Finding Flow

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's model of Flow identifies the emotional states likely to be experienced while completing a given task, depending on the perceived level of difficulty combined with our perceived level of ability to complete said task.

Therefore, Flow is a subjective experience. Components and conditions can differ depending on the individual, their skillset, previous experience, and the type of activity/environment.

In his book, The Rise of Superman, @Kotler.steven suggests there are 17 triggers for achieving Flow:

• PSYCHOLOGICAL

1. Intensely focussed action

2. Immediate feedback

3. Clear goals

4. Challenge:Skill ratio

• ENVIRONMENTAL

5. Serious consequences

6. Rich environment

7. Deep embodiment

• SOCIAL or GROUP

8. Concentration

9. Shared goals

10. Communication

11. Familiarity

12. Equal participation

13. Appropriate Risk

14. Sense of control

15. Close listening

16. Say yes

• CREATIVITY

17. Creativity = pattern recognition + risk taking

Harris, 2017. highlighted a 'Flow Schematic' with the following considerations:

1. Antecedents to Flow

i) Task dimensions - challenge vs skill, immediate feedback, clear goals

ii) Psychological factors - engagement, optimal arousal

2. Attentional Processes

i) Top down control

ii) Higher order planning

iii) Reduced self-referential planning

iv) External focus

v) Automated action control

3. Experiential Components (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990.)

i) Concentration

ii) Reduced self-awareness

iii) Transformation of time (distortion)

iv) Action-awareness merging

v) Sense of control

vi) Autotelicity (Autotelic = experience for the sake of experience itself)

4. Flow

i) 1 leads to 2+3, which leads to effortless absorption of self and the task at hand.

If you're looking to heighten motivation, creativity, learning, pattern recognition, lateral thinking, memory consolidation, or speed up skill development, you can apply the requirements for Flow to any task you undertake, or that you design for clients/athletes.

• Just remember that the ‘Flow Cycle’ has 4 stages:
• Struggle - the brain needs to be loaded with the appropriate amount of stimuli to challenge it
• Release - you’ll need to factor in rest time/breaks during the task
• Flow State – you’re there!
• Recovery – plan adequate recovery time afterward…you’ll need it!

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