What’s your favorite thing to do to enter in your flow?

by Cinzia Silvia Melograna
View the authors Profile

Flow occurs when the challenge level of an activity matches the skill level of the individual, leading to a sense of deep enjoyment and concentration.

There are certain activities that are more likely to induce a state of flow, and these activities tend to share common characteristics:

- Clear goals: these goals help individuals stay focused and motivated.
- Immediate feedback: this allow individuals to adjust their actions in real time, maintaining their engagement and focus.
- Balance of skill and challenge: if the task is too easy, it can lead to boredom, and if it's too difficult, it can cause anxiety. Flow is achieved when there's a balance between the two.
- Concentration: flow requires sustained attention and concentration on the task at hand, which helps individuals become fully absorbed in the activity.
- Loss of self-consciousness: during flow, individuals often lose awareness of themselves and their worries.
- Time distortion: people in a flow state often lose track of time, experiencing a sense of time passing differently than it actually is.
- Intrinsic motivation: activities that are inherently enjoyable and fulfilling are more likely to induce flow.
- Autonomy: individuals should feel that they are making choices and decisions that influence the outcome.

Activities that are commonly associated with inducing flow include:

- Sports and physical activities: a combination of skill, challenge, and focus required.
- Artistic and careative pursuits: activities like painting, playing musical instruments, writing, and other creative endeavors can induce flow when individuals are deeply engaged in the creative process.
- Problem-solving and learning: activities that involve solving puzzles, playing strategy games, coding, and learning new skills can lead to flow when there's a balance between the challenge of the task and the individual's skill level.
- Work and career tasks: engaging in tasks that align with one's skills and interests within the realm of work can lead to flow, resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction.
- Hobbies and crafts: like woodworking, gardening, cooking, and crafting can induce flow as individuals immerse themselves in the hands-on process.
- Social interactions: meaningful conversations and interactions with others can lead to flow when there's a deep connection and the interaction is intellectually stimulating.

Remember that flow is a subjective experience, and what induces flow can vary from person to person. It's about finding activities that resonate with an individual's interests, strengths, and preferences.

I find flow in moving my body, walking, doing yoga, lifting weights, dancing.. to be honest, any physical activity. It makes me feel alive. It makes me happy.
My body is my mind and my mind is my body. They work together and flow together.

Cooking is also something that I enjoy quite a lot, especially if I have to cook for other people.
I strongly believe that we are what we eat.

Feel free to reach out if you want to comment, discuss, or simply start your journey with me.