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What is Flow in Psychology? Definition and 10+ Activities to Induce Flow

Flow in Psychology

What is Flow in Psychology? Definition and 10+ Activities to Induce Flow

How many times have you felt “lost” about your own life? Not having defined your professional and personal goals can make you discouraged when performing tasks that do not make sense to you, let alone make you truly happy. Here are activities to induce flow in psychology.

Highlights

  • The Flow state allows the individual to stay focused on the present, that is, on the “here and now.”
  • When transported to Csikszentmihalyi’s theory, the concept designates the state of consciousness in which mind and body are in perfect harmony.
  • Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi developed the flow state theory

To understand what leads an individual to a state full of satisfaction and intrinsic motivation, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi developed the flow state theory, also called the Flow state.

Flow in Psychology

When it was released in the 1970s, it represented a significant contribution in the field of Positive Psychology and is still considered today one of the main tools for achieving happiness and well-being.

Learn a little more about this influential theory and find out what it takes for you to be able to enjoy it in your life from now on.

What is Flow State or Flow?

Flow” means to flow. When transported to Csikszentmihalyi’s theory, the concept designates the state of consciousness in which mind and body are in perfect harmony. This happens mainly when carrying out activities that make people happy and in which they can do their best while they are doing them. The simple fact of performing them results in excellence in which the individual demonstrates willingness and concentration.

When you do what you love, you are more motivated and involved in performing any related activities, even if they are obligations. That means more productivity in any sector, especially when it comes to your professional career.

The Flow state allows the individual to forget about past events or future problems and stay entirely focused on the present, that is, on the “here and now.” From this perspective, we can consider the state of flow as an excellent tool for organizing consciousness.

People often deal with the conflict between reason and emotion: thinking one thing, feeling another, and acting differently. This fight between feelings, thoughts, and actions consumes a lot of energy, causing stress and emotional exhaustion. When they reach the Flow state, they can enjoy a perfect balance between mind and body.

This state of consciousness allows, therefore, a decrease in self-awareness and, elimination of the fear of failure, the balance between the activities to be performed and personal skills, integration between feelings, thoughts, and actions, satisfaction with what is done, focus and priority on achieving specific goals, among other benefits.

10+ Activities to Induce Flow

  • Sports, yoga, dance, and martial arts.
  • Hiking.
  • Songwriting, performance, and mixing
  • Painting, sculpting, and pottery.
  • Photography
  • Carpentry
  • Home improvement projects, for example, do-it-yourself tasks.
  • Taking care of animals
  • Gardening
  • Baking and cooking
  • Coding and software development
  • Scrapbooking
  • Content writing 
  • Needlework like sewing and crocheting.
  • Riding a horse

Do you have any other activity to induce a flow? We will be happy to have your contribution.