How to Achieve the "Flow State"

This content is inspired by this article from Marta 🐝 García Quijada

The State of Flow

The state of flow, or being in the zone, is a state of peak performance.

The flow state has been described by the world’s greatest thinkers as the most productive and creative state of mind in which to work. In addition, positive psychologists–most notably Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D.–argue that achieving the flow state on a regular basis is a key component of happiness. That is, by learning how to enter the state of flow you can increase your productivity, be more creative, and be happier, all at the same time.

When you're inspired it all comes out alone!

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a Positive psychologist. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has contributed pioneering work to our understanding of happiness, creativity, human fulfillment and the notion of "flow" -- a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play and work.

How can you get into the state of flow at work? 

1.- Assigning tasks according to skill set.

The more a challenge requires us to deploy our best skills, the more likely we will become absorbed in flow. When we’re not challenged, our performance suffers and we become disengaged.

2.- Finding work we love.

Doing what we’re passionate about is one sign of great work.  In good work we align what we’re best at with what engages us, and also what fits our sense of meaning and purpose. Good work puts us in a frame of mind where flow arise spontaneously.

3.- Through fully absorbed focus.

The stronger the concentration we bring to a task, the more likely we are to drop into flow while doing it. The better our ability to pay attention to what we choose and ignore distractions, the stronger our concentration. 

Get into the Flow State

Sports and physical activity (Andrew 🐝 Goldman) are not the only way to get into the Flow State. Artists experience it when swept away in an inspired creative frenzy. Writers experience it when they get caught up in the story and the words seem to pour effortlessly onto the page. 

Flow can also occur when workers are engaged in tasks where they are able to focus entirely on the project at hand. For example, a writer might experience this while working on a novel (isn't it Andrew 🐝 Goldman?) or a graphic designer might achieve flow while working on a website illustration (isn´t it Noël De Castro Nacho 🐝 López Llandres?).

Some of us experience it while listening to music, watching a beautiful sunset (isn't it Matt 🐝 Sweetwood Noël De Castro ?), brain-storming while resting in bed before sleeping ( this is my case LOL),  spontaneous meetings where we get together for brainstorming ( isn't it Alberto Anaya Arcas Raul Duque Montánez?) , working in the garden, removing snow (isn't it Paul "Pablo" Croubalian?), holding a deep and meaningful conversation with a friend or other moments. These are moments in which your mind becomes entirely absorbed in the activity. You forget yourself and your actions. Time seems to slow down and you experience heightened perceptions.