The worst day to give this advice (or the best one, who knows?) but I wanted to share the one single thing that has helped the most to get into a deep flow state: intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but rather when you should eat them. It's indeed important to eat well but sometimes not eating is even better.
When the cycles take place within the day, it's also known as time-restricted feeding.
I follow a mild pattern when I fast around 15 hours a day (typically from 22:00 when I finish dinner to 13:00, lunchtime).
How intermittent fasting has improved my work life
I started with intermittent fasting when family logistics became complicated. Meaning that I wasn't able to work long days anymore. I had to make sure every single working minute was well spent. And I was failing at that. Easily prey of distractions and spending a ridiculous proportion of my working time in any kind of state that would minimally resemble a flow state.
Intermittent fasting was one of the many changes I introduced in my daily routine as I was getting desperate. Intermittent fasting has many benefits (some are more scientifically proven than others). The key ones in my case were:
- Saving time
- Developing more self-control
- A clearer mind
These benefits helped me a lot to maximize my concentration and productivity. In a fasting state, I quickly get into a flow state in the morning. No cravings, no distractions. I do need to be careful after lunch.
Starting with intermittent fasting
If you think this is not for you, you're wrong. In the end, I'm just asking you to skip breakfast. Some recommendations to get you into fasting in no time:
- Drink as usual. Coffee is allowed (but no sugar / no milk)
- Eat the same amounts of food as before, you're just distributing them differently but nobody is forcing you to eat less.
- You can do sport as usual. I often go to the gym in the morning and never had any issue (the first day I brought with me some sugar and chocolate in case I had the feeling I was about to pass out but never had to use them).
- Start by delaying the breakfast. In fact, I typically had two small breakfast during the morning, one when I woke up and the other one around 10-11. I started by removing the first one and once I got used to that I removed the second one but advanced lunchtime to noon. Finally, I moved back lunchtime to my normal schedule.
If you dare to try it, let me know whether intermittent fasting it's helping you too!!
Top comments (2)
IF is awesome, though you should probably emphasise the physical benefits more otherwise people will likely brush it off as another dieting fad.
Many studies show IF is conducive to fat loss and lean muscle mass gain because of its positive effects on hormone regulation. So, as a very general rule of thumb, eating x no. of calories within 24 hours as 2-3 big meals is better than eating the same no. of calories spread out as 5-6 smaller meals/snacks.
When in doubt, fast
Hi Jordan,
I agree with the benefits you mention but I just wanted to focus on my own experience as I'm not an expert on nutrition and therefore I cannot give a scientific general opinion on fasting effects.