Entering Flow State For Maximum Productivity And Happiness

Have you ever found yourself so immersed in a task that you completely lost track of time?

And when you looked up from your task, you discovered that hours had passed in what seemed like just a matter of moments?

Your focus was so intense that the world around you faded away, and all that mattered was the task in front of you?

And you absolutely crushed the task you were working on?

If so, then because you were so focused, you probably found that:

• Your productivity skyrocketed. You were focused on one thing and only one thing for a long period of time, and because your focus was so intense, you made massive progress on that task – much more than you would normally make. Nothing took you away from what you were working on.
• Your concentration increased. Normally, you find yourself distracted when you’re trying to work on a particular task, but not this time. You were so “in the zone” that absolutely nothing could distract you, your focus was at an all-time high, and it seemed like every part of your brain was fixated on the job before you.
• Your enjoyment of the task went through the roof. Because you were so immersed in and focused on your task, your enjoyment of your work went up significantly. You weren’t thinking about the things you would rather be doing and you weren’t worried about the things that normally worry you. Instead, you were 100% laser-focused on what was right in front of you.

How often do you experience what I just described?

My guess would be, not very often – because most of us find ourselves extremely distracted when we try to do our work:

• Facebook beckons
• our phone buzzes
• text messages call for us
• and a thousand notifications spring to life

And all of this makes our brains feel like they’re scattered in a thousand different places.

There are so many interruptions, so many distractions, and so many things that take you off the task you’re trying to make progress on that just getting any work done at all requires a significant amount of effort.

It’s almost as if the world is designed to distract us from working on what really matters most, resulting in our:

• productivity being low
• concentration being scattered all over the place
• satisfaction with our tasks being minimal
• not living up to our full potential

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

What would you say if I told you that you could reach this state of heightened focus, increased concentration, increased productivity, and overall happiness on a regular basis?

What if I told you that massive increases in productivity, concentration, and happiness are not only possible, but easily within your reach?

It’s true. Even in today’s noisy, crowded, seemingly overwhelming workplace, you can get into a highly focused, highly productive state.

That state is called “flow state” and it’s what this report is all about.

If you want to achieve maximum productivity, you must understand “flow state”. It’s what sets the highest achievers apart from everyone else.

Flow state allows a person to become a world-class performer in any area.

It can enable you to be hugely productive even in the midst of endless distractions.

If you want maximum productivity, as well as maximum satisfaction in your day-to-day tasks, it’s important to know how to get into the heightened state we’re calling “flow state”.

Are you ready to:

1. Start being more productive than you ever thought possible?
2. Begin making progress on your biggest, most important projects?
3. Achieve more satisfaction and happiness in the work you do?
4. Attain a state of flow?

Then let’s dive in. It’s time to go with the flow, as they say.

What Is Flow State?

On the surface, the term “flow state” sounds a bit strange, right?

It probably makes you think of some Zen-like concept, where your mind is empty, and you’re only focused on your breathing, as if the only thing that matters is whether your breath is under control.

But really, they’re quite different.

So here’s a brief definition of flow state:

“When you’re in flow state, you’re completely engaged in the task at hand, to the point where you lose track of time and experience great joy simply in doing the job before you. Everything fades into the background except what is immediately before you, and you focus intensely on a single task without any distractions.“

When you’re in flow state, your mind is 100% engaged.

You are completely and totally focused on what’s in front of you – so rather than emptying your mind, you’re trying to completely fill it.

You’re highly attuned to what’s in front of you and striving to keep your attention in one place.

And above all, you are actively engaged in a particular task. You are so focused that nothing can distract you from the job in front of you. In other words, you have laser focus.

One leading orchestra conductor describes his experience of entering flow state:

“You are in an ecstatic state to such a point that you feel as though you almost don’t exist. I have experienced this time and again. My hand seems devoid of myself, and I have nothing to do with what is happening. I just sit there watching it in a state of awe and wonderment. And [the music] just flows out of itself.“

The conductor is so in tune with his orchestra that:

• He is completely focused on conducting, and nothing can distract him.
• He loses track of time and even himself.
• The actions just seem to flow out of him.
• He experiences great joy as he directs.

Entering flow state is a totally immersive experience. You are fully committed to what you’re doing and have no room in your consciousness for anything else.

You have no room for other:

• Desires
• Distractions
• Tasks
• Thoughts
• Worries

You’re so totally engaged in what you’re doing that everything else fades into the background.

In his book “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience“, Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes:

“I developed a theory of optimal experience based on the concept of flow – the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.

The mark of a person who is in control of consciousness is the ability to focus attention at will, to be oblivious to distractions, to concentrate for as long as it takes to achieve a goal, and not longer.“

This ability to:

• Control the consciousness
• Focus the attention at will
• Be oblivious to distractions
• Concentrate for as long it takes to achieve a goal

…describes flow state.

Are you starting to get the picture?

It’s an experience in which nothing seems to matter except that which is right in front of you.

When you’re in flow state, it’s as if you have blinders on:

• Nothing can distract you.
• Nothing can pull you away from your task.
• Nothing can keep you from making progress.

