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9 Steps to Achieving Flow (and Happiness) in Your Work

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

Have your ever lost yourself in your work, so much so that you lost track of time? Being consumed by a task like that, while it can be rare for most people, is a state of being called Flow.

In my experience, it’s one of the keys to happiness at work, and a nice side benefit is that it not only reduces stress but increases your productivity. Not bad, huh?

When I wrote about the Magical Power of Focus, I promised to write more about how to achieve Flow, a concept that is very much in vogue right now and something most of us have experienced at one time or another.

Today we’ll take a look at what Flow is, why it’s important, and how to achieve it on a regular basis for increased productivity and happiness at work.

What is Flow?

Put simply, it’s a state of mind you achieve when you’re fully immersed in a task, forgetting about the outside world. It’s a concept proposed by positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, and these days you’re likely to read about it on blogs and in all kinds of magazines.

When you’re in the state of Flow, you:

are completely focused on the task at hand;
forget about yourself, about others, about the world around you;
lose track of time;
feel happy and in control; and
become creative and productive.

One thing I love about Flow is that it takes the very Zen concept of being completely in the moment, and applies it to work tasks. It’s a concept I’ve talked a lot about here on Zen Habits — being in the moment, focusing completely on a single task, and finding a sense of calm and happiness in your work. Flow is exactly that.

Why is Flow Important?

I believe the ability to single-task (as opposed to multi-task) is one of the keys to true productivity. Not the kind of productivity where you knock off 20 items from your to-do list (although that can be satisfying), where you’re switching between tasks all day long and keep busy all the time.

The true productivity I mean is the kind where you actually achieve your goals, where you accomplish important and long-lasting things. As a writer, that might mean writing one or two important and memorable articles rather than 20 or 50 unimportant ones that people will forget 5 minutes after reading them. It means getting key projects done rather than answering a bunch of emails, making a lot of phone calls, attending a bunch of meetings, and shuffling paperwork all day long. It means closing key deals. It means quality instead of quantity.

And once you’ve learned to focus on those kinds of important projects and tasks, Flow is how you get them done. You lose yourself in those important and challenging tasks, and instead of being constantly interrupted by minor things (calls, emails, IMs, coworkers, etc.), you are able to focus on the tasks long enough to actually complete them.

And by losing yourself in them, you enjoy yourself more. You reduce stress while increasing quality output. You get important stuff done instead of just getting things done. You achieve things rather than just keeping busy.

Flow is one of the keys to all of that.

How to Achieve Flow and Happiness in Your Work

So how do you achieve this mystical state of being? Do you need to meditate or chant anything? No, you don’t (although meditation can improve your ability to concentrate). And Flow is anything but mystical — it’s very practical, and achieving it isn’t mysterious.

It can take practice, but you’ll get better at it. Here are the key steps to achieving and benefiting from Flow:

Choose work you love. If you dread a task, you’ll have a hard time losing yourself in it. If your job is made up of stuff you hate, you might want to consider finding another job. Or consider seeking projects you love to do within your current job. At any rate, be sure that whatever task you choose is something you can be passionate about.
Choose an important task. There’s work you love that’s easy and unimportant, and then there’s work you love that will make a long-term impact on your career and life. Choose the latter, as it will be a much better use of your time, and of Flow.
Make sure it’s challenging, but not too hard. If a task is too easy, you will be able to complete it without much thought or effort. A task should be challenging enough to require your full concentration. However, if it is too hard, you will find it difficult to lose yourself in it, as you will spend most of your concentration just trying to figure out how to do it — either that, or you’ll end up discouraged. It may take some trial and error to find tasks of the appropriate level of difficulty.
Find your quiet, peak time. This is actually two steps grouped into one. First, you’ll want to find a time that’s quiet, or you’ll never be able to focus. For me, that’s mornings, before the hustle of everyday life builds to a dull roar. That might be early morning, when you just wake, or early in the work day, when most people haven’t arrived yet or are still getting their coffee and settling down. Or you might try the lunch hour, when people are usually out of the office. Evenings work well too for many people. Or, if you’re lucky, you can do it at any time of the day if you can find a quiet spot to work in. Whatever time you choose, it should also be a peak energy time for you. Some people get tired after lunch — that’s not a good time to go for Flow. Find a time when you have lots of energy and can concentrate.
Clear away distractions. Aside from finding a quiet time and place to work, you’ll want to clear away all other distractions. That means turning off distracting music (unless you find music that helps you focus), turning off phones, email and IM notifications, Twitter and Growl, and anything else that might pop up or make noise to interrupt your thoughts. I also find it helpful to clear my desk, even if that means sweeping miscellaneous papers into a folder to be sorted through later. Of course, these days there isn’t anything on my desk, but I didn’t always work like this. A clear desk helps immensely.
Learn to focus on that task for as long as possible. This takes practice. You need to start on your chosen task and keep your focus on it for as long as you can. At first, many people will have difficulty, if they’re used to constantly switching between tasks. But keep trying, and keep bringing your focus back to your task. You’ll get better. And if you can keep your focus on that task, with no distractions, and if your task has been chosen well (something you love, something important, and something challenging), you should lose yourself in Flow.
Enjoy yourself. Losing yourself in Flow is an amazing thing, in my experience. It feels great to be able to really pour yourself into something worthwhile, to make great progress on a project or important task, to do something you’re passionate about. Take the time to appreciate this feeling (perhaps after the fact — it’s hard to appreciate it while you’re in Flow).
Keep practicing. Again, this takes practice. Each step will take some practice, from finding a quiet, peak time for yourself, to clearing distractions, to choosing the right task. And especially keeping your focus on a task for a long time. But each time you fail, try to learn from it. Each time you succeed, you should also learn from it — what did you do right? And the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Reap the rewards. Aside from the pleasure of getting into Flow, you’ll also be happier with your work overall. You’ll get important stuff done. You’ll complete stuff more often, rather than starting and stopping frequently. All of this is hugely satisfying and rewarding. Take the time to appreciate this, and to continue to practice it every day.

