What is “Flow State”?
Flow state is a mental state of complete absorption and single-minded focus on an activity. It is an energised feeling of being “in the zone” and completely immersed in an activity. Generally, it is a feeling of satisfaction and energised focus, with a total engagement in an activity. Although everyone can experience flow state, neuro-divergents such as autistics and those with ADHD have a strength of getting deeply into flow state often.
“a stained glass window honor the flow state” - AI generated with DALLE-2
The feeling of flow is often described as a kind of spontaneous joy or ultimate satisfaction that comes with a sense of ease, control, and a heightened sense of awareness and connection. It is often accompanied by a feeling of calm and contentment. As one might guess, this is very satisfying.
Ok, so how to get into this state? Here are my top five tips to get into the flow.
Eliminate distractions - Eliminating distractions is one of the best ways to enter a flow state. This means turning off the TV, putting away your phone, and generally creating a distraction-free environment.
Focus on the task - It’s important to stay focused on the task at hand. That means giving it your full attention and dedicating yourself to the task until it’s complete.
Push yourself to your limits - It’s important to challenge yourself and push your own limits. This can help you to stay focused and motivated to keep going.
Break down tasks into smaller chunks - Breaking tasks into smaller chunks can help keep you focused. This can also help you to stay motivated and keep moving forward with the task.
Take breaks - Taking regular breaks can help to reset your focus and keep you from becoming overwhelmed. This can help you stay in a flow state for longer periods of time.f
Although it’s enjoyable, remember that everything is best in moderation. If you’re not taking enough breaks it can effect your health so always remember to get enough food, water, and movement. Also, make sure you take long enough breaks to be able to abide by your values. From experience it can have the same desirable need to continue like when one binge watches a favourite season, be careful not to over do it. Lastly remember that not all tasks are appropriate for a flow state, and it’s alright to have certain areas you prefer to work in other ways.
