How do you know when you’re in “the zone?” What does it feel like?
Being “in the zone,” also known as flow in positive psychology research is something most of us has experienced.
Maybe you were focused on a problem at work and suddenly had a breakthrough.
Maybe you were writing and the words began to flow from your mind with little effort.
Experiencing flow or being “in the zone” happens differently for everyone, but there are several key elements these experiences all share.
- There’s a balance between the challenge and the skill required.
- We’re completely immersed in the task at hand. Our mind isn’t wondering.
- We’ve got clearly defined goals
- Feedback is immediate and consistent.
- We experienced focused concentration.
- We have control over what we’re doing.
- We’re not self-conscious.
- There’s a sense of timelessness.
- The activity in intrinsically rewarding.
Flow is the feeling of being completely immersed in an activity that we enjoy. We’re so caught up in the challenge of what we’re doing that we lose track of time.
According to
Consistent “in the zone” experiences increase our happiness, not hedonic happiness. That kind of happiness has to do with the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
But, the kind of happiness I’m talking about fills your entire being. It has to do with meaning and self-realization gained through challenging oneself. The task you’re engaged in stretches you just beyond your skills, but you believe you can accomplish your goal.
In Steve Kotler’s book, The Rise of Superman, he shares 17 triggers that help facilitate getting into
- Psychological (4)
- Environmental (3)
- Social (9)
- Creative (1)
Check out this great slide share explaining each element.