“To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement.” - Bertrand Russell

9 Steps to Achieving Flow (and Happiness) in Your Work

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

Have your ever lost yourself in your work, so much so that you lost track of time? Being consumed by a task like that, while it can be rare for most people, is a state of being called Flow.

In my experience, it’s one of the keys to happiness at work, and a nice side benefit is that it not only reduces stress but increases your productivity. Not bad, huh?

Today we’ll take a look at what Flow is, why it’s important, and how to achieve it on a regular basis for increased productivity and happiness at work.

What is Flow?

When you’re in the state of Flow, you:

are completely focused on the task at hand;
forget about yourself, about others, about the world around you;
lose track of time;
feel happy and in control; and
become creative and productive.

Why is Flow Important?

Flow is one of the keys to all of that.

How to Achieve Flow and Happiness in Your Work

It can take practice, but you’ll get better at it. Here are the key steps to achieving and benefiting from Flow:

Choose work you love. If you dread a task, you’ll have a hard time losing yourself in it. If your job is made up of stuff you hate, you might want to consider finding another job. Or consider seeking projects you love to do within your current job. At any rate, be sure that whatever task you choose is something you can be passionate about.
Choose an important task. There’s work you love that’s easy and unimportant, and then there’s work you love that will make a long-term impact on your career and life. Choose the latter, as it will be a much better use of your time, and of Flow.
Make sure it’s challenging, but not too hard. If a task is too easy, you will be able to complete it without much thought or effort. A task should be challenging enough to require your full concentration. However, if it is too hard, you will find it difficult to lose yourself in it, as you will spend most of your concentration just trying to figure out how to do it — either that, or you’ll end up discouraged. It may take some trial and error to find tasks of the appropriate level of difficulty.
Find your quiet, peak time. This is actually two steps grouped into one. First, you’ll want to find a time that’s quiet, or you’ll never be able to focus. For me, that’s mornings, before the hustle of everyday life builds to a dull roar. That might be early morning, when you just wake, or early in the work day, when most people haven’t arrived yet or are still getting their coffee and settling down. Or you might try the lunch hour, when people are usually out of the office. Evenings work well too for many people. Or, if you’re lucky, you can do it at any time of the day if you can find a quiet spot to work in. Whatever time you choose, it should also be a peak energy time for you. Some people get tired after lunch — that’s not a good time to go for Flow. Find a time when you have lots of energy and can concentrate.
Clear away distractions. Aside from finding a quiet time and place to work, you’ll want to clear away all other distractions. That means turning off distracting music (unless you find music that helps you focus), turning off phones, email and IM notifications, Twitter and Growl, and anything else that might pop up or make noise to interrupt your thoughts. I also find it helpful to clear my desk, even if that means sweeping miscellaneous papers into a folder to be sorted through later. Of course, these days there isn’t anything on my desk, but I didn’t always work like this. A clear desk helps immensely.
Learn to focus on that task for as long as possible. This takes practice. You need to start on your chosen task and keep your focus on it for as long as you can. At first, many people will have difficulty, if they’re used to constantly switching between tasks. But keep trying, and keep bringing your focus back to your task. You’ll get better. And if you can keep your focus on that task, with no distractions, and if your task has been chosen well (something you love, something important, and something challenging), you should lose yourself in Flow.
Enjoy yourself. Losing yourself in Flow is an amazing thing, in my experience. It feels great to be able to really pour yourself into something worthwhile, to make great progress on a project or important task, to do something you’re passionate about. Take the time to appreciate this feeling (perhaps after the fact — it’s hard to appreciate it while you’re in Flow).
Keep practicing. Again, this takes practice. Each step will take some practice, from finding a quiet, peak time for yourself, to clearing distractions, to choosing the right task. And especially keeping your focus on a task for a long time. But each time you fail, try to learn from it. Each time you succeed, you should also learn from it — what did you do right? And the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Reap the rewards. Aside from the pleasure of getting into Flow, you’ll also be happier with your work overall. You’ll get important stuff done. You’ll complete stuff more often, rather than starting and stopping frequently. All of this is hugely satisfying and rewarding. Take the time to appreciate this, and to continue to practice it every day.

