🚗 The 2-Speed System for Productivity

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Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If you’re new around here, welcome! 👋  You can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: We’re breaking down the 2 speeds of productivity: deep work and maintenance mode. How they’re connected, why we often feel “stuck” in one of the 2 speeds, and how to know when to shift. Let’s talk about it!

🚗 What Are The 2 Speeds of Productivity?

When we talk about productivity, we usually focus on one “speed” of life: deep work.

But humans actually have two ideal operating speeds:

• 🏗️ Speed 1: Deep work

  • 🧨 Focusing, creating, strategizing

  • 🤲 Where most of the “doing” happens (although some prep will be involved)

  • 👷 Think of it as “worker” mode — doing what needs to be done

• 🏠 Speed 2: Maintenance

  • 🧹 Organizing, planning, running errands

  • 💭 Where most of the “thinking / prepping / decluttering” happens (which also includes some deep-ish work, like cleaning)

  • 👔 Think of it as “boss” mode — deciding what needs to be done, when, etc.

The secret to sustainable productivity isn’t just about those intense deep work sessions — it’s about knowing when to shift between these 2 gears.

If you’re feeling imbalanced or burned out, chances are you’re stuck in one of these speeds. Read on to learn how it shows up in real life, and how to know when to shift.

😮‍💨 Why You Burn Out

Just like driving, forcing the wrong gear at the wrong time makes everything less efficient.

Feel like you’re spinning your wheels but going nowhere? Or like you’ve been in the fast lane too long without a pit stop? This is probably why:

• ⏰ You’re staying in Speed 1 (deep work) too long without switching → cognitive exhaustion, “small” tasks and errands piling up and blocking your way

• 🔁 You’re stuck in Speed 2 (maintenance) too often → low satisfaction, no progress on big or important projects

Both of these imbalances cause confusion and fatigue, costing you momentum.

But how do you know when’s the right time to shift out of one speed and into the other? Let’s take a look.

🌡️ When to Shift Gears

We talk a lot about how to shift into deep work, flow state, and all those other “productive” modes.

But how about when to downshift into maintenance mode?

Wherever you happen to be in a given moment, consider how your current rhythm is affecting your balance.

To figure out when you need to shift, check in with how you’re feeling:

• 🤯 Feeling overstimulated → downshift into maintenance

• 😴 Feeling bored or stagnant → gently upshift into deep work

You can take the 2-speed system a step further and bake it into your existing routines and schedules. Here’s how.

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Now, here’s how to incorporate the two-speed system!

🛠️ How to Use the 2-Speed System

Like the practicality of the 2-speed approach? So do we! Here’s how to incorporate it into your day-to-day.

🔖 1. Label your tasks according to speed

Which tasks on your list are deep work? Which ones are maintenance?

Note that some stuff on your list will fall into a third category that we don’t consider a “speed” at all: rest and leisure.

You still need plenty of those in your life, too, so try your best to release any expectations or judgments about how many deep work vs. maintenance vs. rest tasks you have.

🗺️ 2. Map your energy patterns

For now, simply observe your usual energy rhythms. We’ll start the actual planning process in the next step.

Try noticing when your energy spikes or dips during the day. Jot down some details, like what time it happened and what caused it.

You might also look ahead to boundaries, recurring stressors, or one-off things that may impact your energy in the near future (examples: late-night text messages about minor family illnesses, big meetings every Monday, an important anniversary at the end of the month).

🧭 3. Align your days

Once you’ve got an idea of your general rhythms, you can start scheduling tasks according to the times of day that suit you best.

The most common example:

• Mornings → Speed 1 (focus-heavy work)

• Evenings → Speed 2 (light admin, errands)

Of course, this setup won’t work for everyone (and that’s okay!). Consider your other commitments, and experiment to find what works best for you.

🛝 4. Add a transition when switching speeds

Earlier, we talked about knowing when to switch from deep work to maintenance and vice versa.

But switching too often or too abruptly — without taking enough breaks or giving your brain a little time to adjust — can wreck your overall sense of balance, too.

Knowing how to shift is just as important as knowing when to shift.

This is where a mini reset comes in. Something as simple as making a coffee, taking a short walk, or switching to a new playlist can refresh your brain and body’s energy stores.

👾 5. Track your speeds in Flocus

Designed with your unique rhythms in mind, Flocus helps you balance both speeds and transition between them with ease.

Handy features like custom timers, focus stats, and automatic break reminders make your deep work and maintenance routines flow better for you.

And with custom backgrounds, playlists, and sounds, Flocus is truly a more beautiful way to get things done.

🪅 Flocus Picks

A curated list of things worth sharing.

• The Energy Signal Test (The Flow Archives) — Level up the 2-speed system with this simple test to discover whether your tasks are depleting or replenishing you

• energetic upbeat lofi (Playlist) — Some chill tunes no matter what speed you feel like going today

• home & productivity reset with me — Need a body double for your next work sesh? Throw on this short reset vid and see where else the shuffle takes you!

✨ Flocus: Your Personal Productivity Dashboard

Flocus gives you a calm home for your tasks, focus blocks, and reset moments so you’re not stuck in deep work or maintenance all week by accident. Set your pace, follow your energy, and let your dashboard support the rhythm you’re already trying to build.

Go to Flocus

We’ve already said it, but it’s worth repeating: productivity is like driving. Smooth, intentional gear shifts make all the difference to your comfort along the way.

Master your two speeds, and you’ll find flow comes easier and burnout less often.

Until next Sunday,

Flocus Team