A thing I've found about zoning, is that no matter what the magic sauce required to get there, it is impossible if you don't ever start working. He mentions going in needing to know what you are going to do -- I totally agree with this. I don't know if it is a key component of zoning, or just bootstrapping to get there, but it is important. In fact even in complicated bits, I tend to have a list of todos around that are simple or at least straight forward, that can be done any time (e.g. clean up comments or rearrange methods to my preferred ordering style or whatnot). I used to use these tasks for remaining productive during meetings, or in those wierd little 30 minute windows between things that crop up. But I found they are also a great bootstrap for zoning.<p>A different way I sometimes think of it is "warm-ups", like the little walks,stretches etc before a workout, or the first 10 mins of a run, the minutes that are largely useless from a running point of view, but are needed to get the blood flowing and the joints loose.<p>Good article, thanks Martin.