9 Flow Triggers - Do More In 1 Day Than You Normally Do In A Week.
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the concept of 'Flow State', a mental state where individuals are so absorbed in an activity that they lose sense of time and are highly productive. It discusses the significant benefits of achieving flow, such as increased productivity and happiness, as demonstrated in a 10-year McKinsey study of top executives. The speaker shares 22 triggers to enter flow, focusing on those that are manageable and personally impactful. Key triggers include concentration, a balance between skill level and challenge, unambiguous feedback, autonomy, novelty, curiosity, and passion. The script emphasizes the importance of internal rewards over external ones and provides practical advice on how to consistently achieve flow, such as setting clear goals, breaking tasks into smaller parts, seeking feedback, and working in a conducive environment. It also touches on the role of caffeine as a stimulant to aid focus. The summary advises embracing discomfort and challenges that align with one's capabilities to reliably enter a flow state.
Takeaways
- 🔍 The concept of flow is described as an effortless state of concentration where time seems to pass quickly, leading to high productivity and happiness.
- 📈 A McKinsey study showed that top executives were five times more productive in a state of flow, indicating its potential for work and personal goals.
- 🎯 To achieve flow, it's important to have a clear idea of what you should be doing, which can be facilitated by breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.
- 🧘 Achieving flow requires a balance between skill level and challenge, ensuring the task is not too easy to cause boredom nor too difficult to cause overwhelm.
- 📝 Unambiguous feedback is crucial for moving forward through problems and improving on previous work, which can contribute to a state of flow.
- 🏋️♂️ Autonomy in work allows individuals to use their own knowledge and skills without being told exactly what to do, which can help trigger flow.
- 🌟 Novelty and curiosity can play a role in achieving flow by changing the environment or trying a new approach to keep the task engaging.
- 💰 Internal rewards such as a sense of accomplishment and progress are more rewarding and sustainable than external rewards like money.
- 🌱 Working on tasks that are naturally interesting or meaningful can make it easier to enter a flow state, as the activity itself becomes its own reward.
- ☕ Caffeine can act as a stimulant to help enter a flow state, but it should be used judiciously due to its half-life and potential for overuse.
- 🚀 Embracing discomfort and challenging oneself slightly beyond one's skill set is key to consistently achieving a state of flow.
Q & A
What is the 'Flow State' and why is it significant?
-The 'Flow State' is a mental state of complete immersion and focus in an activity, where time seems to pass quickly and productivity is greatly enhanced. It is significant because it can lead to higher productivity, faster progress towards goals, and a sense of accomplishment, which in turn can increase happiness and satisfaction.
How did the McKinsey study contribute to the understanding of Flow State?
-The 10-year long McKinsey study found that top executives reported being five times more productive when in a state of flow, suggesting that replicating this state could lead to significant gains in efficiency and output.
What are some of the triggers that can help someone enter a state of flow?
-There are 22 different triggers discovered so far that can help someone enter a state of flow, including high consequence, concentration, a balance between skill level and challenge, unambiguous feedback, autonomy, novelty, curiosity, and passion or purpose.
Why is it important to have a clear idea of what you should be concentrating on to enter a state of flow?
-Having a clear idea of what you should be concentrating on is important because it provides a specific focus and direction for your efforts, which is necessary to achieve a state of flow. It helps in eliminating distractions and maintaining focus on the task at hand.
How can dividing larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones help in achieving a state of flow?
-Dividing larger tasks into smaller ones helps in achieving a state of flow by making the work more approachable and less overwhelming. It also allows for a better understanding of what needs to be done at any given moment and helps in building momentum towards more challenging tasks.
What is the role of unambiguous feedback in the context of achieving a state of flow?
-Unambiguous feedback provides actionable guidance that helps individuals move forward through problems they were previously stuck on. It allows for continuous improvement and progress, which is crucial for maintaining focus and achieving a state of flow.
How does autonomy play a role in entering a state of flow?
