How to enter a flow state (Flow by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi)
To enter a flow state, you need to remove distractions, set aside uninterrupted time for the activity, and choose an activity that interests you and that is not too hard or too easy.
The book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi will help you understand how to enter a state of flow and why that is important for the quality of your life.
But, if you are expecting an easy read, like The 5am Club or The Mountain is You, this is not it.
It is a scientific book full of information and research. It’s written for those interested in psychology and how our brain functions when engaged in creative ideas.
I found myself reading it over a period of time, a few pages every day.
To read this sort of book, you have to be a) patient, b) have a keen interest in the subject c) be curious enough to delve into the ‘science’ the book proposes. It’s not meant to be read on a beach vacation for sure.
Why I chose to read Flow
Many years ago, I heard about the Flow state of mind and the activities usually associated with it. My grandmother’s favorite activity was Crocheting. She would do it all the time, from the moment she woke up until the evening.
I was young and did not think much of it at the time, but later, I realized that crocheting brought her joy and kept her mentally strong. She wasn’t particularly healthy and did not enjoy walking a lot, but somehow, this activity brought her the greatest joy, and she lived until the age of 93.
Now, after reading about it, I understand that she was, in fact, in the state of flow, unaware of time, and this activity brought her a lot of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. It also gave her life purpose (she was a housewife) and brought her great relief from everyday worries and stresses.
I then became interested in the psychology of flow and how to enter flow state while doing our daily activities.
What is Flow about
The writer tries to answer two eternal questions in this book: What is the meaning of life? How can we be happy?
Even though now we have a lot of material things, and we live long and in comfort, we are more dissatisfied with our lives than ever before, and plagued with depression and doubts.
So, how can we achieve happiness? The author explains that it is not something that happens passively, as we are relaxing by the pool, but something that we achieve actively.
Like the first time you managed to ride your bike. It wasn’t easy, yet it brought you so much joy.
How we feel about ourselves and the joy we get from living depends directly on how the mind interprets everyday experiences. So, in order to feel satisfied and happy, you need to learn to control your thoughts.
“If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now. (Marcus Aurelius)
What is Flow?
Flow is a state of total focus or engrossment in an activity to the point you don’t notice anything around you. When in flow, you forget the time, that you are hungry or thirsty. In this state, you channel most of your brain’s capacity into a single activity.
According to Csikszentmihalyi’s research, we are happiest when we are in flow. We can enter that state while working, creating art, exercising, or fixing a problem. There are various possibilities, and he talks about them at great length.
This state was easily possible when we were kids. I remember so many activities I would enjoy and get immersed in. I had a lot of freedom to do whatever I liked.
From riding my bike in the village, to drawing, and writing.
But as I grew up and my life became very busy with kids, I lost that freedom and that ability to focus.
So, how can we enter a flow state? How can we get back the ability to completely focus and immerse ourselves in the activity we enjoy?
How to enter a flow state
Distraction is the enemy of flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990)
Step 1: Limit screen time and social media
The first thing to do is to limit social media and screen time as much as possible. If we are unable to focus, then the state of flow is impossible.
I had to completely turn off my phone in the morning. No more social media scrolling or reading the news.
Step 2: Identify the most enjoyable activity
The second thing to do is to identify activities that you really like and enjoy.
Some examples could be cooking, gardening, hiking, running, swimming, gaming, yoga, painting, crafts, and so on. Make sure to carve out enough time, at least 90 minutes once or twice a week to immerse yourself in the activity undistracted.
These activities for me are writing, drawing, and cooking.
Step 3: Identify your most focused time of day
Engage with your most important tasks during the part of the day when your brain is most alive. Some of us are morning people, and others are night owls.
I prefer to do my most difficult tasks in the morning. I am well rested, the house is quiet, and I can dedicate a couple of hours to any activity I like.
Step 4: Choose a daily “rest” time
Ensure you have a segment of time every day when you completely stop working and stop using technology. This is called recovery time (Kotler, 2021). You may do this by spending time with your family, walking, reading, or simply sitting on your balcony.
If you can reorganize your week and working days to include these 4 steps above, you will start to experience more flow in everyday life.
How does it feel to be in the state of flow
- You are completely involved in what you are doing
- You are outside of everyday reality
- You understand perfectly what needs to be done
- You know that you have the skills to do it
- You feel peaceful, without any worries
- You are focused on the present, and you have no sense of the passing of time
- The work itself motivates you
The goal should be to do daily activities in the state of flow, as much as possible. But today we are all so distracted that it is extremely difficult to focus on any activity.
It is either my phone or my kids interrupting me. So, for me, I can only enter the state of flow in the morning.
Before anyone is up, I can go on my walk uninterrupted, and I can start writing in complete silence.
So you need to find that quiet time for you, and then teach yourself to focus on a task. And you start doing the activity for itself, and not as a means to an end.
The activity requires your undivided attention, and you will be completely absorbed in what you are doing.
You are not thinking about your action, you are not judging your work, you are not planning what to do next, you are just letting it unfold.
Final thoughts
When was the last time you did something and completely lost yourself in the activity? For me, it was when I was younger, roller skating, writing my journal, and riding my bike.
I don’t experience flow during work, as my work as a project manager is constantly interrupted by chat, emails, and urgent calls.
I find myself longing for focused activity, the kind where I can just sit down and lose myself in. The one my grandmother used to do, where all her worries and life challenges were lost in the activity she performed with her hands.
If you want the same thing, this is the book for you. To understand on a deeper level what flow is, and how you can try to achieve it.
This is not a book for everyone, for sure. I would only recommend it to those who are patient and can handle a lot of scientific data and long paragraphs. If you are not sure you can read this type of book, you can also watch a TED talk on this subject on YouTube.
