Flow activities can be rewarding in other ways- financially, physically, or spiritually-but the endeavor is pursued for its own sake. The experience of flow should be rewarding in and of itself. If you're an avid gamer or have a teen at home that plays video games, you've definitely had some experience with this. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi was particularly interested in the artist's experience of flow where one could seemingly work through the body's need for food, water, and even sleep. Your sense of time is distorted, hours pass like minutes, and you lose track of time. In a flow state, you are focused entirely on the present moment. Self-consciousness fades away when you're not worried about remembering the next steps or the pressure to perform. In a flow state, you're not hindered by worry and self-doubt and can throw your whole being into what you're doing.
FLOWSTATE CHART PROFESSIONAL
This can be a good measuring stick for both personal and professional growth.įlow activities allow a person to work beyond the boundaries of their ego. On the other hand, if your level of skill is much higher, you run the risk of boredom. If the level of challenge is too high, anxiety sets in. Your level of skill should meet the level of challenge. Flow activities also provide immediate feedback, so you maintain an awareness of how well you're doing.Ī balance between skill level and challenge Steps learned by rote and engrained into muscle memory are recalled without much voluntary effort. In a state of flow, you know what needs to be done and have clear goals. A state of flow should be exciting and engaging.įinding flow requires assuredness in your action. Heck, it's in the name: positive psychology! It's hard finding flow doing something you dread, but be careful not to mistake leisure for flow. Finding flow is an exercise in increasing joy in your everyday life. This goes without saying, but flow activities should bring you joy. Multitasking can be a focus-killer when it comes to finding flow, read more on the hazards of context switching here. Block out time on your schedule, turn off Netflix, mute your notifications, and avoid multitasking. To lose track of time, you need to have it in the first place. Want to dive deeper? Check out our deep dive on Flow Theory! Flow State IndicatorsĮntering a state of flow requires a complete focus on the task at hand. In a viral TED Talk that's been watched more than 6 million times, Mihály points to a few key indicators that can help you find more fulfilling ways to spend your time. Anyone can experience flow state in just about anything as long as they meet a few criteria. But flow states aren't reserved for creatives and creative work athletes can experience flow in sports, chess players might find flow during a tough match, and yes, you can even experience flow at work.
FLOWSTATE CHART HOW TO
Csíkszentmihályi theorizes that this elevated state of consciousness is the secret to happiness.įascinated by the flow experiences of artists, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi started studying flow states to understand the phenomena and how to achieve it. What exactly is it?įlow State, more colloquially known as being in the zone, is a term coined by positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi it refers to a state of mind where your work fully immerses you, experience energized focus, and most importantly, derive enjoyment. Finding flow can help you enter a more productive, creative, and, ultimately, happy state of mind. You may have brushed it off before as just another organizational buzzword, but understanding the concept of flow could be the key to maximizing joy in your everyday life, both at work and home. Know anyone who's been obsessed with making the perfect sourdough starter in quarantine? There's a good chance they're experiencing something like a flow state. People who have experienced flow state often describe it as a mental state or out-of-body experience where time flies by, and they get lost in what they're doing. What do musicians, gamers, artists, and athletes all have in common? At one point or another, they've probably experienced flow state.
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