“To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement.” - Bertrand Russell

Posted on 29 June 2008 in Productivity & Organization |
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Comments (64)

Thomas Johnson Says:

June 29th, 2008, 19:56 pm

Very well written article. I’ve thought about a lot of this before, but you have just pulled everything together nicely here.

You say “be sure that whatever task you choose is something you can be passionate about.” - I think the word can is very well chosen. In my work as a software engineer I find that when I focus on the task at hand I become passionate about my work. If I just dabble around jumping between tasks and not really concentrating I find it boring and difficult.

Thomas Herold Says:

June 29th, 2008, 19:59 pm

Most important do what you love and the flow follows automatically.

Spend time to discover your strength, talents and gifts. Think about what you can do to serve others with it. Than you are on the track to enjoy every day of your life that is filled with creativity to fulfill your dream and serve others.

Cheers

Thomas Herold
CEO Dream Manifesto

Shanel Yang Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:02 pm

To me, flow means work when I feel when the inspiration is hitting me hard and strong — even thought I’m exhausted. I’m tired during such moments, yet it’s not too hard to keep going anyway. Then, there are other moments when I’m totally well rested but it’s still like pulling teeth to get just one sentence on the screen. I keep working though b/c I know if I stop and wait for the inspiration, it’ll never come. Often, when I force myself through these grueling lack of inspiration days, the inspiration eventually comes in at the last minute to help me finish a post. Strangely enough, it has turned out that the posts that I thought were not written in the flow have ended up being some of my most popular. Go figure! Either way, I’m happy to keep getting those posts done and the message out there. : )

Alecia D Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:08 pm

Great post– I guess the problem for me was trying to achieve flow in a job that I utterly hate.. I see now how that is not going to happenl. I’m definitely going to take your advice and 1. find the aspect of the job I like and focus on that while I 2. look for another job! ;)

Again, great post!

The Daily Minder Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:20 pm

That is one of the best and most important quotes by the Buddha. Thank you for reminding me about it because I had sort of let it slip.

Excellent article here. One of the most important things is to do meditation which I wrote about here:

http://thedailymind.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-work-as-a-meditation-tool-to-change-your-life/

I think that is the only real way to create lasting flow at work.

Steve Munroe Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:20 pm

Excellent post! Flow is a much under explored theme that, if better understood, could help us achieve much more happiness in our work and personal lives. It stops us from becoming brainjacked and distracted as my post here discusses in more detail: http://snipurl.com/2r8ae

Adam Sicinski @ Study Matrix Art Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:38 pm

For me personally, achieving a state of flow is incredibly important. I write extensive long article posts on my blog about psychology, life coaching, self improvement, accelerated learning topics. If I am not in a state of flow while writing up these articles I will struggle to put two sentences together. On the other hand following similar guiidelines as you outlined above helps to put my mind at ease and this encourages and enhances my writing ability.

I find that Mind Mapping my ideas beforehand helps me to achieve a state flow you are talking about more easily. When we are clear about our ideas, about what we want and about how we are going to go about achieving them, we automatically achieve a state of effortless activity where our ideas flow from one moment to the next.

For me Mind Mapping is the most effective tool that helps me achieve this state you discussed within your article post.

Average Jane Crafter Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:45 pm

This is a fabulous, beautifully written post. Thank you! I love being in a state of Flow - it’s one of my happiest times in life - but I find it so hard to get to that place now that I have kids. My days/life are so completely fragmented with running to and fro and taking care of the needs of (at least) two other human beings.

