Why We Should All Strive For More Flow States
The science of being and performing your best
We live in a society that’s connecting in an exponential manner. Information is distributed in a flash, which results in thoughts, feelings, and ideas being expressed and shared worldwide. One striking example of a widespread idea, a discipline actually, is positive psychology.
‘Positive psychology is the study of positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. It focuses on both individual and societal well-being. In a way, this discipline is concerned with eudaimonia, an Ancient Greek term for “the good life” and the concept for reflection on the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life.’
As a physiotherapist and aspiring psychologist, I’ve experimented with aspects of positive psychology in the past. The most appealing concept for me was the Flow State. This mental state was named by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975 and it is also known as being in the zone. According to the Hungarian-American Psychologist, people are happiest when they are in a state of flow — a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation.
It’s important to note that according to the flow channel model, the challenge at hand shouldn’t exceed the individual’s skills by far because it will produce anxiety. Meanwhile, the individual ought not to be too skilled for the challenge, as he/she will get bored by it.
‘The flow state is the golden mean between anxiety and boredom.’
Now that we’ve become familiar with the flow state, I’d like to back up my belief on why should strive to achieve more of these mental states, in order to increase our well-being and quality of life.
Science and Experience
It’s worth considering that from time to time, the notion of quality of life may change. However, I suppose we can agree that a high percentage of people value and desire a positive subjective experience of reality, as negative experience is linked with a lack of connection, stress, and frustration. According to Dr. John Vervaeke, loss of connection with ourselves, society, and the world, may lead to anxiety, alienation, and feelings of absurdity respectively.
So, how can being ‘in the zone’ help us achieve a better quality of life? Thankfully, three decades of empirical research on this domain can help us get more accurate and valid insights about flow states. As stated by the literature, individuals experiencing flow report higher levels of concentration, creativity, and positive emotions. In addition, positive affects were shown to have adaptive importance. For example, research pointed out that induced positive affect increases attention span, broadens behavioral range, boosts creativity, and increases intuition.
Subsequently, it’s worth noting that the flow state has been examined in multiple realms of social life such as music, sports, education, video games, and work. This is an imperative feature, as scientists also want a theory to be integrated, applicable, and tested across several domains.
Personally, I am also an ultra trail runner and amateur rock climber, and I have to admit that I’ve experienced a cascade of flow states while participating in races and training. The most notable characteristics were:
‘Hyperfocus, loss of time perception, augmented performance, joy, and creativity. ‘
Ever since I felt it for the first time, I wanted to learn about the whys and hows. Thus, I’d like to give you a few examples of how you can make flow states habitual.
Chasing Flow States
This name is derived from a personal project I created after learning about and experiencing this state consciously. I don’t wish to sound like an addict.
What I mean by chasing, is actually seeking to create the essential requirements of flow states:
- A balance between skill and challenge. As aforementioned, the flow state is the golden mean between anxiety and boredom. Find an activity that challenges your cognitive and physical capacities but is manageable.
Writing a scientific blog is such an example. - Clear goals and visible feedback. You need to have a vivid and concrete goal to strive towards, like rock climbing from the bottom to the top of a cliff, step-by-step. Furthermore, your progress should be visible enough so that you receive positive reinforcement for your sequence of actions. It’s worth stating that the interval of the positive feedback should be as fast as possible, a fact that’s backed up by the literature.
- Limited distractions. It’s going to sound like a cliche, but we exist in the age of endless resources and information. We have so much access to people, applications and data, that we get overwhelmed and frustrated. It’s really difficult to cultivate the ground for flow states if we are continuously distracted by external stimuli. While it’s not a panacea, a minimalist approach to life and gadgets can be helpful in order to decrease intrusions in the safe and sacred space you are trying to create.
- Favorable stimuli and practices. Personally, I’m practicing mindfulness through meditation and breathwork. These practices are helping me be more conscious and focused throughout the day. Moreover, I suggest listening to sounds and music that promote concentration. Of course, this is your personal choice, but I’m using a lot of binaural sounds, white noise, and ambient music when I write online.
I truly believe that the ‘chasing flow states’ personal project has helped me become a more productive, creative, and serene person. In order to do that, I had to study the literature and apply the principles in my own life. Before closing this article, I’d like to acknowledge that, although ‘completing’ the requirements was important to make it habitual, the most profound flow states I’ve ever experienced were the ones filled with spontaneity and unexpectedness, like being in nature.
Thank you for your time and attention
