Flow Disruptors: How Dreams and Daily Choices Reveal What Matters
Dreams can be a window into our deepest feelings, helping us make sense of what lies beneath the surface. But sometimes, they also reveal the hidden distractions that pull us off course in life. Reflecting on my dreams from last night, I’ve decided to call these distractions “flow disruptors.” (No, not the medical devices.)
In my dreams, I missed out on a slice of birthday cake and a social party because I needed to do laundry. Later, a soda company rep showed up, offering me their latest sugary drink, but my dog barked and scared them off. Then a friend called, inviting me to hang out while they worked an event. I wanted to go, but I felt a stronger pull to stay home with my wife, so I politely declined.
Nobody cares about your dreams but you.
– An old colleague
In her book Creative Dreaming, Patricia Garfield describes the practice of asking your dreams questions soon after waking. After reflecting on my dreams and digging into the meaning, I found myself drawn to a theme I now call “flow disruptors.” Let me explain.
The Cake and the Party
Missing the birthday party was painful. Maybe I’m not the extreme introvert I believed myself to be. The cake represented a classic “dangled carrot”. This tempting distraction nearly pulled me away from what mattered most at the moment.
The Soda Rep
This scene felt almost funny. Anyone who’s had a dog knows how suspicious dogs can be of strangers. In dreams, all characters—pets included—are parts of ourselves, according to Gestalt dream analysis. My dog’s barking reflected my own internal alarm system: “No thanks” to the soda. Truth be told, I don’t even like soda. So, this was an easy, firm rejection. I was almost offended it had wasted a moment of my time.
The Friend at the Event
This was more complex. Socializing is tempting, especially when a friend reaches out. But I’m a father of two children under 3, and in that moment, my priorities shifted toward family. I realized it would be way more enriching for me to spend precious time with my wife and children than “go hang” with a bored friend. Maybe next time, buddy. The pull was strong, but I resisted.
So, what does that have to do with my real life?
Like the scenarios from my dreams, real-life distractions constantly threaten to pull me away from my priorities. Whether it’s shiny new tech, social invitations, or the temptation of a sweet treat, these “flow disruptors” can derail my focus and consume precious time. Recognizing and resisting them has become an essential practice as I navigate the early chaos of fatherhood while attempting to reserve some sense of individuality.
Web Components and Work Flow
Last week, I spent hours learning about building web components, hoping they might simplify my work. In the end, I realized my old approach still works best: let the back-end handle templating and rendering, while the front-end adds small, elegant enhancements for users who can take advantage of them. This approach is known as progressive enhancement, and while web components have their place, they’re just one part of the bigger picture.
Fitness App vs. My Routine
I’ve been consistent working out every morning using a simple pull-up and dip station my wife found secondhand. My routine is straightforward:
- 20 pull-ups
- 20 dips
- 20 rows
- 20 push-ups
These can be done however I like. Typically, I superset the movements and base my rep range for all movements on however many pull-ups I can squeeze out. This low-friction habit fits my busy life as a dad.
Curious, I tried a free trial of a fitness app advertised on Instagram. It’s well-designed, motivating daily movement and gamifying workouts to get people off their phones and moving. But here’s the catch: the app wanted me to do extra push-ups after my routine and even sent a push-up challenge notification later that day. It disrupted my flow. The app wasn’t built for my needs—it was a flow disruptor, not a help. I woke up the next morning sore from the extra effort and found myself doubting my own disciplined routine that had been working well.
We live in an age where information and distractions surround us constantly. This is the attention economy at work. What’s difficult but essential is clarifying your priorities and spotting the flow disruptors before they throw you off course.
For me, being a father of two young children has sharpened this focus. I hope these reflections help you think about your own priorities. Ask yourself: Is how you spend your time truly working for you? And I’m not just talking about prioritization, but about whether the tools and systems you use help or hinder your flow.
Could simplifying your routines—and saying “no” more often—give you more peace and purpose? It’s worth the effort to examine this if you haven’t in a while.