How to achieve a state of flow for greater productivity

Against a constant soundtrack of social media pings, texts, DMs, and emails, the digital demands on our attention make it increasingly difficult to focus in productive ways. In fact, the ability to focus, to get in the zone and stay there, has become so valuable that economists have developed a whole theory of economics around it called Attention Economy. The core idea of attention economics is that your attention has monetary value, and this is nowhere clearer than in the need to stay focused to achieve your business goals.

So how do you do that practically with so many things vying for your attention? One well-studied approach to productivity is to cultivate a lifestyle that encourages a state of mental flow. Read on to learn what flow state is, how it benefits your productivity, and how you can help yourself get into flow more easily and frequently.

What is flow?

Flow describes a mental condition of focus where you can get fully absorbed in a task. The term “flow” was coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi , a Claremont professor who contributed significantly to the development of the positive psychology movement.

What are some characteristics of flow?

Some characteristics of flow are heightened focus, diminished self-consciousness, decreased distractability, heightened pleasure, increased stamina, better problem-solving, and enhanced creativity. Interestingly enough, MRI studies also show that the flow state phenomenon is accompanied by higher levels of dopamine, the reward chemical of the brain. Many of these benefits are also found through mindfulness practices, but as Medical News Today points out, mindfulness is a state of intentional awareness regardless of activity whereas flow refers specifically to mindful engagement in the context of productivity.

What are some examples of being in flow?

You might have experienced flow in some of your favorite pastimes, perhaps while playing a sport, reading a favorite book, practicing an instrument, creating art, or spending time in nature. On the job, flow enhances creative and problem-solving tasks like design, writing, coding, and developing complex strategies. Flow is perfect for all those high-powered, innovative, forward-thinking activities that help a business thrive.

What are some benefits of flow?

The key benefit of flow is that it makes work more enjoyable and satisfying due to the increased presence of dopamine in the brain – who doesn’t want that? The secondary benefit is that flow greatly enhances productivity. In this mental state, people tend to perform better, experience less distraction, and enjoy greater motivation. The benefits are both immediate and long-term, as people in flow generally find themselves able to spend longer on complex tasks that need to get done here and now while also building the competencies to see even better results in the future.

How do you get into flow?

Unless you’re a mindfulness guru, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to will yourself into a state of flow. Flow doesn’t happen on demand. Rather, it arises naturally in the presence of optimal conditions. So the best way to encourage flow is to set up the right conditions for it to occur. Productivity experts recommend attending to three categories when seeking flow: routine, environment, and mindset. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Create room for flow in your routine.

1. Keep to a consistent routine wherever possible. One way to reduce distraction is to train yourself to follow a routine. Just as your body clock knows when it’s time to wake up and go to sleep, your body can learn when it’s time to focus. Consider what time of day you are most mentally alert and block out that time for those creative, mentally intensive tasks.

2. Create a productivity ritual. In her book, The Creative Habit , choreographer Twyla Tharp discusses the importance of rituals to usher in the creative muse. This can be as simple as lighting a candle at the beginning of your work session, sitting down to work with a cup of your favorite tea, playing the same song at the start of each work day, or turning over the page in your desk calendar to mark the transition. These little actions become anchors to center your mind on the task at hand.

3. Give yourself plenty of margin. Flow isn’t going to come when you’re stressed about achieving it. It’s like falling asleep – the more worried you are about getting to sleep, the longer it will take. Give yourself time to get in the zone, and don’t worry if it doesn’t come today. Even if the muse doesn’t strike today, the habits and routines you’re practicing day by day make it more likely for flow to visit on a regular basis.

Adjust your environment (both physical and digital) to minimize distractions.

1. Invest in a dedicated, clutter-free workspace. Similar to keeping a consistent work schedule, a consistent work location will help your brain get the message that it’s time to get down to business. You don’t need to wait for that massive home office with French doors you’ve been dreaming of; even a tiny corner of a bedroom will do as long as it's preserved specifically for work. Keeping your workspace clear of clutter and visual distractions will also go a long way to enhancing focus. For more on decluttering, check out our recent article The Art of Minimalism: How to Declutter and Simplify Your Life,

2. Practice digital minimalism. A constant bombardment of digital notifications has a way of dividing and conquering attention. Wherever possible, limit or schedule digital communications to preserve valuable time to focus. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s top recommendation for achieving flow is to simply turn off the phone. In A World WIthout Email, productivity writer Cal Newport further suggests radically rethinking our relationship with notifications to reduce distractions and promote the opportunity for what he calls “Deep Work.” Along these lines, project management integrations like Notion and Flodesk can go a long way to streamline communication and reclaim mental space.

Prime your mind for focus.

1. Take up a mindfulness practice. This might look like engaging in regular meditation, attending a yoga class, or simply leaving the earbuds at home when you take a walk. While mindfulness isn’t the same thing as flow, mindfulness trains the mind for focus, which allows you to enter a state of deep attention more easily when it comes time to be productive. For more on how mindfulness can benefit your approach to business, check out this article from our blog.

2. Build exercise into your productivity routine. Research indicates that people feel and perform better during mentally strenuous activities when they’ve exercised immediately beforehand. Consider budgeting time to exercise right before starting a focused work session, or perhaps as a break if you’re getting antsy. If you’re interested in further exploring the relationship between exercise and productivity, we recommend reading Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

3. Leverage the power of music. One great way to minimize environmental distractions is to filter them out with music. Music can also go a long way to helping you regulate your mood when approaching challenging tasks. Binaural beats can even influence your brain waves to slip into patterns more conducive to focus. For more on this topic, check out this article from our blog on how to use music to enhance your performance.

At the end of the day, we perform at our best in a state of flow, which allows us to become fully immersed in our activities, free from self-criticism and motivated to push through challenges by the sheer enjoyment of the process. We can’t call up a state of flow on demand, but we can increase the chances of it occurring by establishing the right conditions through intentionality about routine, environment, and mindset.

As a final note, it’s important to stress that flow won’t come when you’re multitasking. If you’re trying to keep too many plates spinning at once, you won’t have the mental space to fully immerse in those creative, innovative activities that keep your business moving forward. Consider delegating to a trusted partner who can take the minutiae of your plate so you can focus on what only you can do. Check out our Services to see how we can help you reclaim mental space for flow.

WRITTEN BY: DEBORAH STEVENSON