My flavor of autism comes with the ability to hyperfixate and get into a state of flow for long stretches at a time. Let’s dive into how you can tap into this state yourself and how managers can facilitate it for their teams.

What We’ll Cover:

  • How to consistently get yourself into a flow state.
  • How managers can help their teams achieve flow states.

Nicole Forsgren nails it in The Space for Developer Productivity:

Developers often speak of “getting into the flow” or “being in the zone.” Such statements colloquially describe the concept of flow state, a mental state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment.

Simply put, it’s fun and immensely productive. So, how can you consistently get into flow?

Getting Yourself into a Flow State

🕥 Schedule Dedicated Time Blocks

First things first, block out 2-3 hours on your calendar. Flow doesn’t just happen by accident; it takes time to get there, and it’s only valuable if you can maintain it for at least 1.5 hours.

🚀 Set Specific Goals

Have a clear, achievable goal for your time block. Whether it’s drafting a PR, knocking out code reviews, or writing a spec, know what you’re aiming to accomplish.

🎯 Remove Distractions

  • Physical Environment: Identify what distracts you in your workspace and eliminate it. I work in a dark office, wear noise-canceling headphones, and keep my door shut to minimize interruptions.
  • Virtual Environment: Turn off Slack notifications, emails, and other digital distractions. I usually put a “heads down” message on my chat and check it only once every 15-60 minutes.
  • Physical Comfort: Wear comfortable clothing. My go-to flow attire is sweatpants, a hoodie, and thick socks.

💪 Get Energized

  • Take a Break: Start with a 10-15 minute break. Let your mind wander away from work. Go for a walk, play with your pets, or stretch. Do something that relaxes and clears your mind.
  • Do something that makes you relaxes and happy: Light a candle, grab a snack, or pour some coffee/tea. Do something you enjoy that lifts your spirits. For me, it’s lighting candles and sipping on cold brew or tea.
  • Do something that motivates you: Watch a motivating video or listen to some music while you review what you need to accomplish.

🔎 Become Immersed

Once you’re in the zone, staying there can be tricky. Here are some tips:

  • Noise-Canceling Headphones: Listen to music that energizes but doesn’t distract you.
  • Fidgeting/Stimming: Many neurodiverse people focus better when they fidget or stim. Try a fidget toy if you’re new to this.
  • Pairing and Body Doubling: Many developers are familiar with pairing. If you’re a hermit like me, YouTube has pre-recorded “study with me” or “work with me” videos.
  • Establish Habits and Routines: Consistent work schedules and rituals can help maintain flow. Start your day with a code review, for instance.

How Managers Can Enable Their Teams

Managers, here’s how you can help your team get into flow states:

  • Leverage Async Communication: Use asynchronous communication as much as possible.
  • Encourage Focused Time Blocks: Promote your team scheduling large blocks of uninterrupted time.
  • No Meeting Days: Schedule team days with no meetings to allow for deep work.
  • Limit Tasks: Give your team 1-3 tasks at a time. It’s hard to get into flow with a to-do list a mile long.
  • Foster a Culture of Deep Work: Celebrate achievements that come from focused efforts and share tips and tricks for achieving deep work.