Forget IMs, Twitter and emails - my focus is constantly being interrupted by my kiddos! Of course, I adore them, but I desperately miss the hours of Flow I used to be able to enjoy before I had kids. I work hard to set up times where I can have at least an hour or two to myself, but they are few and far between, and often come at the end of an exhausting day. I know it’s just part of it, and that it won’t always be this way, but it’s still a struggle.

Reading your article, though, reminds me how much I thrive on Flow, and reminds me that I’ve been there and must get back there more often!

thank you!
Rach

Jarrod - Warrior Development Says:

June 29th, 2008, 20:49 pm

@AleciaD - “I guess the problem for me was trying to achieve flow in a job that I utterly hate”

Look for another if you want but you should know that there is another option.

You can stop hating your job, then find flow.

Thomas Johnson Says:

June 29th, 2008, 21:01 pm

Jarrod Said - “You can stop hating your job, then find flow.”

I couldn’t agree more. Of course some jobs are easier to find enjoyment in than others but it’s definitely possible to change the way you think/feel about your current job.

Ryan McLean. Says:

June 29th, 2008, 21:32 pm

I truely believe flow will come more often when you are doing what you love, and when what you are doing makes a difference. This way you know that you are spending your time.
So many people try to creat flow at their work, when they are working in an area they are not passionate about, and then they wonder why they are so distracted and often get next to nothing done. Flow comes when you do what you love.
I wrote a post on my blog about why doing what you love makes you wealthier. You can view it here http://www.foolswealth.com/2008/youre-a-fool-if-you-dont-do-what-you-love/

But I like the way you talk about getting key projects done. Being a writer myself I understand that in order to become a successful writer you need to make an impact. An you make an impact by writing a few articles that people love. Articles that think outside the box, articles that show a little bit of who you are. So thanks for this great post leo, I look forward to many more

Thomas Johnson Says:

June 29th, 2008, 21:48 pm

Ryan McLean said - “I truely believe flow will come more often when you are doing what you love, and when what you are doing makes a difference.”

I agree that doing work that makes a difference can help you get into the flow. Perhaps a bit of a chicken and the egg thing here though … I find that in my work I do make a difference when I am in the flow. I do love my work when I’m in the flow. Otherwise I tend to get little done and not have much impact.

Ben Young Says:

June 29th, 2008, 22:11 pm

Nice post.

However i think you’ve missed a few.

Here are some situational changes you can make to encourage / induce flow:
- Have a tidy environment | Clutter clutters the mind
- Listen to music | But not radio. Music that you have listened to before easier to listen to and not be engaged. Radio will distract you.
- Wear the same clothes, ie these are work clothes
- Snack / keep hydrated
- Take breaks
- Split task into smaller achievable goals | It’s easier to slip into flow state with simple tasks
- Sit comfortably and make sure temperature is comfortable
- If possible ensure low / no background noise ie traffic / office sounds
- Plan out tasks and have all required material at hand

Those are just some I thought of that I use when trying to induce flow.

Mary Says:

June 29th, 2008, 22:22 pm

I love getting into a state of flow. And when I do, the time just flies by. This happens a lot when I am working on my website.

I agree with other posters here that you can change your perceptions of your work, whatever it is. Unfortunately, there are times/situations when even this doesn’t make a job bearable. Having been in a toxic co-worker situation, I learned that moving on was the better option.

Alecia, good luck as you look for work.

Leo, great article, as usual. Thanks!

Maura Says:

June 29th, 2008, 22:39 pm

@Jerrod’s comment about changing how you feel about your job… well, that is a possibility, but not necessarily a productive one.

Learning to accept a task you have found unpleasant or treating a task you find difficult as a learning opportunity may work in the short run. But, depending on the situation, in the long run this effort may destroy energy that could otherwise be put to use in a task better suited to the person’s skills, talents, personality or preferences.

Thankfully, the world is full of diversity. And for a fortunate subset of people (such as those of us accessing the internet), it is full of opportunity and choices, too.

Sandy Naidu Says:

June 29th, 2008, 22:49 pm

Great post…For me the key was to remove all distractions…Mail, Twitter, Skype etc…I recently read somewhere (i think it was a productivity report from KPMG) - if you have your email pop and assume you are working on a document - if you get a new email, whilst it might take you only a minute to attend to your new email, it will take you atleast 15 minutes to get back to the same level of concentration you previously had..

derek Says:

June 29th, 2008, 23:06 pm

Another excellent post! Thank you, thank you, thank you…

It’s hard when you “try” to get in the flow, but when the mind is quiet and the body is taken care of, flow happens…

Corey - Simple Marriage Project Says:

June 29th, 2008, 23:17 pm

Single tasking needs to be more important in life today. You’ll get more out of it.

