by Rennie Saunders

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when you write, you concentrate so completely that you might not hear a phone ring? You can temporarily forget about the bills you need to pay, or the dentist appointment you should probably make, and instead you become completely immersed in your work. This state of intense focus, or “flow state,” is what I am hoping to achieve every time I write. It’s something productivity expert Cal Newport termed “Deep Work.”

Deep work improves your ability to hold multiple threads of thought, piece together seemingly unrelated topics and bits, and see the root cause of actions. It is the ability to achieve a creatively meditative state for doing a thinking-based activity to the exclusion of all else.

So how do we achieve this state of deep work, especially when it’s so easy to pick up a ringing phone? Critical thinking and analysis practices, meditation, prayer, Tai Chi, and ecstatic dancing are all different forms of mental, emotional and physical mindfulness. By practicing mindfulness in different aspects of our lives, we can train our brains to enter in the mindful state more readily. And when we feel comfortable entering into this space, we can begin the process of deep work.

Imagine that your writing project is a train on a track, speeding towards a destination. When you’re in a state of deep work, distractions fly right by the window as you focus on riding that train. If you are able to recognize distractions and let them go, rather than having them capture your attention, you can focus entirely on your project. In other words, don’t get off of that train!

So, what if the doorbell rings, or your friend texts you? That’s where mindfulness comes in. Because I’ve practiced mindfulness for many years, I’ve learned to prioritize my own focus, and minimize the importance of these disturbances. If the phone does ring, I write a quick note to myself and then set it aside for later. Unless something is a true emergency, I can detach myself from most interruptions and just let them fly past me.

In my experience, the best way to develop a sense of mindfulness and arrive at that ideal flow state is to simply practice. Just as in martial arts, regular practice will help you learn the mental choreography you need in order to focus. You can learn to recognize distractions and let them go, and you’ll remember what it feels like if you find yourself in a state of deep work. By regularly practicing mindfulness as well as scheduling writing time, you’ll find that your focus improves as you become accustomed to a creative routine.

Learning to notice your own writing process, particularly your ability to focus, can be just as rewarding as finishing up that first draft. And it may even put you on a faster track to the finish line.

Rennie Saunders has built an 80,000 -person global writer’s community based on his simple, highly effective formula – Shut Up & Write. Since 2007, SU&W has inspired writers of all genres and experience levels to meet for weekly writing sessions, no critiquing or feedback required. With hundreds of chapters in over 350 cities across the globe, the process is proven to work.