Why Can't We Be In Flow State All The Time?

You know what it is, but just in case:

Flow in positive psychology, also known colloquially as being in the zone or focused, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time.

Sounds awesome eh - why can't we be in that for ever?

Probably absolutely knackering eh, although it seems like it's a 'restive' state of mind. Maybe this is what Buddhists and those that meditate also experience, do they get knackered? If one becomes an "enlightened one" (there's been a stack of Buddha's over the centuries however we normally only think of Siddhartha G) perhaps that's being in the flow constantly.

If you're bored with it all and can't be bothered which makes you anxious you're unlikely to get into the flow state, just saying:

Some of the challenges to staying in flow include states of apathy , boredom , and anxiety. The state of apathy is characterized by easy challenges and low skill level requirements, resulting in a general lack of interest in the activity. Boredom is a slightly different state that occurs when challenges are few, but one's skill level exceeds those challenges causing one to seek higher challenges. A state of anxiety occurs when challenges are high enough to exceed perceived skill level, causing distress and uneasiness. These states in general prevent achieving the balance necessary for flow. Csíkszentmihályi has said, "If challenges are too low, one gets back to flow by increasing them. If challenges are too great, one can return to the flow state by learning new skills."

Not bored, apathetic, or feeling anxious, here's what you need to get into that flow state:

• Know what to do

• Know how to do it

• Know how well one is doing

• Know where to go (if navigation is involved)

• Have high perceived challenges

• Posses high perceived skills

• Be free from distractions

A key for one to enter the flow state is to remove all distractions (both external and internal distractions). Distractions are the biggest enemy that stops one from entering a flow state and focussing on things that matter.

I also try to schedule my 'deep' work for mid-morning. This time in the morning, it is quiet with minimal external distractions, thus enabling me to enter a flow state quickly - it's when I wrote this for instance. You need to find the best time in your day where external distractions are minimum and your energy levels are at peak.

Now, let's talk about those damn beeps and electronic notifications we are always getting - oh, and are you someone who ends up opening 20 tabs and getting into a wormhole of distractions? You are not alone; I can find myself in the same boat too. But technology can help us remove distractions. I use focus mode on my phone / computer to help me silent incoming calls, switch off notifications, and stay away from apps.

Now that distractions are removed, the next thing is to pick the right task or challenge you want to work on. Flow state allows you to fully immerse your mental state in completing a task. But knowing what should be done and the expected outcomes significantly helps us enter the flow state. Pick one specific task at a time. You need to make sure the task is challenging enough but not too challenging.

And I finally, adding some routine or ritual reminds the brain about deep work and prepares to enter a flow state. My ritual is writing the task with expected goal in Keep and taking a second to affirm to myself how I will complete this task.

Read much more at the Flow (psychology) Wikipedia page.

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