Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. “ being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. In his influential book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, he states: He observed this phenomenon occurring in athletes and authors as well. He became fascinated by artists who became so lost in their creative work, they would lose track of time and barely sleep or eat. What Is Flow State?įlow theory was first introduced in the late 1970s by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian psychologist with immense contributions to both positive and flow psychology. Flow State is not exclusive to those in athletics or in the creative arts - it’s completely achievable for everyone. The good news is that you’ve likely experienced this a few times already under specific circumstances. It’s the kind of productivity you wish happened more often - the type of concentration that should accompany every challenge. You’re beyond the perception of time - completely absorbed in your task, blocking out all the noise. Maybe it’s pushing yourself in a specific exercise or working on a new painting technique – no matter what you choose, it needs to be something that you must work for and is ultimately achievable, based on your current skill level.How To Induce Flow State For Heightened Performanceįlow State can also be described as this feeling of deep concentration and high productivity being “in the zone.” You’re beyond distraction, riding a wave of steady creativity, and pouring your whole mind and body into the task before you. Try choosing something you already love to do and step up the difficulty level a notch. It can last anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours, especially when you’re fully engaged.Īccording to PsychCentral, people in Western cultures typically achieve flow state when they participate in pursuits that provide incremental challenges, definitive goals and instant feedback.
– endorphins – generates euphoria Find your flowĭespite the name – it sounds like it’s made for relaxation – flow state is actually a mental space where you’re appropriately challenged and engaged by your chosen activity.Īccording to this article on, “…flow state describes a feeling where, under the right conditions, you become fully immersed in whatever you are doing.” Psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura popularized the concept after releasing a study in 2002 about positive psychology, and how flow state contributes to it.Ĭsikszentmihalyi said, “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… the best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”įlow state isn’t going to happen when you’re at your most leisurely – it’ll be when you’ve given yourself a challenge in an activity you enjoy, where distractions are minimal and you can fully focus on what’s in front of you. – noradrenalin – activates the body and alerts our senses – anandamide – the bliss molecule, with anti-anxiety properties Brainbiz in Australia published an article on the neuroscience of flow state and found that it had measurable positive changes on: All of these things contribute to long-term positive well-being. Flow state builds confidence in your chosen pursuit, creates a sense of intrinsic motivation, improves feelings of mastery and promotes total absorption in your activity. Finding and working on projects that bring you joy in the moment and allow you to fall into flow state creates a sense of lasting happiness. When you accomplish new, challenging steps in a process driven only by your desire to improve, you create feelings of fulfillment for yourself. The secret ingredient to flow state is intrinsic motivation – that inner drive to do something you’re passionate about.
Flow state only happens when you’re doing something you enjoy, so you’ve already set yourself up for success by choosing an activity you like. The benefits of flow stateīeyond the base enjoyment of your chosen activity, flow state offers a number of benefits to your well-being:įulfillment. That sensation is called “flow state” and it’s surprisingly beneficial for your well-being. You know that feeling when you’re so immersed in an activity that you lose all sense of time? You just sat down to get started and suddenly three hours have gone by in what feels like five minutes.
0 kommentar(er)
