If you’ve ever been so engrossed in a challenging and enjoyable activity that you were surprised to realize hours had gone by, then you probably experienced a flow state. If not, you’ll probably want to. Being in flow leads to greater happiness, less anxiety, and more confidence. It’s blissful. It’s serenity.
To achieve a state of flow, you have to be intently involved in certain kinds of activities. Mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or binge watching reruns of your favorite sitcoms may make you space out and lose track of time, but these activities won’t put you into flow. You have to be doing something that’s structured, offers clear goals, and provides immediate feedback. That way, you can constantly adjust your performance. Some examples are solving crossword puzzles; building models; creating art or music; writing poetry; and completing jigsaw puzzles.
The catch is, the activity has to be challenging, but just enough so that you’re confident you can do it. If you can easily finish a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle or solve The New York Times’ Wednesday crossword puzzle in mere minutes, you won’t achieve flow unless you stretch your skills—maybe by trying a 1000-piece puzzle or the Thursday or Friday puzzle. Whatever activity you’re doing, you have to focus intensively on it. Knowing that you’re capable of accomplishing this growth task gives you a feeling of inner clarity, competence, and personal reward.
Although achieving flow is associated with optimizing performance in sports, creativity, teaching, sports, art, and learning, the most magical effects, in my opinion, are psychological. Not only can you experience feelings of deep, timeless enjoyment, but also, by concentrating so intently on the present, you can quiet thoughts or worries about yourself. In other words, by facilitating your mindful presence in the moment, flow brings serenity. Try it!