135. The Attention Crisis: How to Find Flow in a World Built to Distract You with David Nurse

Most of us do not struggle because we have nothing important to do. We struggle because everything feels important at once. Texts, emails, work, family, and our own health all compete for attention, leaving us busy all day without ever feeling completely focused.

In this episode of Rooted in Wellness, I sit down with David Nurse to explore whether flow state, the feeling athletes describe as being in the zone, can be trained. We talk about what constant interruption is doing to our attention, why trying harder can interfere with performance, and how the rest of us can use lessons from elite athletes during work, parenting, and high-pressure moments.

David is a leading flow state expert, high-performance strategist, Wall Street Journal bestselling author (Do It: The Life-Changing Power of Taking Action) and former Brooklyn Nets coach. He has trained around 200 NBA players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and is now studying how people can access flow more often and stay there longer.

What We Discuss:

(9:13) Three simple morning practices for feeling grounded before the day begins.

(14:29) Why answering texts and emails in real time can leave an entire day feeling unfulfilling.

(20:58) What an ongoing FlowCode brain study is revealing about training flow state.

(34:08) What flow state feels like outside sports.

(42:49) How visualization prepares the brain for success and unexpected setbacks.

(47:48) How notifications, constant information, and poor timing interfere with focus.

(55:06) How to use a “time pizza” to see where the day is actually going.

(1:01:24) Why clarity, composure, and consistency can matter more than talent.