Going partying that particular Friday night was actually not that easy to do. Not that I don't like dancing and parties, on the contrary, I love it.
But, going out to a party that starts at midnight, on a day that I woke up early in another country to catch a flight back home, took a lot. Little did I know that this would turn out to be a self-exploratory experience for me...
See, after saying a few hellos to my friends when I got there, I started dancing, and it didn't take long for me to become fully immersed in it. I was so carried away by the music that at a certain point, I felt that I was no longer moving my body, but rather my body was moving me. I felt hyper-connected to my body and senses. Wow, that felt xxxxing amazing! Have you ever experienced this kind of feeling?
I can't really explain how happy, energized, and uplifted I felt after only two hours at this party.
And then it hit me.
I was experiencing Flow.
So, what is this state of Flow?
Simply put, it's an optimal experience of being 100% engaged in an activity to the point that everything seems to disappear, and you lose track of time. Just like mindfulness, it means being focused on the present moment. Yet, the big difference is that in Flow, you are being active and completely absorbed in a challenging yet doable task (as defined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who coined this concept).
Some call it "an effortless effort" or "being in the zone", a feeling often described by top athletes and musicians. But we can all achieve this harmonious effortless state of losing ourselves while working, learning, or having a conversation. It can even be triggered by playing video games. Yes, gaming is one of the most common activities to experience Flow, as well as other hobbies such as dance, sports, and art.
My experience of Flow that night was combined with a playful mode and a strong sense of connection to myself. In other words, I was in the state of "True Fun"! Yay!! (*for more information about True Fun, head to my February post).
Why else should you be interested in achieving Flow? Well, according to research, Flow increases motivation, productivity, and creativity by hundreds of percent (!), transcending your limitations and bringing you to your top performance. It can even turn a boring task into a purposeful and enjoyable experience, eventually leading to an improved quality of life.
If you’re sold on the idea, you're probably wondering how you can achieve and access it repeatedly. Here are some tips based on the recommendations of peak performance expert Steven Kotler and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi:
Find your High-Flow activity - It could be running, cooking, drawing, playing music, etc. Ask yourself WHERE are you when you're experiencing Flow the most, WHAT are you doing on the outside and the inside, and WHY is this activity meaningful for you. For example: if your activity is cooking, on the outside, it's preparing food, but on the inside, it could be expressing creativity.
Apply the "Challenge - Skill Balance” golden rule- engage in a somewhat challenging task. Make sure it’s not too complicated so that you won't get overwhelmed, nor too easy, because then apathy and boredom can set in.
Put it in your schedule at least once or twice a week- The more time you spend in Flow, the more your brain is trained to be in this state. So if, for example, you spend more time playing the piano, you'll be able to transfer it to other areas of your life and achieve more Flow in your work or studies, resulting in more productivity.
Start your day with Flow - Try starting your day with 90-120 minutes of Flow-based work on your most important task. When I say start your day, I mean wake up and get straight into it. Do not look at your phone, any distraction of emails, texts, or socials will get you immediately out of this state and clutter your brain. Obviously, you can take a break to walk, stretch or drink, but don’t be tempted to get distracted. If you succeed in doing it regularly, you’ll be amazed by the progress you’ll see in your work.
To sum it up, if you want to take your creativity and productivity to the next level and become the best version of yourself, discover your Flow strategy and practice it. I guarantee you’ll enjoy every moment of it.
Oh yes, and what did I learn while clubbing in an old church? I recalled how much dancing is liberating and significant in my self-care practice.
More recommended resources on Flow:
Books: “Flow - the psychology of optimal experience”- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“The Art Of Impossible”- Steven Kotler
Comentários