Debbi Says:

June 29th, 2008, 23:20 pm

I noticed someone brought up Twitter. What are your thoughts on Twitter? (I suspect I can guess, but I’d rather hear it from you.)

I’ve completely avoided using Twitter. To make effective use of it, they say you have to participate often. And how can one focus (get in the flow, if you will) when you’re constantly carrying on virtual water cooler conversation and mini-marketing, even if it is in 140-character sound bites? (Not to mention that it takes more time and thought to write “short” than “long.”)

Jonathan B. Says:

June 29th, 2008, 23:52 pm

Mary, I’m with you about web sites. I often get into the “Flow” when I’m web developing. I’ll look at the clock and be like, “it’s 2pm already?!”

The Daily Minder Says:

June 29th, 2008, 23:52 pm

Some great other links in the comments here too!

Sara Says:

June 30th, 2008, 0:10 am

Aha! I’ve been going about this all wrong, expecting to just fall into a flow state, kind of like falling in love. But, just like falling in love, it looks like I need to set the mood first. :)

Andre Kibbe Says:

June 30th, 2008, 0:41 am

#5, clearing away distractions, is number one in my book. That means not only external distractions like stray paperwork, IM notifications and the usual suspects, but internal noise. It’s a good idea to do a mind sweep prior to any session of high-focus work. Write down everything on you mind and through that list in your in-basket. The things in the list are less likely to pull you out of the zone.

Another suggestion would be to add 15 minutes to whatever time you block out as your work session. Achieving deep focus requires immersion time, so factor it in to avoid the sense of urgency that comes when you find that you’re not brilliant after the first two minutes of working. I would take it a step further and add 10-15 minutes to working time for each break you plan to take. So if you want to get two hours hours of actual work done, and plan to take a 10-minute break, block out two-and-a-half hours for the whole session.

Bamboo Forest Says:

June 30th, 2008, 1:18 am

Flow, interesting concept. It seems the counterpart in sports would be “the zone.” This is where ones mind and spirit are so entrenched in what you are doing - that you’re unstoppable. Not sure if this is a correlation, because it appears that the “zone” in sports is not usually something you can make happen. It seems to happen spontaneously. That being said, I’m sure it happens most often to those who are the most skilled, and have the most apt of minds.

Kallie Erasmus Says:

June 30th, 2008, 2:12 am

Great post.

Too many of us struggle to keep our thoughts in check and “monkey mind” prevails all too often.

I have found “10 Zen Seconds” (http://www.tenzenseconds.com/) really useful to keep me in “the Flow”.

And then it helps to “insist on joy in spite of everything” a la Tom Robbins’ view on Crazy Wisdom.

Innocent Udoh Says:

June 30th, 2008, 2:14 am

I like the flow thing and wish all can really achieve it. But for some of us in developing countries it is near impossible. check out http://innocentlyspeaking.com/since-you-can‘t-be-an-early-riser. I pretty much from the angle of rising early posed some of the realities of the developing world which I think you and many of your readers will find instructive.

Vered Says:

June 30th, 2008, 2:19 am

A clear desk sounds like a small thing, but I agree - it is very important. For me, it’s not just the desk - I find that I am much calmer, more productive and work a lot better when my entire surroundings are clutter free.

Ramesh | The Geek Stuff Says:

June 30th, 2008, 2:20 am

Talking about “Flow” and “In the Zone”, Michael Jordon’s Shrug is what coming to my mind, when he was in the zone and never seems to miss any shot even if he wanted to.

But it was his talent, focus, passion to the game and hard-work that lead to that moment where he cannot miss any shot.

Thanks for the great post Leo.

Ramesh
The Geek Stuff

Bamboo Forest Says:

June 30th, 2008, 2:44 am

@ Ramesh:

When talking about ” the zone” and Michael Jordan you write:

“But it was his talent, focus, passion to the game and hard-work that lead to that moment where he cannot miss any shot.”

I like that. Well said.

Andrew Scotchmer Says:

June 30th, 2008, 3:57 am

Oh did I like reading this article. So right for me now. I love to read biographies of successful people and they all seem to follow this advice.

I think the central pillar to getting into the flow is being genuinely interested in the work. Find something we really enjoy and make that our careers.

Louis Says:

June 30th, 2008, 4:48 am

Good thing I was able to find a job that I love. The only thing lacking now for me is focus. I should be able to master the art of focus and eventually be able to consistently experience Flow. Very inspiring post by the way.

