From Ben Padman
I was surprised that Sally Adee, describing a “fast track to pure focus”, did not mention techniques other people use for finding “flow” (4 February, p 32). I am a biological electron microscopist: my colleagues and I are in constant pursuit of this “Zen” state while slicing material thinner than a wavelength of visible light, using eyelashes on sticks to manipulate the slices.
My technique for “getting in the zone” requires a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and electronic music of the genres dubstep or drum and bass. Bizarrely, this is not my usual taste in music – which is far more subdued and folky – but hearing a heavy rhythm and rich bass helps me attain the focus that I cannot otherwise achieve.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
