How To Get Into Flow State
How to Get Into Flow State When Everything Is Distracting
How to stay focused at work by accessing your most productive state
Some days are more productive than others. When working on a project you love, you might've experienced a time when you were deeply engrossed in your work that the hours just passed by unnoticed. You're fully engaged and immersed in the task at hand without thinking about anything else.
"My hand does the work and I don't have to think. In fact, were I to think, it would stop the flow. It's like a dam in the brain that bursts." — Edna O'Brien
Some people call it being "in the zone." Psychologists refer to it as the flow state. Learning how to reach this elusive state of mind can transform how you work and create a greater sense of fulfillment in what you do.
What is Flow State and how does it impact productivity?
The concept of flow was first attributed to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He was interested in determining what causes happiness knowing that money and material possessions, in the long run, don't suffice.
Csikszentmihalyi was determined that happiness was an intrinsic state and decided to look into individuals who found continued satisfaction in performing activities that seemed to trigger this state of being.
Throughout his research, he interviewed artists, athletes, and musicians to better understand how they felt when they were at peak performance levels. He then came to define flow as "a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it."
His findings led him to conclude that people were happiest and most productive when they were in a state of flow. The benefits of achieving this mental state are manifold.
In a ten-year study by McKinsey & Co., top executives reported being 500% more productive when working in a flow state. That's because there's no room for self-consciousness. Your brain can't afford to worry about all the other items on your to-do list because your attention is fully focused on what you're doing.
When your thoughts and actions seem to coincide effortlessly, it's easier to acquire new skills or take on challenging tasks, leading to increased engagement and greater performance.
Numerous studies have also revealed a connection between flow states and creativity. In one study, participants were asked to solve a tricky challenge that required creative problem-solving skills. None of them solved the puzzle correctly. But when flow was artificially induced, 40% of them got it right.
Another study by Harvard professor Teresa Amiable showed that flow not only enhances creativity at the moment — it does so over a longer period of time. Each time we practice being in a flow state, we're teaching ourselves to be more creative. What's happening on a neurobiological level are certain changes in the brain that silence the part that acts as our "inner critic" which, ultimately, makes us more open to new ideas and possibilities.
"The mark of a person who is in control of consciousness is the ability to focus attention at will, to be oblivious to distractions, to concentrate for as long as it takes to achieve a goal, and not longer. And the person who can do this usually enjoys the normal course of everyday life." — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Aside from being essential to employee productivity, the flow state has been found to be a precursor to greater happiness and general well-being. When you're entirely focused on a single task, there's a sense of harmony in your thoughts that generates intense feelings of enjoyment and a lasting sense of fulfillment.
How to get into Flow State
We all want to enter flow states more often and, fortunately, the experience isn't limited to the world's best chess players, music composers, or mountain climbers.
There's one thing to note though: flow doesn't happen by chance. As long as you establish the right conditions, you can access flow in almost any activity like writing a book or playing a sport.
According to Csikszentmihalyi, there are several key conditions that accompany the state of flow:
- There is complete focus on the task
- The task isn't too hard nor too difficult
- You're doing it for intrinsic rewards
- You lose track of time
- There's a feeling of complete control over the task
- You lose your sense of self-consciousness
- There's a clear goal and immediate feedback
As you can see in the flow model below, if the task is too hard for your skill level, you'll feel anxious and won't be able to experience flow. On the other end, if it's too easy, you'll feel bored and won't find any meaning in what you're doing.
The flow state of mind requires stepping out of your comfort zone and into a place where there's just the right balance between skill and difficulty. It's only at this point where you can give your undivided attention towards a single task and find complete satisfaction and enjoyment.
Four ways to enter a flow state at work
Getting into a flow state is highly beneficial if you want to do your best work but in the modern, hyperconnected workplace, it isn't always so simple. Here are some tips you can follow to make it easier to enter flow:
Minimize workplace distractions
You can only get into a flow state when you have full concentration on the task at hand — a goal that becomes impossible the minute you're bombarded with distractions at work. Remember, distractions don't just come from your physical environment; they often arise from your digital workspace too. Whether it's construction noise or Slack notifications, leaving yourself vulnerable to such disruptions can block the conditions necessary to enter flow.
Improving your focus is one way to power through distractions but it takes a lot of work other than sheer willpower and mindfulness training. Thankfully, there are plenty of focus apps that'll help tame your mind and break the habits that cause you to get sidetracked all the time.
Centered combines a to-do list, calendar, distraction blocker, and ambient music player into one productivity app designed to help you stay in flow. It's a great all-in-one solution if you're having trouble getting things done with traditional task management apps.
Automate busywork
Busywork means any activity that takes away your time and energy but has little value to contribute to the big picture. It reduces the time you could've spent on more meaningful work which can only be accomplished through a flow state. Automation may sound intimidating for some but these days, you can automate pretty much any menial task without hiring a developer.
Think of all the mundane work that gets in the way of your most important task. Tracking your tasks from multiple project management software could be one. Use an app like Pleexy to connect your task management apps together. With Pleexy, any changes you make in one platform are instantly copied on the other end of the integration.
If you find other tasks that seem like good candidates for workflow automation, make a list of them and find tools that can handle your desired workflow.
🤖 Task Automation Ideas For More Focused Workdays
Work in focused sessions
One of the worst habits that's been proven to gradually ruin your ability to focus is multitasking. Despite the growing awareness about its negative impact on productivity, many of us still end up multitasking because our schedule enables us to switch rapidly between different contexts throughout the day.
Time blocking forces you to group similar tasks together instead of responding to each new task that comes your way. When you plan your day, block out a dedicated session for deep work and schedule it during your peak productive hours.
"Three to four hours of continuous, undisturbed deep work each day is all that it takes to see a transformational change in our productivity and our lives." -Cal Newport
Time management strategies like this help you protect your focus time and be more intentional about where your attention goes. It's a good idea to schedule your most important work first thing in the morning when your energy levels are high and create time blocks for less cognitively demanding tasks later in the day.
If you find it hard to stay in a flow state for hours on end, try to practice the Pomodoro Method as it allows you to schedule productive breaks in between your focus periods. Pomodone is a fantastic Pomodoro timer that integrates with almost any task management software.
Revisit your goals
If you find yourself in a slump, constantly drifting from one meeting to the next, it may be time to revisit your goals. Establish specific, measurable goals and try to do something each day that brings you closer to achieving them. Check in with yourself to see whether the work you're doing is still aligned with your long-term goals.
If it's become stagnant, ask your manager if you can take on a more challenging project. The lack of purposeful tasks could be preventing you from reaching flow states. On the other hand, if your work has gotten too overwhelming, take some time to develop new skills or improve the ones you already have. Doing so might reduce any anxiety holding you back and help you get in the zone more quickly.
Got any tips to add? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter. 👋
How To Get Into Flow State
Source: https://blog.pleexy.com/how-to-enter-flow-state-7a06ef4546b
Posted by: leedivening.blogspot.com
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