# Programmers need to start meditating now

> Source: <https://jacob.gold/posts/programmers-need-to-start-meditating-now/>
> Published: 2026-07-04 15:49:38+00:00

For over 20 years, the meditative focus of programming has been one of the best parts of my job.

Every week I’d spend countless hours in a [flow state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)), which [quiets](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.08.019) the [default mode network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Default_mode_network). The DMN is responsible for daydreaming/reflection but also rumination/worrying, so quieting it settles your mind. If I didn’t manage to write code for a week, I’d start to notice it.

I’m clearly much more productive now. I’m doing five things at once very effectively, switching between multiple agent sessions from morning to night. After working full-time like this for ~8 months, one thing I’m sure of is that this way of working involves much less time spent in a flow state.