Flow state — The art of getting in the zone
Coined by positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow state is a feeling where, under the right conditions, you become fully immersed in whatever you are doing — both at work and in life.
“When you’re in flow state, you’re immersed in a task to the point where you lose track of time and ignore outside distractions. Achieving flow state at work can boost your focus, creativity, and engagement—not to mention, it just feels great” — Julia Martins, Asana.
Being ‘in the zone’ can not only make your productivity and creativity skyrocket, it makes getting the work done feel almost, well, effortless.
Everyone gets into flow in different ways, however, there are a few common factors in achieving this ultimate state. Implement these practices in your daily life in order to achieve flow state at work:
- Find your challenge point
- Set yourself a goal
- Get rid of distractions
- Banish the multitasking
- Don’t fight it
- Kick off with a fun activity
1. Find your challenge point
Flow state occurs when there is a balance between the challenge of a task and your skill level. If a task is too difficult, it can be stressful and hinder flow. Conversely, if a task is too easy, it can lead to boredom, which also disrupts flow. This balance is referred to as the “challenge-skill balance” in the context of flow state.
2. Set yourself a goal
In achieving flow state, having clear goals is essential. Clear goals make it easier to enter a state of flow because they provide a sense of purpose and enable you to measure your progress. To establish clear goals, connect your everyday tasks to broader team and company objectives. Understanding the contribution of your work to larger company initiatives helps prioritise important tasks and accomplish high-impact work.
3. Get rid of distractions
Distractions can prevent you from entering a state of flow where your brain naturally filters them out. To overcome distractions and achieve mental clarity for flow state, consider the following tips: snooze notifications, activate Do Not Disturb mode, and schedule dedicated time blocks for focused work. Many knowledge workers regularly deal with distractions, with 80% using communication apps while working, which hinders their flow state.
4. Banish the multitasking
Multitasking is a misconception; the brain can only focus on one thing at a time, and attempting to multitask actually forces it to rapidly switch between tasks, causing a cognitive burden. Research indicates that 72% of knowledge workers feel pressured to multitask. Multitasking can disrupt your flow state, as it diverts your brain’s focus away from the task at hand, requiring time and energy to return to the flow state. To maintain flow, avoid multitasking and concentrate on the current task.
5. Don’t fight it
Experiencing the desire to get into a state of flow for increased productivity but struggling to achieve it is a common challenge known as the paradox of control. Trying too hard to control the flow can actually make it more elusive. If you’re not feeling in the flow today, it’s alright. You can still accomplish high-quality work by following practices like minimising distractions and avoiding multitasking, even if you don’t enter a flow state.
6. Kick of with a fun activity
Flow state is best achieved when you’re enjoying the activity. It relies on intrinsic motivation, where you do something because it’s satisfying, not just for external rewards. Start by doing something you like, as flow state is about the satisfaction of getting work done and feeling good about it.
