Get into the flow state

In his book “Flow” published in the 1970s, Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi introduced the concept of a “Flow State”. He described it as an optimal experience where individuals feel completely immersed and focused on a task or activity. More importantly, the mindset and foundation that enables the flow state are the key differentiating factors that an individual can successfully turn adversity on its head and come out the other end better and stronger. The flow state is often coined as the “high performance” state, commonly used in sports psychology, as the mental and physical state that allows individuals to perform at their best.

The benefit of “Flow State”

Experiencing a flow state can bring several benefits, including:

1. Improved productivity: In a state of flow, individuals are fully immersed and focused on the task at hand, which can lead to greater efficiency and productivity.
2. Increased creativity: Flow state can also stimulate creativity and innovation, as individuals are more likely to connect different ideas and develop novel solutions.
3. Enhanced learning and skill development: When in a flow state, individuals are fully engaged in the task, which can accelerate the learning process and help them develop new skills more quickly.
4. Positive emotions and well-being: Experiencing flow can also be a source of positive emotions and a sense of well-being, as individuals feel fully engaged and fulfilled by their activity.
5. Reduced stress and anxiety: Flow state can help individuals reduce stress and anxiety, as they are fully focused on the task and not distracted by negative thoughts or worries.

Overall, experiencing a flow state can lead to greater satisfaction and enjoyment in the task at hand, as well as improved performance and well-being, dare I say, this sounds like happiness itself.

The mindset that enables the “Flow State”

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990) wrote “When adversity threatens to paralyse us, we need to reassert control by finding a new direction in which to invest psychic energy, a direction that lies outside the reach of external forces. When every aspiration is frustrated, a person still must seek a meaningful goal around which to organize the self. Then, even though that person is objectively a slave, subjectively he is free”.

What mindset makes some people exert such mental control while others fall apart when facing hardship or challenges in life and at work?

Richard Logan might have the answer, in his studies on people who survived solitary confinements found the most important trait that enabled their survival was a “nonself-conscious individualism” or a “strongly directed purpose that is not self-seeking”. These people have the following behavioural characteristics:

In other words, they do their very best consistently and not doing so to seek external validation or glory. Because they are not looking for external validation, they have an inbuild “psychological safety” and are not easily disturbed by external threats. Since they are not constantly scanning for external threats or ways to preserve the self, they redirect their energy to observe and analyse their contexts objectively, increasing the chances of discovering new action opportunities.

The mindset can be distilled as follow:

• I am in control of my mind
• I can only do what I am currently capable of doing and set goals that are appropriate to our current situation
• Through persistence and consistent application of quality actions, I will achieve my objective
• By paying close attention to even the most minute of details in anything or situation, there are opportunities for action, even though at the outset, it might seem impossible and
• I am able to act upon items that are within my control to achieve a goal
• By consistently receiving feedback and closely monitoring our progress, we can enhance our abilities and continually push ourselves to reach new heights

How to create the Flow State?

No doubt some people are born with the personality, or biological and neurological endowment, or upbringing to promote the adoption and development of the mindset. However, you can help yourself and your teams to create the “Flow State”.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi did not suggest any specific daily practices for individual knowledge workers to achieve a flow state at work. However, he did suggest some general guidelines that can help individuals create the conditions for flow to occur:

1. Set clear goals: Having clear goals and a sense of purpose can help individuals focus their attention and increase their motivation.
2. Concentrate on the task at hand: Concentrating on the task at hand and avoiding distractions can help individuals enter a state of deep focus and immersion.
3. Get feedback: Receiving feedback on performance can help individuals adjust their behaviour in real-time and stay focused on the task.
4. Develop skills: Developing skills and expertise in a particular area can help individuals feel more confident and in control, which can increase the likelihood of entering a flow state.
5. Find enjoyment in the task: Finding enjoyment in the task or activity can increase intrinsic motivation and make it easier to enter a state of flow.

Originally published at https://nomoss.co on March 29, 2023.