Flow is a state of total absorption in a task or activity. When in flow, we are totally focused on the task at hand, and are not distracted by non-relevant external events or worry about self. In times of crisis, there is no better skill, personal or business, that we can look to master than the attainment of flow.

We all know that we perform better when focused. However, in our fast-pace, technology-driven world, being able to focus on one thing at one time is challenging. We are rewarded for how well we can multi-task, and for how many different competing demands we can deal with simultaneously. Unfortunately, this often leads to a scattered mind-set, which is antithetical to the total task focus of flow. 

As discussed in my earlier article, when you are focusing well, you may reach a point in your experience where you feel no separation between yourself and the task. This experience is easy to understand in the context of sport, where athletes in flow describe experiencing a sense of becoming one with what they are doing. For example, cyclists may feel as though they and the bike are one piece of machinery, working together. Swimmers may feel one with the water; rowers as though the oar is an extension of their arm. To paraphrase Yeats’, in flow one can no longer tell the dancer from the dance.

Some people in flow will have a narrow focus, while others will have a wide-angle lens, allowing them to take in all relevant information in a broader field. Each person will have a different experience of what being totally absorbed in performance means. Having a good awareness of what this process means for you will help you know what you’re working towards, so it can be helpful to ask yourself: What happens to my awareness when I become totally absorbed in what I am doing?
Another process aspect of flow that can differ between individuals relates to perceptions of time. For some people in flow, the task can seem to be over in no time at all; for others, time seems to stretch out perceptually, so that one feels as though one has all the time in the world for the task. These changes in perceived time relate back to the absorption of attention, resulting in the passage of time receding into the background. An elite, US national champion, figure skater describes these changes that can occur to the perception of time well: 

Time does seem to quicken and slow; it seems like it almost bends at your will. . . through your mind and body you have ultimate control of yourself and through that somehow it seems to change time. For instance, if you’re more in focus, time will slow down. And if you’re feeling really good about something–something really difficult–something that usually takes a long time, goes by quickly.

Experiencing altered perceptions of time in a situation can be very rewarding. This is one of the many benefits to experiencing flow. Another benefit is that the mind is quiet, focused on the task, and not on any extraneous thoughts. An ability to focus, and to know clearly what it is you are working towards, is a productive mindset. It is also an enjoyable experience. Other enjoyable aspects of being in flow include being free from self-consciousness, worry, and failure-related thoughts. And–if you’re lucky–you may also experience freedom from the tyranny of time. 

Flow is such a positive state of mind that most people associate being in flow with the most enjoyable experiences of their lives. In other words, flow is fun. We all like to re-experience the good times in our lives; so, once flow has been experienced, we are motivated to return to this optimal psychological state. Flow can create a positive spiral of excellent achievement and optimal experience.