Only 8,736 days left

As I walked into the kitchen, the rare winter sun blinding me briefly, my wife asked me how my day was. What had I been up to?

As someone who's retired, but too young to be retired, this question can often be a challenge. Should I tell the truth? Is watching 5 hours of YouTube an acceptable answer?

But on this particular day, I’d been making music (yes, I’m a music producer).

The last thing I remember was my wife leaving for work that morning and me wandering down to my music studio. But that was 8 hours ago.

What HAD I been doing since then?

I’m not so young anymore. I can’t afford to lose 8 hours. I’ve only got another 8,736 days left on this planet (more or less) and I’d like to make them count.

Being absorbed

When was the last time you were so immersed in something that you lost track of time?

Genuinely so focused and energised that hours flew by without you even noticing. That feeling of being so absorbed in what you’re doing that you forgot about the stresses and mundanities of daily life.

I love that feeling.

Think back to what you were doing. Was it an old hobby? Maybe a project at work that hit the sweet spot between challenging and satisfying? Whatever it was, that sense of effortless focus probably felt as energising as it was calming.

Shouldn’t we all be making more time for these moments?

Why do we lose track of time?

There’s actually a term for this state of mind—flow. Coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow describes that feeling when you’re completely “in the zone.” You’re fully present, deeply engaged, and nothing else seems to matter in that moment. Time feels irrelevant.

But here’s the kicker: when we’re in flow, not only do we feel more productive, we’re also happier. It’s like we tap into a state of effortless motivation, where the work feels like play, and that ever-growing to-do list becomes a distant memory.

What’s really happening?

Flow might seem like magic, but it’s actually rooted in science. When you’re in flow, your brain starts to work in a unique way. You stop overthinking and just do.

Your prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for doubt and self-consciousness—takes a backseat. As a result, you’re less critical of yourself, and you’re more creative, decisive, and engaged. You aren’t second-guessing yourself; you’re just doing.

On top of that, your body releases a flood of neurochemicals—dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins—that make you feel good, even euphoric. It’s no wonder that once you enter this state, it’s hard to pull yourself away.

What activities get us there?

Here’s the million-dollar question: how do we find more of these magical moments?

Flow doesn’t happen with just any old task. Scrolling through social media won’t cut it (even if it feels like you’re in a time warp).

Flow tends to show up when you’re doing something that challenges you just the right amount—not so hard that it stresses you out, but not so easy that you get bored.

For some, it can be work-related. You might find flow while coding, writing, or solving a tricky problem. For others, it’s more physical—running, rock climbing, dancing, or even gardening can do the trick.

For me, it happens more often than not when I’m messing around on a synthesizer or at the golf course.

For you, it could also be something creative like painting or playing an instrument. What’s consistent is the combination of focus and enjoyment. You’re working, but it doesn’t feel like work.

So, what activities bring you into flow? Is it a hobby you’ve long neglected? Or maybe something new you haven’t tried yet but have always been curious about?

How to find flow more often

Great, so we know flow is amazing. But how do we make it a regular part of our lives?

Create the Right Conditions. Flow requires focus, and focus requires an environment where distractions are minimal. Try to carve out specific times during your day for uninterrupted work or play. Set your phone aside. Close your email. If you’re constantly being pulled away from the task at hand, flow becomes impossible.
Challenge Yourself (just enough). Remember, flow happens when there’s a balance between skill and challenge. If you’re tackling something too easy, you’ll get bored. If it’s too hard, you’ll get frustrated. Aim for activities that push you just outside your comfort zone.
Do What You Love. This one might seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: flow happens most often when we’re doing things we genuinely enjoy. So, if your daily routine is filled with activities that don’t excite you, it’s time to make some changes. Find room for hobbies, passions, or new interests that light you up.
Practice, Practice, Practice. Flow isn’t some rare, mystical experience that only shows up on good days. The more you engage with the things that bring you into this state, the easier it becomes to find that rhythm again. Like any skill, practice helps you get better at finding flow.

Bringing more flow into your life

While flow might sound like it’s reserved for artists, athletes, or entrepreneurs tackling groundbreaking projects, it can actually be woven into everyday life.

Whether it’s a passion project on the side, a morning run, or simply the way you approach your day-to-day tasks, flow is accessible. The key is identifying what makes you lose track of time—and then creating more opportunities for it.

Maybe it’s time to rethink how we’re spending our time? Are we prioritising tasks that offer no real challenge or enjoyment?

I know there's a lot of mundane shit we all have to do each day. But with only 8,736 days left, surely we deserve to spend some of those absorbed in an activity we love?

It might be time to let some of those "admin" tasks go. Or at least delegate those to someone else? (As an aside, sites like Fiverr and Taskrabbit offer a cheap way to reclaim your day).

On the flip side, what have you been putting off because it seems too hard? You might find that, with a bit of focus, those “difficult” tasks become the gateway to flow.

Either way, it's worth consciously trying to get into a Flow state as often as you can. It's good for your stress levels and makes you happier. And who doesn't want that?

Jon "the Artist formerly known as" Kaye

P.S. It's difficult to get much traction making music these days. Over 50,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify every day. Yesterday, I happened to be one of those 50,000 uploads and I'd be truly grateful if you could check out my new song, add it to your favourite "Get in the Flow" playlist and give it a listen.