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- entangled weekly 5
Hello dear Entanglers! welcome to the fifth issue of Entangled Weekly, your science-backed newsletter that helps you understand your brain and therefore, yourself.
Today we will focus on flow. Since this is a huge topic, we will cover the basics needed to further exploring this state of mind. Remember - your brain is your playground, listen to what it says and act according to your feelings.
What can i learn today?
Flow
Flow, also known as being “in the zone”, is a psychological state that you experience when you are fully immersed and engaged in an activity.
This concept was first researched and named by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 1970s. When in flow, individuals are so absorbed in their tasks that they lose their sense of time and self, experiencing both intense focus and enjoyment.
Definition and Characteristics
Flow state is characterized by several key components:
Complete concentration on the task at hand.
Clear goals that, while challenging, are still attainable.
Merging of action and awareness, where one's actions seem to happen almost automatically.
Loss of reflective self-consciousness, or a lack of awareness of oneself as a social actor.
A sense of personal control over the situation or activity.
Distortion of experiencing of time, typically a sense that time has passed faster than usual. This is known effect of higher levels of dopamine.
Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding, also known as autotelic experience.
Conditions for Flow
Csikszentmihalyi suggests that certain conditions must be met for flow to occur:
There must be a balance between the perceived challenges of the task and the individual's perceived skills.
The task must have clear goals and immediate feedback.
Neurotransmitters and Flow
Several neurotransmitters play key roles in the flow state, including:
Dopamine: Associated with pleasure and reward, dopamine is thought to enhance focus and motivation. Higher levels attribute to increased percieved speed of time.
Norepinephrine: Increases arousal and alertness, helping to maintain attention on tasks.
Serotonin: Contributes to feelings of well-being and contentment, which can be elevated during flow.
Endorphins: Often released during physical activity, they can induce feelings of euphoria and pain relief, contributing to the pleasure of flow experiences.
Anandamide: Linked to creativity and the ability to make novel connections, anandamide levels are believed to rise during flow, facilitating innovative thinking.
Why should i want this?
Increased Happiness and Satisfaction: Being in a flow state is rewarding and enjoyable. People often report feelings of happiness and fulfillment during and after flow experiences. This is partly due to the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which enhance mood and well-being.
Improved Performance: Flow states are associated with heightened concentration, creativity, and efficiency. When you're fully immersed in an activity, you're likely to perform at your best, often achieving higher quality results with greater ease. This is particularly beneficial in work, sports, and creative endeavors.
Enhanced Learning and Skill Development: The deep focus on tasks during flow can accelerate learning and skill acquisition. Because flow requires a balance between challenge and skill, it naturally pushes you to expand your abilities, leading to personal and professional growth.
Increased Creativity: Flow states are conducive to creative thinking and problem-solving. The heightened focus and reduced self-consciousness during flow allow for more innovative connections and ideas to emerge.
Stress Reduction: Engaging in flow activities can be a form of escapism from daily stresses, providing a sense of peace and relaxation. The intense focus required diverts attention from stressors and negative emotions, offering a break that can reduce overall stress levels.
Improved Self-Esteem: Successfully navigating challenging tasks in a flow state can boost confidence and self-efficacy. The sense of achievement and mastery over an activity contributes to a positive self-image.
Better Quality of Life: Regularly experiencing flow can lead to a richer, more satisfying life. It encourages you to engage deeply with activities, pursue meaningful goals, and develop your strengths and talents.
What do clever people say about this?
The flow state is dependand on matching a your skill and task challenge, in other words, the task must be challenging for you (so you do not end up bored) and not too much challenging (meaning unobtainable with your skill set - you cannot build a house without knowing the basics of construction)
Johann Hari
To achieve flow state, you need to set one clear and meaningful goal, and that goal should be at the edge of your abilities. Interruptions and multitasking are detrimental to achieving flow. Find out more in this podcast episode:
Dr. Gloria Mark
In the knowledge workplace, achieving flow can be rare due to the nature of tasks. However, adopting meaningful hobbies, engaging in arts, or participating in sports can help enter flow states. Flow requires using your skill at an optimal level, balancing between too easy and too challenging tasks 3.