What is a peak state?
Peak state is when you are at an energized mental state, giving first-rate results and you are feeling the flow. Some people think that “when” you do the work is what the Peak State focuses on. However, if you limit your optimum work to only a certain time of the day, for instance the morning, you are in the risk of missing out on greater opportunities.
Rather than “when” you are performing a task, what matters is the “state of mind” you are at while performing the task. The state of mind is usually the leading contributing factor to how good you perform the task and the quality of its result. Therefore, in order to get the best results out of your peak state, you need to be able to identify it first.
Identifying the State of Peak Performance
- Keep a diary: For about a week, or more if need be, record your activities throughout the whole day and note down how you were feeling before, during, and after those activities.
- Analyse: After that week, analyse your diary to find a pattern of the periods of the day that you are in a state of mind when:
a) You are carrying out tasks, like writing a blog or a report, that require your brain to be turned “on” and you are at a high level of energy.
b) You are carrying out tasks that don’t require much focus, as you can potentially turn “off” your brain, and you are in a much slower zone allowing creative ideas to flow into your mind without having to do much thinking.
- Organise: On your calendar, write down the tasks you need to complete in the sections of time that counterpart the time that you are at your state of mind.
Creating Your Own State of Peak Performance
If you are willing to go the extra mile in order to get to your peak performance state, here are some ways to expedite the process of getting you there:
- Identify the existing actions that aid in prompting your state of peak performance. Then, look for ways to increase doing those actions more frequently and in more depth.
- If procrastination is a habit that you have and you can’t help it, in order to stay on track, you need to plan your day the night before and set your goals. This way you can be more productive at what you do.
- Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones to give yourself the boost you need to get to your peak performance. Never doubt your ability to do something and always say “I can do it!” Your worst enemy to achieving something that your heart desires is no one else but yourself.
by Mahjuba
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