The Magic of Flow State
Have you ever had that feeling where you’re completely absorbed by whatever work or activity that you’re engaged in? If so, you have experienced what psychologists refer to as a “state of flow“. Flow is a mental state in which you’re completely immersed in something that you like doing whether for work or for leisure. This flow state increases a person’s sense of involvement, energy or enjoyment. When you’re in a flow state, time seems to fall away and you’re in complete rhythm with yourself, your skills and whatever it is that you are currently engaged in. It is a magical state of mind which has many benefits for your mental well-being.
One such benefit is emotional regulation which is “the ability to have control over one’s own mental state“. Having greater control of your emotions leads to improved relationships, improved performance at work and increased overall mental well-being. Intrinsic motivation, or doing things simply for the internal rewards, is another benefit of getting into flow state. When you are motivated by the joy or the challenge of the activity itself rather than any external rewards you stand to gain (money, promotion, praise, etc.) you feel a greater sense of enjoyment. Most interesting is that being in flow state can lead to increased happiness and fulfillment. Research has suggested that when we’re in flow there is an increase in the activity of dopamine in our brains, the chemical responsible for feelings of pleasure and motivation.
So how can you know if you’re in flow and how can you get yourself there? According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist who observed and studied the psychological concept of “flow” in his studies on happiness, there are 10 factors which accompany the experience of flow. Note, to be in flow state does not require all ten of these factors to be in place however, multiple factors may be present. These factors are:
The activity is intrinsically rewarding.
The activity involves clear, attainable goals.
There is a complete focus on the task at hand.
The activity invokes a sense of serenity or loss of self-consciousness.
There is a sense of personal control over the activity.
There is immediate feedback from the activity.
There is a balance between the skill level needed and the challenge presented.
The activity creates a lack of awareness about one’s physical needs.
There is a level of strong concentration and focused attention.
There is a sense of timelessness where one doesn’t notice the time passing by.
Flow state can be quick or prolonged lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to hours. With focused attention, you can get yourself into flow in as little as 10-15 minutes. First, start by setting clear goals for yourself with regards to the chosen activity. Then it’s important to eliminate any distractions such as phones, music, barking dogs, etc. Because being in flow requires an element of challenge, choose an activity where your skills can meet the demands needed. Nothing too hard, nothing too easy. Like Goldilocks, you want the challenge to be “just right”. Above all else, pursue an activity that you truly enjoy and can get absorbed by. This can be creative pursuits such a drawing or writing but it can also be anything from golfing to gardening. The beauty of flow is that it’s up to you to choose the activity that will get you there.
Try getting yourself into the magic of flow state and see how that feels for you. The mental health benefits and increase in overall well-being are plenty but if nothing else, you might just enjoy the sense of total immersion in that which brings you joy.
