Flow state8/17/2023 If you’re a focused or goal-oriented person, or you have a strong degree of self-belief, the chances are you’ll find it easier to enter flow states, or you may experience deeper flow than others who don’t share your characteristics. Experiment with different variables, track what happens each time and try again.Īlthough, as Csikszentmihalyi discovered, everyone can access flow states, some of us are more ‘prone’ to achieving it than others. Be patient and persevere: You’re unlikely to crack flow states in a day.Get mid-game feedback: Once you’ve set your objective, remember to check your progress along the way and adapt in real time.If you’re low on energy or focus, wait for a better moment. Find a quiet space, try some breathing or visualization techniques to create some positive energy. Prepare mentally: Stress, distractions and interruptions are the enemy of flow.Use clear goals: By choosing a specific, small step to be achieved during the session, we reduce cognitive load, increase motivation and focus better.Pick something hard that you’re already pretty good at, but which requires you to stretch yourself. Pick one that’s too difficult and your brain’s stress response will block flow. Challenge yourself: Pick a task that’s too easy and your brain will be bored.You have to want to do the activity yourself, not because someone else needs you to. Do it for the love of it: True flow states can’t be bought or hacked.The brain is wired to pay closer attention in these cases, and focused attention is the magic that makes flow states happen. Choose a task you enjoy: Your chances of reaching flow are greater if you’re passionate about the task at hand, it feels meaningful or you feel a sense of purpose.Yet we can increase our odds by starting off with the right mental state, environment and preparation. Whatever your zone feels like to you, another certainty is that your brain chemistry radically changes, boosting your ability to take risks, solve problems and generate meaningful new ideas.įlow isn’t something we can trigger at will (although according to DARPA, placing electromagnets on your head does exactly that). Studies of flow states in athletes tell us that although 80% experienced intense concentration, and felt completely absorbed in what they are doing, only 30% felt a loss of self-consciousness or lost track of time. But one thing is certain: We each experience flow in different ways. And only you can know if you’ve experienced a flow state.Įven now, 20 years after Csikszentmihalyi published his seminal theory, flow remains an emerging field where much is uncertain, including the definition of flow state itself. Flow is a continuum, ranging from shallow (or micro) to deep (or macro). There’s no on/off switch or certificate issued on entry. It’s hard to predict and hard to measure. I’ve used the word ‘may’ because like many psychological phenomena, flow is subjective. The doing of the activity is the reward itself. Finally, we may feel intrinsic satisfaction and happiness. People experiencing flow will often lose their self-consciousness, freeing them to experiment and take risks without fear. Yet we’re still aware of what’s happening and in control of our actions. We may feel completely immersed in the activity, with no sense of time passing. Once we’re in a flow state, there are many things we might experience.
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