Getting "in the zone"

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I have obsessions, but sometimes I find nothing interesting and become incredibly bored. One reason is that when I'm focusing on my obsessions sometimes, I can't get "in the zone". I become discouraged by the lack of progress and become bored.

However, I sometimes get "in the zone" and focus more on what I'm currently doing. I can't seem to get "in the zone" though, it just creeps up on me and happens outta nowhere. It would be nice if I can manually get myself "in the zone" though, I wouldn't get so bored then.

Just a few questions:

Whenever you're "in the zone", do you even notice or are you so focused on your obsessions that you don't even notice?

Do you know how you got "in the zone" in the first place?

If you happen not to be "in the zone", how do you get in it?

My life would be a lot better if I knew the answers to those last two questions.

I've learned of a couple different ways of being in the zone. One has to do with drugs so I wont be telling people about that. But for instance, my major obsessions include "sports video games" and writing. Now it takes patience and attention, when they combine, you're almost assured it. You can't be thinking about getting in the zone, you are correct that it just happens. You pretty much have to just clear your mind and focus on what needs to be done to satisfy your obsession.

For example, when I write, I dont tell myself "this is what I want to write about, I'll sit down for 30 minutes and if nothing comes then I'll quit". In fact, I never give anything I write a title until its completed. I don't write from my mind but from my heart/soul. Yes the brain chooses the words I use but I feel it out. Being in the zone is like perfect harmony with what you're doing. When you're running and you just feel how the strides are perfectly in sync with your breathing. When nothing seems to be going wrong and all you can think about is how everything is so easy. You can't allow worldly matters to preoccupy your mind.

If you want to know the other way, feel free to PM me. I will not condone speaking in a public forum about private matters of any kind.

When I get "in the zone" it just happens. like writing, drawing, making lists or adding my latest acquisition to the relevant collection list. It can't be forced it just happens. It CAN be helped by putting ypurself in the right atmosphere so if it's going to happen, it's encouraged, but it's certainly no guarantee..

When I'm "in the zone" I don't notice anything external unless it's unignorable (.E.G if I were to smell smoke, I'd look up through sheer survival instinct. If someone yells at me it'll startle me out of it.) I do not notice the passage of time either. much to my parent's annoyance, as I can spend4 hours plus in it. They don't like yelling me out of it because I startle so badly, and then get really upset.

As I come "ouit of the zone" naturally (E.g withOUT it being premature) I do notice I'm on an natural "high. I just feel happy, satisfied and sometimes just a little smug. I'm literally dizzy with it and hate when that feeling fades.

Julie

yeah i get into flow with topics of interest just happens but what i have also noticed is that i also suffer from aspie inertia as much as aspie zone builidnig, i.e i have an inerest but cant be bothered persuing it, just watch tv i guess.

The original poster's description is something I experience almost exactly!! !!

Some obsessions are harder to do anything about. For instance, if I'm obsessed with programming a tool that Ive been developing, I get in the zone. However, becoming obsessed with notions or ideas causes me to surf the web without getting any gain out of the process.

Y'all I'm not obsessed wit anythang.

I never notice i'm 'in the zone' until i look up from what i'm doing, 4 hours has passed, i haven't eaten, or moved from my seat or heard anything that's been said to me. Though if people keep talking to me they can get my attention.
When i get tired i find it harder to get in the zone by doing something active. Watching films or tv works in a passive way.

[quote="Morphia"]I never notice i'm 'in the zone' until i look up from what i'm doing, 4 hours has passed, i haven't eaten, or moved from my seat or heard anything that's been said to me. Though if people keep talking to me they can get my attention.
{/quote]

You put it more eloquently than I ever could have, despite the effort, in less words. That is it EXACTLY. I don't know how I get there, i don't recall going INTO it, just coming out.

Julie

I spend many years going in and out of the zone, feeling depressed when I wasn't in it, not knowing how to get in.

Three years ago I discovered gaming and internet, now I'm in the zone almost all the time, if gaming and internet doesn't do it for me I can go back to reading or watching sports.

Like now nothing much is going on till Saints Row comes out, I've just been waching Tour de France, but I have a football manager for pc I haven't played yet and I know I'll be in the zone once I start to play it.

I also feel very satisfied coming out of it, like I've just eaten and am full.

Late nights. My brain's the most active and hungry for information later on during the night, so if I'm already on the computer ...

Um, I only notice when I realise how much time has passed.

ADD is a common cormobid to AS.

Some people with ADD can "hyperfocus", which basically means they concentrate extremely intensely on one thing at the exclusion of everything else.

It's probably not that relavent, but it's an interesting side not at least.

I never notice when I get into the zone till I come out of it several hours later
I really do not know how I slip into the "zone" other than sheer focus the world narrows and poof time dissappears.
What I would like to know is how to get out of the zone? I get so focused that I will forget to eat, go to the bathroom, sleep ect... when I come out I usualy feel exhusted hungery and got to pee so bad it hurts.
the good thing is most people around me a work regonize when I get like this and try not to let anyone bug me and will make me stop and eat.

The Zone, for me, can be brought on without my permission, or brought on consciously. For example if I am bored, I can indeed mentally tell myself to concentrate on something, and I can do it. It is a matter of clearing your mind, and making your obsession the only thing that really exists for you. That way you can admire the object/matter in all angles and in greater detail. It all has to do with concentration... hyperfocus.

Like Julie said (Hi Julie!), when I'm in the zone I don't notice, it just happens. To me it has happened while painting or drawing, or when concentrating on something that requires a lot of my attention. Even when reading I have focused and not noticed time passing by, like two days ago, read about an hour and a half of a Dalí book before going to bed

As many mentioned, it helps when being in the right mood and having all you need at hand.