Kiran voleti Says:

June 30th, 2008, 5:01 am

A person need these points definitely in their life.

Thanks
http://www.dotndot.com

Michael Yount Says:

June 30th, 2008, 6:13 am

It’s so cool to see a group of people immersed in and sharing their thinking about ‘flow’. I find that most of the time, I don’t recognize that state when I’m in it. It seems to only occur to me after I’ve traversed some period of time in it, and I look back upon it from a more distracted state. It’s almost as if the contrast between not being in flow and being in flow is what allows us to see that we’re not there any longer. And the instant we become aware that we weren’t in flow - we’re back in flow. A bit of a paradox almost.

I tend to think about flow this way — it’s the simple realization that our view of anything - life, our job, our friends/family, a particular task at hand - is a product of our thinking in the moment. If the thinking available to me is high quality - then I’ll see the best in whatever situation I’m faced with. And if the thinking available to me is low quality, the very same situation will appear much worse to me. When I recognize this dynamic in the moment - that the quality of my thinking determines how I see a particular thing - then I’m in flow. When I can’t see that connection - then I’m not in flow. And I don’t think it works like a light switch - I’m either in or out of flow; but rather, it works over a continuum. Perhaps it’s better to think of it as more in flow or less in flow.

Simply put — I have a choice over whether I pay attention to my thinking or not. And there are clearly times when I can trust it (I ‘feel’ good - I’m in a good ‘mood’) and times when I absolutely should ignore it (I’m in a bad mood - angry, irritated, frustrated). In fact, the mood is there to give me a SIGNAL as to whether I should pay attention to what I’m thinking or not. Note that the state of flow is not tied to our quality of thinking. I can be in flow in a bad mood. It’s the level of AWARENESS I have in the moment that my thinking is creating my view of the world that determines my flow-state, or flow-quotient if you like. High Awareness = more in flow; Low Awareness = less in flow.

Seen this way — the state of flow clearly is an inside-out phenomenon. As such, it’s not necessarily subject to those things outside of me such as whether my work area is messy or not or whether outside distractions are present or not. Don’t misunderstand - if the sound of a cell phone going off is a distraction to you, and you can eliminate that by turning off the phone — great. However, I know there’ve been times when I’m so present in the moment, that I don’t even HEAR the phone at all. It’s the state of flow that realizes FOR ME that what I’m doing in that moment is more important than taking the call right then — so it simply won’t let that sound distract me. When Michael Jordan quietly sinks the game winning free throw in the opponents home court — do you think he was distracted by the fans intentionally trying to distract him? I don’t think he even heard them at all. The state of flow will remove the distractions for you much more efficiently than you can by physically trying to remove the distractions.

I believe we’re all wired from birth to function at our best in a state of flow. It’s an innate feature essential to the human operating system. As such — it’s our default state. We naturally WANT to function that way. If you let a cork go underwater it will pop to the surface by itself — and flow works within us the same way. We’ve LEARNED to hold our ‘flow’ cork underwater. We don’t have to seek flow - we only need to see in the moment what we’re doing to HOLD ourselves out of that state. If you see it this way — then the notion of ‘practice’ looks entirely different. I tend to think of practicing things so I can get better at something that I’m not very good at. I believe we’re all perfect practitioners of ‘flow’ - because it’s our natural state. Perhaps what we need to practice is simply trusting that it’s there. Counting on it. And simply enjoying it when we’re there.

At least that’s how it looks to me early this Monday morning!

jonj Says:

June 30th, 2008, 6:36 am

I think that this concept of Flow is what makes playing music such a great stress reliever. You lose yourself in a song and all your worries melt away. Great article.

Raj Says:

June 30th, 2008, 7:57 am

nice and timely post mate…

Miss Gisele B Says:

June 30th, 2008, 8:16 am

Excellent post.
I also believe that job satisfaction plays a vital role in order to be happy in any kind of work we do.
I usually turn my mobile in silent
mode and IM notifications in order to avoid distraction.

Hassan - web designer in Toronto Says:

June 30th, 2008, 8:26 am

Great article. This flow is how I know if I love doing what I am doing.

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

June 30th, 2008, 9:06 am

I’ve often experienced flow when playing the piano. There’s nothing like losing yourself in a Prokofiev sonata for a few hours a time. It really does make you feel alive!

karen Says:

June 30th, 2008, 9:50 am

i just like to no more

Chris Says:

June 30th, 2008, 11:18 am

No matter how tiring a cliche it is, doing what you love will certainly put anything in a FLOW.

