My favorite 3-minute brain hack for instant flow state


Enneagram Five Newsletter

Issue #023

My favorite 3-minute brain hack for instant flow state

Last month, I stumbled into a habit that surprised me: I’ve been swinging a rope in my backyard like a kid at recess.

And it’s one of the best tools I’ve found for getting out of my head and into flow.

Not flow like “deep creative focus after 45 minutes of fiddling with your desk setup.” I mean full-body rhythm, emotional presence, and mental clarity—within about three minutes.

It’s called Rope Flow. And I think you’ll love it.

Why Fives struggle to get into flow state

Flow requires you to let go of control: to be fully present in your body, emotionally open, and willing to improvise.

Which, if we’re being honest, sounds like a nightmare to most Fives.

Instead, we…

  • Try to prepare more before we begin.
  • Analyze every angle instead of taking action.
  • Default to thinking as a coping mechanism.

Even when we want to be in flow, we often feel blocked by:

  • Overthinking. We try to mentally solve problems before we physically engage with them.
  • Disembodiment. We live in our heads and ignore our body’s cues until they scream.
  • Fear of incompetence. We hate feeling clumsy, unprepared, or emotionally exposed.

Rope Flow works because it bypasses those tendencies.

Why Rope Flow is especially helpful for Fives

Most of us spend so much time thinking that we forget we have a body. Rope Flow helps fix that.

Here’s why it works:

  • It gives your mind something to track. The movement pattern is simple but specific, so your brain stays engaged without overloading.
  • It activates both brain hemispheres. Cross-pattern movement helps you shift out of rigid analysis and into curiosity.
  • It quiets your nervous system. The rhythm is naturally calming, like rocking in a hammock.
  • It’s fun. Not performative, not goal-oriented, just playful. That alone can feel healing.

If meditation never quite clicked for you, this might.

What I noticed after Flow Roping

I’ve been practicing Rope Flow a few times per week for the last month, and I noticed the benefits right away.

What surprised me most is that I actually started to enjoy physical movement—not just during the practice, but in general. I feel more coordinated, more in tune with my body, and less resistant to getting up and moving around throughout the day.

It’s also become a consistent way to reset my nervous system.

I’ve noticed myself feeling more grounded, more playful, and even a little more confident in my body. I don’t have to psych myself up to do it. Most days, I actually look forward to it.

Try it today (in 5 minutes)

Here’s a simple 5-minute routine you can do with a flow rope (or any old nylon rope from the garage):

  1. Stand hip-width, hold the rope with both hands, palms up.
  2. Swing it in a forward figure-eight pattern for 60 seconds.
  3. Flip your palms down and reverse the pattern for 60 seconds.
  4. Move into side-to-side figure eights (called Dragon Rolls) for 90 seconds.
  5. Free flow the last 90 seconds. Go slow. Let it be weird. Let it be fun.

When you’re done, sit down and notice what’s different.

If you try it, I’d love to hear what you notice. Hit reply and tell me:

  • Did your brain settle?
  • Did your body feel different?
  • What did you love or hate about it?

I read every reply.

PS. Want to see it in action?

I put together a Flow Rope for Fives quick-start guide with step-by-step tutorials, videos, and even instructions to make your own flow rope at home.

It’s totally free. You don’t even need to opt in.

👉 Open the Rope Flow for Fives guide →

Josiah Goff

Say hi 👋🏻 on Instagram, Threads, or LinkedIn

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