Do You Know How to Get in the Flow?

You’ve probably felt frustrated about not getting enough done on a project. I have been developing a new course. I notice I feel productive, and the work flows some days. Other times, I wonder why it feels more challenging, and I don’t feel satisfied.

I love the moments I am immersed in the work and lose track of time. I want to keep going and am absorbed and enjoying the process. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, who was a psychologist at the University of Chicago, called this state flow. He did a lot of research and discovered that when we are in a state of flow, we enjoy what we are doing, forget about ourselves and the demands of the outside world, and become creative and productive.

Who doesn’t want more flow and enjoyment? The key I found is that it takes about 15 minutes of focus before fully engaging in a task. Once I do, I can fall into a state of flow. The challenge is that I would be pulled out of flow when I shifted to answer a call or read an email. Then it takes another 15 minutes to reenter the flow state. So some days, I click in and out of focus, with all the distractions, that I do not feel productive.

Try an experiment and notice how you can shift into the flow state after about 15 minutes of focus. (For me, that means no social media surfing or taking calls.) I am experiencing a lot more enjoyment and creativity. I hope you will have the same experience. Let me know.

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