The State of Flow
Have you ever been so absorbed by something that has your complete focus so much so that you loose all senses of time and distractions don’t tempt you?
If so, it’s highly probable that you have already experienced a Flow State at some point in your life. Some describe it as being, ‘in the zone’ and while in this state, many often experience immense feelings of satisfaction and engagement with whatever they are doing.
In a 2004 Ted Talk, Mihlay Csikszentmihalyi (who popularised the theory of the State of Flow), asks the question, ‘where in our lives do we feel really happy?’. By following research conducted by studying both high-performance and creative individiuals such as artists and scientists, he found that the individuals did what they wanted to without any expectation of fame or fortune but rather for the happiness, focus and sense of fulfilment it bought to them.
So what are the benefits of getting into the State of Flow?
Explained through his Ted Talk, Csikszentmihalyi highlights 7 different beneficial experiences that you might have when you are in the State of Flow. They include:
Complete involvement in what you’re doing- fully focused/concentrated
A sense of ecstasy- being outside of everyday reality
Greater inner clarity- being able to know what needs to be done and how well you are doing
Knowing that the activity is doable- that are skills are adequate to the task
A sense of serenity- no worries about oneself and a feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of the ego
Timelessness- thoroughly focused on the present, hours seem to pass by in minutes
Intrinsic motivation- whatever is produced in flow becomes its own reward
How to find your flow?
To be able to get into the flow state, there are some factors that have to be met:
You need to be internally driven. You need to like and care about the activity that you are doing.
The activity, job or task cannot be too easy or too difficult and must be something that you are skilled at. You must allow yourself to be both highly challenged and highly skilled in the task you are doing (a balance of challenge and skill)
Your mindset should meditate on the journey and not the destination. The journey is equally, if not more important than the final outcome- treasure it.
TAKE-HOME NOTES:
Here are some other ways you can encourage your mind, body and soul to get into the State of Flow:
Eliminate distractions- put your devices away and start by creating a peaceful environment around you
Prioritise one task at a time- allow yourself to give all of your energy into one task at a time. This intensifies focus and removes distractions further.
Have Rituals- Before you do an activity or task that requires intense concentration and focus, create a collection of actions you do before you begin each time. Find out what works for you, but this may include: a meditation, making yourself a tea/coffee or getting some fresh air. This allows your brain to prepare for the activity that needs to be done.
Get lost in what you love- Most importantly, do something that you love and get lost in it!
