How to achieve a state of flow in your professional and personal life

The flow. A topic commonly disregarded but useful for professional life concerns. Flow is a good barometer for how well we're doing at work, where we're at, and what drives us.

The state of flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi in 1975, is absolute immersion in one's work. In other words, being in flow involves engaging in your work without worrying about anything else. A grace moment? A good time, but not that far. Flow is a mental state. French people talk about “being in the zone”.

In practice, you're in flow when you're unconsciously working. That state where time flies. We focus on a task, the brain goes into overdrive, we raise our heads, and it's time to move on. Flow is being fully “in” and connected to what you're doing. We are fully present and “deep in it”.

Perhaps you've secretly encountered it while cooking, painting, reading, playing sports, listening to a podcast, etc. We sometimes don't realise these minor moments in our personal lives, especially as sportsmen. But what about professionally?

Your pleasure zone is flow: you feel good and are good. As you surf your flow/get closer to it, you're more likely to be aligned with your work. Your flow zones will reveal what is ecological and moral for you.

To do this, recall any professional moments that meet the following 4 scientifically proven criteria:

You are absorbed and concentrated in flow. Your surroundings no longer interest you. You avoid outside entertainment. No longer feeling yourself. You lose touch with your ego and inner dialogue (#loading). Even basic necessities like drinking and going to the toilet are nearly forgotten. Your focus is on your work. You're in a trance and focused on work.

Time passes quickly without checking your phone or watch every two seconds. You're not bored. It's crazy how fast time passes. Your view of time changes dramatically. You are fully present.

Flow makes things clear and fluid. You're not overworking or adapting, and you sense delight and control. Things are obvious, they slide.

You're a bit out of touch. It feels good. You are calm. Zero stress. You live happily.

It doesn't matter how long flow lasts. Not its duration, but its nature: a good feeling of optimal performance, where everything is under control in your head. Increased focus, attentiveness, and motivation.

Has employment ever given you this “experience of flow”? Meeting a customer or patient, debating a case, presenting, or developing a product?

Something is amiss if you have never or rarely experienced this experience at work. You may not be in the proper place. You can take stock at this point. Analyse your flow if you're pondering a change and don't know where to go. Find your passion. What you love doing. Starting there, you can brainstorm jobs.

---