic work and getting into flow state. Then do everything you can to get rid of them so that you can do your best work. Doing strategic work and getting into flow doesn’t come naturally. Otherwise, we would all be doing it all the time!

Medical Affairs is the strategic pillar in their organization. But can a Medical Affairs team be strategic if they aren’t doing the strategic work? Identify your distractors and then eliminate them. Create time in your calendar to get the high-impact needle-moving activities done. Here are some tips for aligning your calendar to strategic priorities.

What are your distractors and how do you get rid of them?

Read Next

Let’s Connect On Social Media