WHEN?

 

The author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (to remember it: “Me, high? Chick sent me high!”), reveals that flow can occur in a wide range of activity such as painting, playing a video game or dancing.

Nevertheless, the flow doesn't appear in passive leisure such as bathing up to the sun.  Although ones could enjoy it more than washing dishes...

The entire involvement in a task leading to the flow needs to come from one's own making.

A satisfying level of attention in the activity is also necessary.

Anxiety or lack of discipline to overcome the initial obstacle lead the person to be engaged in something more accessible.

 

Reaching the flow state in activities where there are a specific frame, environment, or rules, is less difficult than in the normal life.

For example, in e-sport, tennis, or chess, the frame of the game are well-known (clear rules, goals, duration...)

Still, to perform well, it is necessary to keep control of mental skills in order to stay focus and fully involved in the game.

In the everyday life, where there is no such rules, the state of flow could occur when a person had set appropriated goals (cf. goal setting) and provide feedback.

 

 

WHO?

 

Anybody can experience the flow state, as long as the conditions are present. There is no need for particular abilities in the activity involved. However, as the author's model describe, a low level of skill will certainly lead to apathy, wariness, or anxiety depending on the demand (challenge and skill balance).

 

Nevertheless, Csikszentmihalyi identifies personality traits who favour the achievement of a flow state more often, these traits are curiosity, persistence, low self-centeredness and a high rate of performing activities for intrinsic reasons only (autotelic personality).

 

 

FLOW & WORK

 

In the workplace, the flow can be experienced regardless of the work: coach, fireman, CEO, employee... But the following conditions need to be present: 

Clear goals, immediate an appropriate feedback and balance between abilities and opportunities. 

 

As flow is associated with achievement, it could enhance drastically worker's satisfaction and accomplishment. 

In order to promote well-being (and productivity), companies shall organize their working place in a way that employees have the opportunity to "enjoy doing their best while at the same time contributing to something beyond themselves". Among the possible solutions the "Serious Play" facilitation methods which are work-related problem-solving exercises, role plays or even improvisational theatre.

 

 

 

FLOW & SPORT

 

Flow, also known as "the zone" in sport, leads to better performance.

Athletes have described nature of their performance while achieving personal bests. (Cf. they have said...)

In the flow state, everything is effortless, there isn't even awareness of the complete absorption.

Dr. Bell from Ball State University gives some tips to reach the flow state easier:

-  Eliminating outside distractions (phone, iPod), helps to focus on the task at hand.

-  Having set appropriated goals (cf. goal setting).

- Taking every training as opportunities to improve, giving positive and constructive feedback to yourself.

 

 

FLOW & LEISURE

 

Nowadays leisure time could be media consumption, conversation or active leisure (playing music or sport, going sightseeing...). These activities have a different potential for flow. 

Unlike work, when people are spending time at home, there is often a lack of purpose, no skills need to be challenged, anybody can do it.

It seems that our nervous system would have evolved to attend to external signals, but has not had the time to adapt to long periods without obstacles and dangers. The modification of our adaptive system didn't integrate boredom and laziness yet. Poor humans...

 

 

FLOW & SOCIALIZATION

 

In social interaction, one can have different mental state in a short lapse of time: the flow state can be experienced and a minute later there is confusion, anger or boredom. But findings reveal systematically than depression occurs when someone is alone and revive when he joins the company of others.

Loneliness and having nothing to do is a good combination to make the mind being occupied by depressing thoughts. 

On the contrary, social interaction requires attention to external demands, which is challenging.

Indeed, interactions contain the same characteristics than flow potential activities.

But interacting with some people give us energy while interacting with other takes it from us. That's why being surrounded by positive, inspiring and supportive people is essential.