[tarkeshwar]

Hardest factor that keeps me away from the "zone" is: the task-at-hand being uninteresting and grungy, which is typically the case at regular jobs. Any tips on how folks overcome this factor? Other than to go built my own startup.

[becomevocal]

With anything uninteresting, try and come up with a solution that challenges yourself to think. Say, instead of using that plugin you frequently rely on, come up with a solution of your own (of course, keeping time constraints in mind.)

[ElliotH]

Give yourself a hard deadline. Its the only way I can get myself into the 'zone' for some of the less interesting pieces of uni coursework.