Difference between revisions of "Flow state"

The concept of flow comes from the field of positive psychology, which is the study of things that help humans thrive. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who was an influential part of the movement, coined the term.

Flow has similarities with mindfulness, as both involve a focus on the present moment. However, people often use the term “flow” in reference to situations in which they are being productive, whereas a person can be in a state of mindfulness regardless of whether they are doing a task...

Characteristics of a flow state

Tasks that tend to encourage a state of flow often share similar characteristics. These tasks may be:

• challenging, but not so much that they are impossible

• rewarding, meaning that a person gets a sense of pleasure or purpose from doing it

• in-depth, involving an investment of some time or energy to make progress

Some signs that a person is in a state of flow include:

• Focus: It is not easy to distract people in flow from their task. They may not be thinking about anything else. If a person or event interrupts someone in flow, they may feel annoyed.

• Lack of self-consciousness: Flow is associated with a decrease in “self-referential thinking,” which means that a person in this state is unlikely to be thinking about themselves, their performance, or how others might see them.

• Enjoyment: People may enjoy the task, encouraging them to immerse themselves in it.

• Persistence: Some evidence suggests that being in flow can offset the frustration of a difficult task, allowing people to keep going.^[1]