Tim,

very interesting article, and rather frightening what some feel is "the zone".

To me, the zone is the state of mind where all of my focus is put into the task at hand. It is a trance-like state where I can sit and code for hours on end without realising I've not only missed out on lunch, but I'm halfway into the afternoon. It is like a dream - an etherial thing, a wisp of form.

I've also found that not only is the zone extremely hard to get into, it is extremely easy to fall out of. Any sort of break in concentration will render the required state of mind asunder. Although self made interruptions (getting a cup of tea for example) will generally not break the trance unless I am caught at the tea point and have a chat.

There is a price though for such unrelenting concentration. Exhaustion. Having a good productive day tends to give me a buzz, an excitement that I have achieved what I intended to do, but coming out of the zone, I am completely drained - too tired to be excited.