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Unlocking the Flow State: The Science Behind Peak Performance and How to Achieve It

Ever wondered how some people make complex work look effortless? They just seem to get into this state of “flow” – that sweet spot where they’re totally absorbed in what they’re doing and everything just clicks. 

A recent study attempted to map out exactly what happens in the brain in a state of flow. Researchers recruited novice and experienced musicians to perform jazz improvisation exercises while hooked up to a machine tracking their brain activity. They found some interesting similarities and differences in neural patterns, as well as a surprising finding on the relationship of flow to the quality of performance. 

Let’s discuss actionable insights from this study and how we can apply them to our work as business owners and freelancers. Whether you’re drafting a presentation, brainstorming an online course, or planning an event, getting into flow can potentially take your performance and productivity to the next level.

The Anatomy of Flow: What Does it Take?

Flow is not just a feeling, it’s a complex psychological state with distinct characteristics:

1. High sense of control

2. Automaticity in actions

3. Intense focus

4. Distorted sense of time

5. Loss of self-consciousness

6. Clear goals

7. Immediate feedback on performance (can be subjective and based on self-assessment)

8. Task is intrinsically motivating 

9. Task difficulty matches skill level

You are probably familiar with the first six elements, which describe the emotional or mental state of an individual experiencing flow. The last three characteristics are less popular, but they spell out the necessary conditions for achieving that intense focus, automaticity, and loss of self-consciousness that getting ‘in the zone’ is known for.

Flow requires a high level of engagement. We work on something rewarding, we get immediate feedback, and the task difficulty and our skill level are evenly matched. If a task is too easy, we tend to get bored and distracted. If it is too difficult for our skill level, it can also lead to a loss of confidence and focus. 

Think of how engrossed an executive coach would be during a session where the client brings up a new challenge that they have not previously encountered, but for which the coach has related experience they could draw on.  Imagine a seasoned marketing consultant crafting a strategy for a new client who has worked with another marketing firm that did not achieve the goals agreed on. These types of tasks where the level of challenge meets the skill level are conducive to flow. 

Action Plan: Flow requires a level of expertise and a challenging and motivating task at hand. Mastery and experience make being in the zone feel or look ‘easy.’ We have to put in the work to get into and enjoy that flow state. 

More breakdowns below! 👇

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More Actionable Breakdowns

Did you miss one of our previous breakdowns? Here are some you might find helpful.

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New Study Says There IS a Magic Door Into Your Customer or Coworker’s Brain

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New Study: “Right Sleep” Might Trump More Sleep

We business owners often sacrifice sleep for more hours working on our business – and we might even tell ourselves things like: “I’ll sleep more when this project is complete” or when a revenue goal is hit, a new employee is onboarded, etc. You get the idea. These “when X happens” lies we tell ourselves often leave us exhausted and we’ve all been told we should not walk around sleep-deprived and all the dangers that come with it. But what is considered “sleep deprived”? How can we prevent (or mitigate) it and what factors affect the amount and quality of sleep we get? If the answer isn’t just “sleep more,” what is it? Check out this study breakdown on Understanding the Need for Sleep to Improve Cognition.

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I hope you found this valuable!

Wishing you much productivity!

- Jenae :)