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How to Find a Flow State

Contributor
By Charles Harper
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

A flow state is, in many ways, the opposite of being stressed. Instead of feeling pressured, self-conscious, oppressed by time or out of sync, this is a great “zone” in which what you are doing feels natural with great results. Credited to psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the term describes the highest achievements of athletes, musicians, writers, spiritual gurus—masters in practically every field of activity. Most people, in fact, have found themselves in this state of mind at some point and it's not as hard to bring about as it might seem.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Recall a time when you were so engrossed in what you were doing that it was nothing but a pure joy. This doesn't have to be performance art; it could involve a deep conversation, jogging around a lake, typing, or any type of work that others might think of as tedious.

  2. Step 2

    Make a note of what you were doing and how you were doing it. Pay attention to elements such as the kind of clothes you were wearing, music playing, the time of day, and whether the activity had a deadline in place or is deliberately on its own timeline. Time often seems to pass differently when you find a flow state.

  3. Step 3

    Decide and picture in your mind what you want to do and how you want to feel while doing it. The more details, the better your preparation.

  4. Step 4

    Practice the activity, training until you don't have to consciously thinking of any of its individual parts. When you learn it at a high enough level, it becomes possible to push those details involved to the back of your mind.

  5. Step 5

    Focus completely on what you are doing. That means doing whatever you have to so that distractions are not on your mind. Pay attention to the results you are getting and not your role in the process. This can take a long time to find.

  6. Step 6

    Recreate the flow state by repeating these steps. Each time you practice your activity and think about how exactly you did it so well when you are finished, finding that flow state should be easier. This builds the trust in yourself need to let go of your self-consciousness and put that awareness in a more rewarding place: on the thing you want to do well.

Tips & Warnings
  • Try to find a flow state with those who also share interest in your activity.
  • Never forget to note when you fall into a flow state so you can learn what triggers this for you.

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