I too do not have a clear understanding of such terms as I’m yet to have a PCE myself.

I have been practising something similar[1] with some success – except it is about “an experience that occurs before perception and feeling”. Alas, feeling often fails to get the much needed notice.. instead that attention goes to thinking. My favourite example is this – can the experience of flow continue to exist when one begins to feel stressed/excited? (hint – stress/excitement is a feeling, not mere thinking).

[1] http://actualfreedom.com.au/richard/articles/attentivenesssensuousnessapperceptiveness.htm

the WSJ has this interesting article about paying attention, I wanted to share !

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124018463826033223.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#articleTabs%3Darticle

• The_Other_Swaroop();

@Sameer Exactly, “You’re reacting all the time.”

I do the no-laptop notebook sessions too, I all it “paper therapy”

I guess the point is that if we have a way to consistently get ourselves into the flow, then we can handle the critical important aspects of our job, and then spend the other half of the day on the urgent aspects of the job.

@Varun Heh, I guess that will change when you get a job, so beware

@srid Good point. The reason I don’t have the discipline to do it after reaching work is that I already have a million thoughts buzzing in the head that I get knocked off the saddle and it’s difficult to get back on, unless I’m already riding (I hope that was a tolerable analogy…heh!)

Do the Most Important Task first thing in the morning. It’s that simple. Don’t think about what’s ahead in the day, don’t think about what bills are pending, don’t think about planning to reach office on time (just have a fixed deadline when you have to start getting ready and think no more about it). Just switch on your computer or take out your pen and paper as soon as you wake up and start working on it. The important thing is Don’t think. Just start working on it.

This is similar to what I do (just start working without thinking – and later after 15 mins or so, you get into flow) except that it does not have to be happening only in early morning.

I completely agree with your thoughts….

“How do you get into the flow?” There are two things that work for me and I find them at loggerheads against each other.
One is called being a night-owl, the other is called the MIT factor….

The solutions you’ve discussed are interesting. I’ve never managed to be a night owl – sometimes tried coffee and slept off immediately afterwards Plus with the wife and kids, the balance is all the more critical. The second actually does help – I’ve given up on classical “to-do” lists cause they usually degenerate into “not-done” lists which only continue to grow MIT does help a lot!

Sometimes, I just give up and “flow” with the interrupts till something becomes high priority. Sometimes I do a couple of no-laptop hours and sit with a notebook (the paper kind) and organize thoughts. Connectivity can often be a double edged sword, and often the discipline needed to keep that in check is just beyond us.

Nice post, will keep watching the comments – might just help