I love to teach and whenever I’m in a classroom, I’m on a FLOW. It doesn’t really matter whether I’m in a classroom or on a tennis court, if I am teaching or coaching, I’m FLOWING.

Being with my family also puts me in a FLOW. Because I love them so much, everything seems to fit right in. Even when times are tough our problems get solved because we FLOW.

So, while other factors to affect your FLOW, I’m glad to see that you “purposely put doing what you love first because you know that without it, nothing will matter.

Welcome to Paradise Says:

June 30th, 2008, 11:47 am

It is always a pleasure to go through your article. This one is also great. Thanks mate.

Jesse Says:

June 30th, 2008, 11:52 am

Being in flow, as you describe it, is probably an occurrence that happens too little with me. Great post! I have found that turning off email and working in the wee hours of the morning help immensely.

Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map Says:

June 30th, 2008, 12:15 pm

I’ve definitely enjoyed being in the flow many times. It is in the flow that I’m totally absorbed in the here and now, forgetting about the noise outside. It is in the flow when I produce my greatest works of art. It is in the flow that I experience much peace and joy.

Thanks for highlighting such an important stream of moments that make up our beautiful life here on Earth!

Evelyn

EscapeVelocity Says:

June 30th, 2008, 12:58 pm

Any tips for achieving flow in a cube? I’m not even in a big cube farm or anything, I just share an office with one other person–who has people coming in to talk to him all the time. Then there’s an office facing me whose inhabitant is in the process of training a team, so there’s a lot of talking going on in there. Not having been raised with the TV on all the time, I find it really hard to tune out human voices–but if I wear headphones, anyone coming to see me sneaks up on me, which is socially awkward and startles me.

Genesis Says:

June 30th, 2008, 13:34 pm

This post brought back memories of when I would sit down at my laptop in the evening and begin to type. I´d finish my writing, lean back, feeling complete and satisfied and then realize that I had been typing for 6 or 7 hours straight, without even noticing!

Unfortunately, that just doesn´t happen these days . . . I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old and work from home. My writing now is done in short one or two minute spurts!

Tony | Spark Victory Says:

June 30th, 2008, 14:36 pm

What a great list to achieving flow!
Some additional tips I would like to add is: Make yourself comfortable - ensure that you stay focused by getting your surroundings to the right level of comfort ie: room temp, low noise, bright and well lit, and chair with good back support.
Eliminate any potential snags or setbacks - don’t fight with your equipment, make sure everything is running smoothly. Have your computer running fast, monitor at the right setting, all your necessary tools within arms reach etc. If you have to go to another room to use something that you can have at your desk, it will potentially drive focus.

Whitdawg Says:

June 30th, 2008, 15:50 pm

Nice post. I really enjoyed reading that, you make a lot of sense !

Thanks.

Tiffany Says:

June 30th, 2008, 16:57 pm

I’ve just discovered two things that get me into the flow. My college assignments and my blog. I can work on these tirelessly every day and I am so happy when I complete an assignment or finish a post but I am even more excited about doing more of it once I’m done.

Great post and advice.

Wendy Says:

June 30th, 2008, 19:39 pm

I am currently reading Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and it is a wonderful read. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning the psychology of flow.

Bill Says:

June 30th, 2008, 20:50 pm

Great post. I heard Mihaly on talkback radio and he sounded a very interesting character. Sometime later his book “Finding Flow” found its way into my life. Its certainly a worthwhile read as noted above. Similar themes to the much admired “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”.

Stephen Smith Says:

June 30th, 2008, 20:51 pm

Another great batch of comments folks! Thank you for participating in this discussion. Leo will be knocked out when he gets back from Thailand.

Prashant Says:

July 1st, 2008, 1:54 am

Hi everyone,

It’s not intrusion but an humble request to the community here.

I have recently started an articles website and would request you (I will appreciate if you can) to please spare some time and post articles at my site.

Thanks

Prashant
http://www.depositarticles.com

Antonio Says:

July 1st, 2008, 8:47 am

Thanks for the great inspiring words! I’m clearing my desk right this moment!

Debs - Food Is Love Says:

July 1st, 2008, 14:29 pm

Nicely said. I’ve struggled with this as a writer, but I’m taking the plunge and heading to grad school for an MFA in creative writing in September.

Another thing I’ve learned to do: identify what’s blocking me from flow. Often the block is from a fear of writing something that isn’t any good. When I no longer fear that, because I know everyone writes some crappy stuff sometimes, it’s much easier to sit down and just write.

