This post is part of the Drift 101 series—simple, real-world introductions to the building blocks of The Drift Method.
Last time, we explored Views—gentle check-ins that help you reflect and adjust without getting lost in data. But what holds all your work together? What keeps things moving, even when life gets messy or you step away for a while?
That’s where Flows come in.
In this post, I’ll share how Flows have become the living rhythm-keepers of my work, how they help me build momentum without pressure, and how you can use them to organize projects, habits, and ongoing efforts…
All without falling into the old traps of rigid plans, endless backlogs, and ever-complicated techniques for getting “organized”.
1. When rigid systems break down
If you’ve ever mapped out a project from start to finish, you probably know the cycle: you begin with a plan that feels solid, maybe even inspiring. But as soon as real life kicks in—unexpected asks, feedback you didn’t anticipate, or just the natural messiness of making things—that plan starts to feel brittle.
I used to treat my original plan like a contract. If I veered off course, I’d feel like I was failing.
I’d try to force things back onto the track I’d laid out, even when it was obvious that the project needed something different. Linear thinking made me feel “in control” at first, but it rarely got me through the messy middle or across the finish line.
Eventually, I realized that what I really needed wasn’t a perfect plan—it was a way to hold my work as it changed.
I needed a place where ideas, progress, tooling, and reflections could live together, so the project could evolve without me constantly losing momentum or starting over.
Most of the systems I tried—project boards, backlogs, dashboards, folders, and workspaces—were really just different containers.
But here’s the thing… almost all of them were designed for big teams, not solo builders or tiny crews. They assumed you’d have a project manager, or at least someone whose job it was to keep the system running.
For most of us, these systems are overkill. Too much process, too little payoff. They can actually start to take up more energy than the work you care about.
And on the other end of the spectrum? Having no container at all. That’s its own kind of chaos—ideas and tasks scattered across sticky notes, apps, and mental to-do lists. It’s easy to lose track of what matters, or feel like you’re forever starting from scratch.
What I found with Flows was a middle way: I didn’t need another rigid plan, or a catch-all backlog that just collected dust. I needed a container that could hold my work gently—organized, but flexible enough to move and grow with me.
That’s what I was craving: something lighter, more fluid. A way to spend less time managing my workflow, and more time actually in flow.
2. What makes Flows different
So, what is a Flow in Drift?
For me, a Flow is any organized effort or work toward a desired, cohesive outcome or state. It’s a container for energy—something you put attention and effort into so it can reach a kind of equilibrium or move toward a new state.
And not every Flow is a project with a clear start and finish.
Some Flows are ongoing—like a system you maintain, or an area of your life you tend to over time.
Others are more outcome-based: you pour in energy for a while, reach a stable state, then just check in occasionally.
Flows aren’t project boards, task lists, or recurring reminders. They’re not about constant check-ins or rigid routines. Instead, each Flow houses four simple starting collections:
- Notes (context, thoughts, and reminders)
- Steps (your next actions)
- Kits (tools, templates, and resources you reuse)
- Views (reflections and progress check-ins)
Flows can also be associated with one or more Beacons (your guiding goals, values, mission, and beyond) and usually a Waypoint (the next milestone or checkpoint you’re moving toward within that Flow).
If it helps, think of a Flow as a digital toolshed: everything you need for that area of work is right there, organized and ready.
You don’t have to visit every day, but whenever you do, you know exactly where to find what you need.
Real-life Flows
Here are a few real Flows I use all the time:
The Drift Flow: Drift runs on Drift. I use the method to produce all the materials, articles, and systems for the Drift Method. (Yes, I dogfood my own product.)
Day-to-day work: My 9-to-5 job gets its own Flow, where I keep kits, notes, and next steps handy so I can jump in and out without friction.
Housework: I don’t have a set schedule for chores and larger home projects. Instead, I keep a Flow for housework. Whenever I have a spare hour, I open it, check the next steps, grab some kit (if needed) and get moving.
3. How Flows create progress without pressure
Emotionally, Flows give me the freedom to work without feeling boxed in by a system.
There’s a structure—notes, steps, kits, views, waypoints—and it’s just enough to keep things organized without demanding my attention.
When I switch from one area of work to another (say, from my day job to housework) I don’t have to spend time getting up to speed. Everything’s right where I left it.
By using Flows to organize my efforts, I don’t waste energy wondering what I was doing last time or what matters most now.
Creatively, that little bit of structure is just enough to help me stay in flow state. The system becomes invisible, so I can focus on the unique, interesting work inside each Flow. I don’t have to be perfectly organized; I just need enough order to keep moving.
Flows also make it easy to stay connected to long-term work without burning out.
I can put down a Flow for a week, a month, or even longer, and when I come back, I’m not lost. There’s no time commitment, no guilt about not “keeping up.” I can pick up where I left off, contribute, and set it aside again.
And when I’m “in flow” (literally the inspiration for the name) I feel the difference. Context-switching is frictionless. I can glide from one effort to another, like skating on ice instead of dragging through gravel.
4. Setting up and using a Flow
My Flow setups are simple and effective:
- The Flow’s title (ex. “Housework”, “The Drift Method”, “Name of your day job”, …).
- The Flow’s associated Beacons (guiding goals or values), if any.
- Then inside each Flow, the four basics:
- Notes
- Steps
- Kits
- Views
- And a Waypoint just below the Flow’s title (the next milestone or outcome I’m aiming for)
That’s it. Drift is tool-agnostic: you can use whatever apps or platforms you like. The structure matters more than the substrate.
5. Letting Flows rest and stay useful
When a project, process, or area of focus doesn’t have clear boundaries or structure, it’s easy for things to get lost, pile up, or become overwhelming.
You end up with a shapeless “board” or workspace that quietly accumulates clutter and indecision, making it harder to know what matters or where to start.
Flows are designed to be different. Because each Flow is a well-bounded container—not a checklist, not a roadmap, and not an endless dumping ground—they’re far less likely to become overwhelming or unmanageable.
If I notice I haven’t checked a Flow in a while, I’ll pause and ask: “Is this because I’m done, or just because I haven’t had time?”
If the Flow has reached a relatively stable state (what I think of as dynamic equilibrium) I can leave it alone, just maintaining it as needed until it’s time to spin it up (or down) again.
I designed The Drift Method so that Flows could be “shelf-stable.” You don’t have to keep them moving constantly for the system to keep working. You can leave a Flow alone for months, come back, and everything’s still right where you left it—like a tool shed you haven’t visited in a while, but where every tool is still in its place.
If you’re worried about losing track without traditional planning tools, remember: most of those systems are built for environments where someone’s job is to keep the system running. Drift is built for people who want to organize work so they can step away and return without losing their place.
Flows are meant to be stable, flexible, and ready when you are.
Flows are living containers, not rigid plans
You don’t need a rigid plan to make progress. You just need a rhythm—a space that holds your work, lets you return with clarity, and gets out of your way when you need to focus.
Flows are how I keep my work in motion, without forcing it. They help me stay connected, creative, and calm, even when life gets busy.
If you’re tired of managing the system instead of making progress, try setting up a Flow for something that matters to you. Keep it light. Let it evolve. See how it feels to work with a little more rhythm, and a lot less pressure.
Next up in Drift 101: Beacons—how to set your guide stars to help you move through complexity with clarity, intention, and focus.
Want to try this for yourself? Download the free Drift Method Starter Guide to get started with the basics and build your first Flow.