Finding Your Flow State

Do you know what being in a ‘flow state’ feels like?  Can you identify times when you are in a flow state? Are you intentional about finding your ‘flow state’? 

Being in a ‘flow state’ or as some people call it being ‘in the zone’ is to be immersed body and mind in what you are focusing on to the extent that you lose all sense of time and self. 

It may be familiar if you think about times when ideas come to you from out of the blue or randomly solve a problem in the shower, these are times you were in a flow state and in this state your brain is releasing hormones and lighting up your neocortex and temporarily shutting down our pre-frontal cortex.   

So why do we need a flow state in everyday life, in our work and in our sports? 

1. It promotes learning and creativity. 

2. It helps us better control our emotional states. 

3. It helps us to experience joy and a sense of achievement. 

4. It can illuminate our talents and potential. 

5.  It can help us experience heightened motivation and engagement and promote improved performance. 

All these benefits can help us improve our mental wellbeing, manage anxiety and a sense of languishing which is the state of failing to make progress. 

So how do we intentionally enter a flow state? 
The first step is to identify times when we have been in a flow state, what were you doing and how did it make you feel?  Then set a clear, challenging but achievable goal for the activity within which you want to feel flow and eliminate all distractions. 

Some workplaces encourage the flow state by dedicating a set period in the workday where an employee can work completely uninterrupted.  It is great for the worker and great for the business.  It can take 15 minutes to get into a flow state so dedicating an hour a day could be a great start. 

I encourage you to practice an intentional flow state daily. 

Mastering this practice will make it easier for you to access it when you need it not just want it.