Food Is Love

Phil Baumann Says:

July 1st, 2008, 16:20 pm

Always though Csikszentmihaly
(pronounced CHEEK-SENT-MEE-HA-YEE)
was spont-on about happiness.

But he’s also done work on Creativity and the link it shares with Happiness.

The idea that we have to always take on new challenges and learn new skills is what give it authenticity. Happiness isn’t a get rich scheme.

So good job with this post. I wrote on a related topic earlier today, and have been thinking about flow. (Thank you Google Alerts!)

Thanks Leo. Ciao!

Ray Lucke Says:

July 2nd, 2008, 21:12 pm

One of the things I’ve found extremely helpful for me in achieving the flow state has been keeping a journal, where I express all the thoughts, worries, and any garbage that’s flooding my mind at the time.

I learned of the idea while reading The Artist’s Way book. In my case rather than using a paper journal, I use an audio recorder, and I go out for a long drive and just rant and express all my worries, hopes, dreams, etc.

It leaves me feeling at peace at which point I have a much easier time focusing and getting into the flow state.

Stephen Smith Says:

July 3rd, 2008, 8:12 am

Thanks for your comment Ray, I too have been heavily influenced by the Artist’s Way, thanks for sharing.

Soham Says:

July 3rd, 2008, 10:52 am

The meaning of yoga is union with God. This union can be achieved through many paths and meditation is one of them. Karma yoga is union through work (this is entirely my interpretation and sorry if I am wrong) and I think “flow” is experiencing God. When you are in flow your body sensations are similar to that of deep meditation. Thank you for the post.

Taariq Says:

July 4th, 2008, 2:57 am

Thanks for the reminder, trying to be present as well so this is most welcome.

“1. Choose work you love”

Hmmmm, I’m not sure about this one. Based on your list and Csíkszentmihályi’s the only thing excluding washing dishes is possibly Csíkszentmihályi’s “Balance between ability level and challenge (the activity is neither too easy nor too difficult)”, even then one could argue that washing dishes is sooooo hard for some of us it matches that too, hehe.

Your list has 5 items that all match, Csíkszentmihályi’s has 8 of 9 items that definitely match.
The point I’m hoping to make is that presence can be practiced in everything we do, we can be happy and lose ourselves and track of time for that matter in everything.
We don’t need work we love, we can sweep the floor and be present and happy.
Flow then comes while brushing teeth more slowly and not just to get to a more important task, it is the most important task at the time.
Making calls are not treated as less important, if a call is to be made or accepted it is treated as the most important thing we could be doing, not something to rush to get to the deal closing part over lunch later on.

Or as the saying goes…
“Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?”

paresh Says:

July 4th, 2008, 7:37 am

refresh me by the tale of great Lord Budha.

Vincent Nguyen Says:

July 4th, 2008, 12:15 pm

This article definitely reminds me of when i was 7yrs old and was in the “flow” while drawing all day long. I would be so immersed into my drawings that i skipped breakfast and lunch. This goes to show that “flow” can happen for any generation.
Passion for what you do is “key”

Micki Says:

July 6th, 2008, 20:04 pm

Most helpful and motivating post I’ve yet read. Thanks for everything.

Rick Sharon Says:

July 7th, 2008, 12:20 pm

I vividly remember a powerful flow experience from many years ago. I was developing software, I felt like I was on a roll, like I was getting a lot done, but not paying attention to how much. I looked up at the clock and …

What?? No way! That can’t be!! I had not moved from my chair in 8 hours? How can that be?? It felt like only an hour or two! During that time I had designed, created, tested, documented, and implemented 30 software modules. More than a week’s worth of work in just a few hours?? Wow!!! Feelings of disbelief, doubt, then wonder, verifying, pride, powerful sense of accomplishment.

I published some additional information about flow in my blog: http://www.profoundparadigms.com/blogs/RicksPicks/?p=5
esp. ways to get quickly into flow, what to do about “flow busters”, ways to stay in flow in noisy/cubicle offices.

piankeshaw Says:

July 7th, 2008, 20:56 pm

Very nice topic. Great posts as well.

I often hear comments about multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is the opposite of FLOW. By multi-tasking you are undermining the importance of all the tasks you are trying to achieve. Ultimately they are done half-ass.

I find if I focus on the now and break up a task/activity into smaller parts and try to refine those parts I can achieve flow with some regularity. In running, for instance, breaking the stride down into its component parts and focusing on those parts I get lost in the moment. Making sure my wrist snaps at the same moment that my opposite foot strikes the ground.

Anyway, works for me!

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