How To Reach Flow State (Using 10 Flow State ‘Triggers’)
Flow state is a very powerful state of mind where you are extremely productive and also feel great. It seems as if you are ‘flowing’ through your work. You don’t have to force yourself to work hard. Rather, it seems to go automatically. You need to know what triggers you to get there.
Flow State = Happy State
Most people assume that relaxation makes them happy. However, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s (author of the book ‘Flow State’) studies reveal that most people have this wrong.
- In fact, most people are at their happiest when they are fully immersed in a challenging task, almost feeling one with it.
Flow State Trigger 4: Listen To (The Right Kind Of) Music
Music can actually help you become highly focused and, therefore, highly productive.
- Especially when you listen to music on repeat (or repetitive type music such as techno, classical music or trance) it’ll be easier to reach a state of flow.
Flow State Trigger 6: The Task Must Be Challenging Enough, But Not Too ChallengING
If you want to reach flow state, the task that you’re working on must be challenging enough for your brain to be fully engaged, but not too challenging.
- Flow state can only be achieved when an activity is challenging enough to keep your brain interested, while at the same time you’re skilled enough to tackle the challenge without it being too difficult.
Flow State Trigger 9: Stay Hydrated
Drink enough water
- Drinking enough water makes sure the energy production of the brain is functioning well, while not drinking enough leads to lower energy production, leaving you to feel foggy, fatigued, and not sharp
- When you’re fueling your body with the adequate amount of water, you’ll be able to think faster by 14%, stay focused for much longer, experience less brain fog and fatigue, and feel a lot more energized
Flow State Trigger 2: Eliminate Internal Distractions
Journaling every morning and evening
- Daily meditation (at least 10 minutes)
- Both will help you clear your mind, limit mind wandering and control your thoughts a lot better
- If you experience stress, try one of these:
Create a Mental Cue
Do something special each time before you sit down to go into flow state.
- Whether it’s repeating a special sentence or affirmation, taking a few deep breaths, etc.
- Over time, this will help you create a mental cue for your brain to tell your brain it’s time to flow.
Flow State Trigger 3: Work At Your BPT (Biological Peak Time)
Tapping into your willpower and attention is energy draining, so you absolutely need to do it when your mind is sharp and energized.
- If you try to get into flow state when you are tired and energy drained, it’ll feel like an uphill battle where you get distracted much easier and have less willpower to stay with your tasks for long enough to achieve the desired goal.
Flow State Trigger 5: Work On One Very Specific Task
When it isn’t fully clear about what exactly you’re going to work on, it’ll be highly unlikely that you reach flow state.
- Pick one specific task and commit to it.
Now Do It
Flow state is one of the most productive and happiest states that we can be in, I encourage you to seek it as often as you can.
- Getting into flow state is a delicate process and you won’t just master it by simply reading about it. It requires practice.
Flow State Trigger 1: Eliminate All External Distractions
Only when you can focus with undivided attention for at least 10-15 minutes you can get into flow state.
- Put your phone away and disable all alerts and notifications, close all social media & email tabs, and remove all unnecessary files and objects from your workspace
Flow State Trigger 7: Have A Clear Outcome or Goal
Whenever you lack clarity about what you want to accomplish, your brain will struggle to get into optimum concentration
- Clearly set out what you’d like to accomplish to avoid this mental hurdle
- When you have a clear outcome or goal, you make sure you prevent mind wandering and internal distractions
Flow State Trigger 8: Strategically Consume Caffeine
After consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine (about 2 cups of coffee), it has been proven that you can focus more intensely, work for longer without giving up, and have a better short-term memory.
- Aim to consume caffeine strategically – drink a cup of coffee right before you want to enter flow state.