As lawyers, we are so often doing really high priority, difficult work. 

Work that is intellectually demanding.  Often there is a lot of pressure. I've witnessed firsthand how the legal profession's demands can fragment our attention. Constant emails, instant messages, unrealistic client demands, billing requirements, competing demands, colleagues wanting that 'quick chat'. 

And that is before we even consider everything going on in our broader world.  There are a lot of distractions and it can be really challenging to focus.  

The concept of flow offers promise to tired, distracted, or overwhelmed lawyers.  

Flow, at its core, it's a state of complete and immersion in an activity. So we are at our most productive and creative space. 

When in flow, our analytical capabilities sharpen, our decision-making improves, and our ability to navigate complex legal challenges enhances. This state is particularly valuable for tasks requiring deep legal analysis or creative problem-solving.

When we are in flow we are deeply focused on our work.  Indeed, we have no awareness of anything beyond ourself.  We have merged with the task at hand.  

We're totally immersed in the activity.  

According to Steven Kotler, an expert on the flow state, there are four stages to flow. 

First is the struggle phase.  This is where there is a bit of frustration.  You grapple with a problem.  You struggle. This might be when you get a new legal request, and you're struggling to understand it. Or you're just starting to write a complex advice.   

Then there is the release phase. You let the struggle go.  

Then with a clear goal you get into the flow phase, that that golden zone where you achieve are fully immersed in tackling the problem. Like usually times since she's slow down or speed up, right? Your best ideas come effortless.

Then comes the fourth phase, recover.  This is perhaps the most overlooked phase.  But its so important! It is what allows the brain to process and consolidate the information. Without recovery, we can get to burnout. 

Take a moment and consider, when was the last time in your legal work that you got into flow? How could getting into flow more often benefit you? 

If you want to get more flow in your legal work, here are 4 practical tips you can easily implement: 

1. Distraction Management: Consciously cultivate times for deep focus.  Cut of alerts and distractions, and make agreements with your colleagues about your availability.  Perhaps try for a 90 minute session.  

2. Goal setting: Have a clearly defined goal for what you want to achieve in the 90 mins.  This allows you to focus, and not meader or procrastinate.  You'll find it much easier to trigger a flow state.  

3. Notice your energy: Rather than fighting against your natural rhythms, schedule your most demanding legal work during your peak performance windows. Reflect on the time of day you get your best work done.  

4. Make sure you have time to recover. High-performing lawyers need both:

• Micro-recovery: Short breaks between intensive work sessions
• Macro-recovery: Longer periods of disconnection from legal work

Remember to start small: identify one significant legal task each day that requires your complete attention and consider how you could foster flow.  

The ability to achieve and maintain flow states isn't just about productivity – it's about creating a sustainable approach to legal practice that supports both excellence and wellbeing.

By understanding and cultivating flow states, we can move beyond the traditional paradigm of legal practice that often leads to burnout.

If you'd like to hear more listen to our podcast episode above.  

We'll also be soon releasing an hour seminar on fostering flow where we go much deeper into the science and practical application of flow - designed specifically for lawyers.