"Today I Learned" Tuesdays
(TILT)
The "FLOW"
state of mind
The FLOW state of mind
aka
IN THE ZONE
FULL IMMERSION
ENERGIZED FOCUS
ENJOYMENT OF THE ACTIVITY
TRANSFORMED SENSE OF TIME
Named by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
in 1975
The FLOW state of mind
“There’s this focus that, once it becomes intense, leads to a sense of ecstasy, a sense of clarity: you know exactly what you want to do from one moment to the other; you get immediate feedback,”
- Conclusion by interviewing a variety of self-actualized, high-performing people
The FLOW state of mind
"The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… the best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile."
- To that end, engagement and concentration are key in achieving flow state
The FLOW state of mind
How to
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The activity is intrinsically rewarding
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Clear goals that, while challenging, are still attainable
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Complete focus on the activity itself
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Feelings of personal control over the situation and the outcome
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Feelings of serenity; a loss of feelings of self-consciousness
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Immediate feedback
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Knowing that the task is doable; a balance between skill level and the challenge presented
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Lack of awareness of physical needs
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Strong concentration and focused attention
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Timelessness; a distorted sense of time; feeling so focused on the present that you lose track of time passing
10 factors that accompany the experience of flow
achieve
FLOW?
To achieve a state of flow, it helps if:
- You are at your best condition physically and mentally
- It is an activity that you enjoy or feel passionate about
- There is an element of challenge
- You are able to stretch your current skill level
- Creating an ideal environment without distractions
- You have a specific goal and plan of action
The FLOW state of mind
How to set clear goals?
The 5 S.M.A.R.T. Objectives
Your turn to share
How would you achieve the FLOW state of mind in the current Work From Home setup?