Way back in my undergraduate degree I learned about the theory of flow, originally coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Let me tell you, I don't really pride myself as someone who remembers theories and frames of reference, but this one really has stuck with me for the past 13 or so years. The simplified theory of flow is this: when our skill level surpasses the difficulty of a task, we become bored; when the difficulty of a task surpasses our skill level, we become anxious; when our skill level matches with the difficulty of a task (think Goldilocks), it's juuuuuust right - we reach a highly-focused mental state called flow. See below, if that didn't make much sense:
Skill level > Difficulty level --> boredom
Skill level < Difficulty level --> anxiety
Skill level = Difficulty level --> FLOW
Applied in the real world, flow is a state in which we become so absorbed in an activity that we lose track of time and all that is around us. Hours can pass as we engage in an activity; we might forget to eat or put off going to the bathroom because we are so absorbed.
Lately, I have been doing a lot of brain rest thanks to post-concussion syndrome, so I can't really say I've been too engaged in things that have been super exciting, challenging or fun, and if I have, I've been wearing earplugs, which kind of ruins the experience. Actually, I've been restin' like the best of 'em. But I recently had some time off and had a little more energy to do some fun stuff. YAY!
Believe it or not, I experienced flow 3 times this past week. I went to a hip-hop choreography class; this is something I used to do in my university days both in classes and on my own for fun, but I hadn't done it in about a decade. I tried a beginner's drop-in class, and the hour went by without me even thinking about anything else. Later that week I was working on a sewing project. I don't often sew, but when I do, I'm super focused on getting sh** done. I ACTUALLY forgot to eat lunch, and that's a huge deal for me because I don't often forget about eating. I was out hiking on the Bruce Trail with my husband over the weekend. The terrain changed frequently and we had to be aware of how and where we were stepping. We went from dirt to rocks to moss to shrubs to climbing with both hands and feet. The views were amazing and being in nature was so therapeutic. Little did we know, hours had gone by and it was time to head back out of the park.
So why am I so taken by flow activities? Here are just some of the benefits that I've observed: mindfulness; engagement in meaningful activities; a sense of oneness; connecting with my intuition; having fun; challenging myself; feelings of accomplishment; being focused on the process rather than just the product; happiness & calm. I'm sure research would tell us there are a lot more benefits, and Mihaly would say that Flow is the Secret to Happiness. Google it!
If you're feeling like you're stuck in a rut, or as if your life is a little blah these days, then I'd suggest trying to find a flow activity and see how it makes you feel. If you're not sure how to find something that lights your fire, see how you might answer these questions:
- Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
- Can you think of a time you were so absorbed in an activity, you lost track of the world around you? What was the activity?
- What did you enjoy doing as a child?
- Is there an activity you've been meaning to do, but keep putting off? What is it?
- Is there a skill you want to learn? Are there local classes/workshops or Youtube videos you can find to teach you?
- Do you have any creative/musical/sports/outdoor interests? What are they?
I'm just finishing off my week of vacation from my day job, and I'm pretty happy. I'm feeling tired, but in a good way. I soaked up lots of sun, and I got to do all kinds of things I enjoyed. Could it be just because I was on vacation? Maybe. Could it be because I got in so many flow activities? Maybe. The question is, can I keep this feeling up as I go back to work? Only if I make the time and effort to do it.
So often we get stuck in the rut of the daily grind. We work for the weekend, and before we know it we're grumbling about the Mondays. We wait for our vacation times, and they come and go in a flash. Then we're stuck counting down the days, weeks or months til the next vacation. I'm as guilty of this as the next person, but I think I found the cure. It doesn't need to be anything extravagant; it doesn't have to be a trip around the world; it most certainly doesn't need to be through acquiring possessions.
All we need, is to carve out a little time for ourselves, to do an activity we love, just for the sake of loving it. And that, my friends, can pull us out of a rut, get us engaged in our lives and return us to living for the sake of living instead of waiting for the days to pass until the next weekend or big event.
Let's stop wishing our days away and get some flow into our lives!
And so it is.