Experiencing flow and how to encourage it

In short: Flow refers to a state of total, effortless-seeming concentration on an activity in which awareness of time and self fades into the background. The term was coined by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi.

In more detail: Flow typically arises when challenge and one’s own abilities fit well together.

In detail

• Conditions: A clear goal, direct feedback and a task that is neither too easy nor too hard.
• Balance: Tasks that are too easy lead to boredom, too hard ones to overwhelm.
• Minimising distractions: A disturbance-free environment makes immersing in the activity easier.
• Practice: Flow occurs more often with already trained abilities.
• Everyday application: Flow can be experienced in work, sport, music or creative hobbies.
• Cannot be forced: Flow can be encouraged but not forced directly.
• Satisfaction: Regular flow experiences are linked to higher life satisfaction (gluek-und-zufriedenheit-psychologie).