Your entire mind and body are occupied, leaving room for nothing else. You’re focused, locked in, and completely engaged in what you’re doing. Distractions ping off you, and you’re oblivious to what’s happening around you.

When you’re in flow state, you’ll experience several significant things.

Total Immersion In The Task At Hand

As Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi noted, when you’re in the flow state, nothing else seems to matter. In other words, you’re so immersed in the task at hand that everything else fades into the background.

This is a pleasant experience, so much so that it’s worth pursuing. In other words, because of all that you experience when you’re in flow state, you want to come back to it again and again.

Being in flow state is highly enjoyable and can turn even the most difficult jobs into pleasant experiences.

Increase In Productivity

When you’re in flow state, your productivity goes through the roof. Why? Because you’re only focused on a single task.

You’re not:

• trying to multitask
• simultaneously surfing Facebook, responding to emails, and texting your friends
• trying to work on five different things at once, making very little progress on any of them.

You’re completely zoned in on an important task that stretches your abilities and requires the use of all your skills and strengths. All of your energy is dedicated toward achieving a single goal.

You’re focused on the one thing that is going to make the most difference in your life.

And because your energy is focused so strongly on one thing, you make significant progress on it. You achieve more in one hour of flow state than you do in many hours outside of flow state. Your productivity skyrockets.

Flow state allows you to do what Alexander Graham Bell described when he said:

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.“

When you concentrate all your thoughts on the work at hand, you can achieve extraordinary things.

No Distractions

The thought of not experiencing any distractions may seem impossible to you, but when you truly enter flow state, your brain shuts out everything except what you’re working on.

It’s why the orchestra conductor said that he felt as if his hand was moving independently – his brain was so focused on the orchestra that nothing else could invade his consciousness.

Now, to be clear, there are some steps you’ll need to take to minimize distractions in the beginning when you’re first seeking to enter into flow state, and I’ll get into that in a while.

But imagine being able to work distraction free.

Imagine being able to shut out:

• alerts
• buzzes
• dings
• notifications
• and every other distracting noise

Imagine being so in the moment that nothing else seems to matter. Imagine being completely oblivious to the distractions that are flying around you and completely focused on achieving something that actually matters to you.

That’s the power of being in flow state.

Lose Track Of Time

Because you’re so immersed in the task before you, it’s not uncommon for people in flow state to completely lose track of time. Suddenly you look up and realize you’ve spent hours on a particular task.

This is also why you tend to be more productive when you’re in flow state. You are able to dedicate more focused time to a task than normal, which allows you to get significantly more done.

Increased Enjoyment Of The Task

When you’re in flow state, you’re not thinking about what you’re missing out on:

• You’re not thinking about the problems in your life.
• You’re not worried about that report that you need to file.
• You’re not preoccupied with that meeting that you still haven’t prepared for.

They’re not even a blip on your radar.

The only thing on your mind at the time is what you’re working on. All your attention is in a single spot, not scattered about by a thousand different thoughts and worries.

The result is a hyper-productive bliss.

You are so in the zone that all your worries, fears, and struggles take a temporary back seat. Your brain simply doesn’t have time to think about them.

You don’t have the mental capacity to focus fully on your work and also entertain these worries.

You’re Stretching Yourself

Entering flow state requires that you stretch yourself, that you tackle worthy, challenging goals, and that you use your innate gifts and strengths.

It’s difficult to get into flow state when you’re working on mundane, tedious tasks because your brain wanders and you get easily distracted.

To enter flow state, you must:

• Work on a task that requires you to stretch yourself.
• Tap into your gifts and abilities.
• Fully apply your mind to what’s in front of you.

This is why we tend to lose track of time when we’re in flow state – our brains aren’t thinking about time.

Rather, they’re fully focused on getting the job done, and you’re using all your talents, strengths, and abilities to achieve what’s in front of you.

The last thing you’re thinking about is what time it is.

As Csikszentmihalyi said:

“Contrary to what we usually believe, moments like these, the best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.“

So, when you’re in flow state, you’re stretched to your voluntary limit to achieve something truly worthwhile.

You Live A More Meaningful Life

What many people misunderstand is that flow state is not only about being more productive, although that’s certainly one benefit. The primary benefit of flow state is that it allows you to live a more meaningful life.

How?

Flow state can ensure that you’re dedicating a significant portion of time to tasks that are meaningful and not mundane, and allow you to experience joy while you perform those tasks.

As mentioned previously, flow state does not happen when you’re working on mundane tasks.

Rather, it occurs when you’re giving yourself to a task that actually matters. To one that brings you joy. To something that will move the needle forward for you personally or professionally.

The more you work in a state of flow, the more joy you experience and the more you accomplish, which then leads to a much more meaningful life.

The Power Of Flow

Are you starting to see just how powerful flow state really is? Are you starting to see how much you can accomplish when you enter that deep state of concentration that accompanies flow state? See how it can add so much more meaning and value to your life?

So, let’s talk now about specific ways you can enter flow state.

How To Enter Flow State

Now that you know just how powerful and beneficial flow state is, let’s talk about how to actually get into flow state.

To get into flow state on a consistent basis, use these steps.

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