Flow state: what it means and how to achieve it

The flow state is a mental condition in which in which you are completely immersed in an activity, with deep concentration and a feeling of full control. A psychological state that in sport strongly contributes to achieving the best performance and in the activities allows you to maximize productivity and creativity.

This condition has been studied and coined for the first time by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, one of the most important exponents of positive psychology, who defines it as the when mind and body reach a harmonious concentration. But How do you get into the flow and what are its benefits?

What is the flow state?

Once the tennis star Serena Williams said: "If you can keep playing tennis when someone is Shooting a gun down the street, then that's concentration, That's being in the flow."

The flow state occurs when a person is like this involved in a task that loses track of time and feels a fusion between action and thought. According to Csíkszentmihályi, flow is characterized by from these key elements:

• Clear goals and immediate feedback.
• Total concentration on the task.
• Balance challenge and skill, avoiding both boredom and anxiety.
• Sense of control over the situation.
• Loss of perception of time, in which The hours seem like minutes.
• Fusion of action and awareness, without Distractions.
• Rewarding experience, which motivates you to continue.

Benefits of the flow state

In addition to offering a pleasant experience, entering the Flow state brings numerous other benefits:

• Increased productivity. According to research by McKinsey & Company, flow can increase the Up to five times productivity.
• Increased creativity. It facilitates the connection between innovative ideas and solutions.
• Wellbeing mental. Reduces stress and promotes a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.
• Better learning. Improve the ability to memorize and understand complex concepts.

How do you enter the flow state? 

To experience this state of light trance, it is You need to create the right conditions:

• Finding a balance between your skills and the level of difficultyrequired by the specific activity, which must be sufficiently demanding to keep attention high, but not too difficult to generate anxiety.
• Set clear goals. Know What you want to achieve helps you not to have drops in motivation and focus.
• Eliminate distractions. Turn off notifications, reduce the multitasking and working in a tidy environment helps you focus better.
• Follow an effective routine. For example, the Pomodoro technique (25-minute work sessions followed by short pauses) can help you enter the flow.
• Manage your mental state. Practices such as meditation and deep breathing help to develop the ability to concentrate.

What happens in the brain? The role of the biochemistry 

During the flow, there is a decrease of the activity of the prefrontal cortex, generally responsible for functions such as self-control and evaluation of one's own behavior.

The brain releases chemicals such as dopamine, which increases motivation and pleasure in the activity carried out, but also norepinephrine, which improves attention and focus, and endorphins, which reduce the perception of the effort and increase satisfaction by also creating a small dependence on the activity carried out.

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