Flow Fragmentation: Peak Performance is a Checklist
Steven Kotler: Annals of the Dreaded Schedule Hell of the Summer
2 min read · 26.7.2025
“If you’ve read The Art of Impossible, you know this already:
“Peak performance is a checklist. Sure, there’s variation—but if you want more flow in your life, there are six or seven things required daily, and another five or so to revisit weekly.
“On the daily: a good night’s sleep, a 90-minute deep work block, a mindfulness-based recovery activity (think sauna, yoga, long walk), a release activity (creativity micro-dosing, nature), and a few well-placed flow triggers.
“But that’s not the point.
“The point is: Doing these things requires a semi-locked schedule.
“Flexible enough to adapt to real life. Rigid enough that performance doesn’t get sacrificed on the altar of busy-ness.
“Now it’s summer. Which means travel. Friends. Holidays. And with that, schedule hell. Perhaps you know the feeling.
“Here’s the 411: Build two schedules—home and away.
“When I’m home, my clear goal list—flow practices included—runs nine to eleven items deep.
“When I’m away, it shrinks to three core items, plus whatever’s required by the day.
“Example: At home, I write. Away, I read.
“At home, I start my day with a four- to five-hour writing block. I end it by reading about thirty pages—just enough to keep my pattern recognition system stocked and primed. Also, reading lowers stress and boosts parasympathetic tone, making it a great end-of-day recovery tool.
“On the road, writing’s out. Without my full home-office setup—especially my big screen—I can’t see multiple pages at once. That kills momentum and flow. So, I don’t fight it. I flip it.
“On the road, I read—nonstop. Four books on a two-day trip isn’t uncommon. Two trips a month? That’s eight books, easy. A nice haul for knowledge acquisition.
“Away, I keep just two flow practices mandatory: exercise and mindfulness.
“I hit the gym early or, if time is tight, default to my MVW—Minimum Viable Workout:
“150 pushups. 100 V-ups. Done.
“End of the day, I always drop into 10–15 minutes of Vipassana. This kicks on alpha, fast-tracks recovery, and helps me sleep better in unfamiliar beds.
“Here’s the bigger point: A workable away-schedule keeps dopamine flowing.
“These little wins—read, move, meditate—are enough to convince my brain I’ve stayed on track. The motivation loop stays intact. That loop is the engine.
“Sometimes, less is more. Sometimes, way more.
“One last thing: There’s a third schedule high performers rely on—but almost no one talks about it.” A recovery day schedule.
Reference:
Steven Kotler. Flow fragmentation—The Hidden Cost of Summer Chaos. Flow Dispatch. Annals of the Dreaded Schedule Hell of the Summer. Newsletter. 16.7.2025.
