Even at a job you love, there are times when you have to force yourself to be collected. Hatred of routine can lead to dissatisfaction and apathy. To prevent this from happening, psychologists advise mastering the art of flow.
“Do what you like” – this advice is included in the personal quote book of many successful people. But it’s not so easy: even if work gives us pleasure in general, there are always moments of routine and unpleasant work in it. And success sometimes depends precisely on the ability to remain collected, regardless of whether you are writing a scientific work or correcting errors in an already finished manuscript.
Why do some manage to stay involved for a long time, while others do not? Psychologist Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi called a steady state of immersion in work the state of flow. Being in the flow, you feel that everything is easy for you, without torment. It’s clear in my head, thoughts move like on rails. You don’t think about what the next step should be, you just move on.
The state of flow turns tedious work into something worthwhile in itself.
The state of flow turns tedious work into something worthwhile in itself – something that you do out of pleasure and interest, and not because it is necessary or well paid. The question arises: how to enable it? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes that in order to move into a state of flow, it is important to cultivate what he called an autotelic personality. It means to act according to an inner feeling, and not for the sake of reward or fear of punishment. Only in this case, sustainable motivation can be achieved.
Fortunately, we can create the conditions for ourselves to enter the state of flow.
Turn on all your senses
Many athletes note in themselves a condition close to that what Csikszentmihalyi is talking about. Steven Kotler, author of The Birth of Superman: Secrets of Great Performance, describes it this way: “Complete self-forgetfulness. Time seems to stop or slow down a lot. The brain works at a frantic pace, processing information at a tenfold speed.”
Athletes train to suppress information “noise” and quickly switch between relaxation and tension
How to learn to enter this state? Cognitive psychologist Bradly Hatfield has suggested that athletes train to suppress information “noise” and quickly switch between relaxation and tension. “Their brains are remarkably well suited to the task at hand,” he explains. This is the result of training, but it can also be achieved on your own – with the help of mindfulness meditation, exercises for agility and balance. “They force our sensory systems to tune in to the same wave, as if we were controlled by an unknown force,” explains Steven Kotler.
Add variety to your routine
“Working on autopilot can help you get things done on time, but it won’t put you in a flow state, says Kotler. – Shake up your rhythm instead. Change your route to work. Brush your teeth with the other hand. Learn different ways to tie your shoelaces. When we bring something unusual and unusual into life, our concentration increases. And that’s exactly what you need.”
Steve Jobs created such conditions in the office in which spontaneous meetings happened every minute.
A great example of a work environment that encourages novelty is the Pixar office. Having bought it from George Lucas, Steve Jobs immediately took up the change. He made a spacious atrium, around which were concentrated working areas and recreation areas. There was a constant flow of people through it. “Jobs created the conditions in which spontaneous meetings happened every minute. People bumped into each other, exchanged news and ideas. The company was constantly buzzing with activity. Perhaps this is what helped the studio become one of the leaders in animation,” notes Steven Kotler.
Don’t Focus on Self-Esteem
One of the main obstacles to the state of flow is our ego.. Self-digging, the fear of seeming a loser knocks you off the target and deprives you of strength. To free your head, get rid of the fear of making mistakes. “There is a motto in Silicon Valley: “Fail faster, fail more effectively,” says Steven Kotler. – Of course, this is not a call to give a damn about quality and chase speed. It’s about avoiding mistakes. The result will still be imperfect – but with each subsequent attempt, there will be less and less errors.
See more at Nautil.us