-Autonomy allows individuals to use their own knowledge, experience, and skills without being dictated by others. This freedom to work independently can enhance creativity and engagement, making it easier to enter a state of flow.
Why is it beneficial to work on tasks that are challenging but not overwhelming?
-Working on tasks that are challenging but not overwhelming is beneficial because it strikes a balance between maintaining interest and avoiding frustration. This balance helps in staying engaged and focused, which is conducive to achieving a state of flow.
How does novelty and changing the environment contribute to a state of flow?
-Novelty and changing the environment can contribute to a state of flow by keeping the work fresh and engaging. A new environment or approach can stimulate curiosity and interest, making it easier to become fully absorbed in the task.
What is the significance of working on tasks that are intrinsically rewarding?
-Working on tasks that are intrinsically rewarding is significant because it aligns with our internal reward system. The sense of accomplishment and progress derived from these tasks releases dopamine, enhancing motivation and making it easier to enter a state of flow.
How does caffeine potentially aid in achieving a state of flow?
-Caffeine, as a stimulant, can help increase focus and concentration, which are conducive to achieving a state of flow. However, it should be used judiciously due to its half-life, to avoid overstimulation or dependency.
What is the golden rule of flow and why is it important?
-The golden rule of flow is that we pay the most attention to a task if the challenge of that task slightly exceeds our skill set. It's important because it suggests that a balance between challenge and skill is key to achieving a state of flow, where the task is engaging enough to maintain focus but not so difficult as to cause anxiety or stress.
Outlines
😀 Understanding the Flow State and Its Impact on Productivity
The first paragraph delves into the concept of the Flow State, which is described as an effortless state of concentration where time seems to fly by. The speaker shares their personal struggle with focus and how they've been captivated by the idea of flow due to its potential to increase productivity. A 10-year McKinsey study is mentioned, highlighting that top executives were five times more productive in a flow state. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of flow not only for work-related goals but also for personal happiness and a sense of accomplishment. It also touches on the neurochemical aspect, explaining how internal rewards and progress towards goals release dopamine, which is more motivating than external rewards. The speaker then introduces the idea that there are 22 different triggers to enter the Flow State, but they will focus on a few that are manageable and have been personally helpful.
🎯 Key Triggers for Entering the Flow State
The second paragraph focuses on the practical aspects of entering the Flow State. It discusses the importance of concentration and having a clear idea of the task at hand. The speaker shares their difficulty with focus and how understanding what to concentrate on is a crucial first step. The paragraph outlines several internal Flow State Triggers, such as balancing skill level with the challenge of the task, receiving unambiguous feedback, working autonomously, and maintaining a sense of curiosity, purpose, or passion. The speaker also talks about breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones to build momentum and the value of embracing discomfort when tackling challenging tasks. Furthermore, the paragraph highlights the significance of autonomy in using one's own knowledge and experience without being dictated by others.
🌟 Nurturing Flow Through Novelty, Curiosity, and Passion
The third paragraph continues the discussion on Flow State triggers but adds the elements of novelty, curiosity, and passion. It suggests that trying new things, like changing the environment or approach, can help trigger flow. The speaker emphasizes the power of engaging in activities that are inherently rewarding and align with one's interests or sense of purpose. They argue that internal rewards and the journey towards goals are more fulfilling than external rewards. The paragraph also touches on the role of curiosity in driving engagement and the natural motivation it provides. The speaker shares personal strategies for achieving flow, such as seeking feedback, setting clear goals, dividing tasks, and creating a conducive environment. Lastly, the paragraph mentions caffeine as a stimulant that can help enter flow, but it is not a recommended daily practice due to its half-life.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Flow State
💡Productivity
💡Focus
💡High Consequence
💡Skill Level and Challenge Balance
💡Unambiguous Feedback
💡Autonomy
💡Novelty
💡Curiosity and Passion
💡Internal Rewards
💡Caffeine
Highlights
Flow State is described as an effortless state where time seems to fly, leading to increased productivity.
A 10-year McKinsey study found top executives were five times more productive in a state of flow.
Flow can be achieved by focusing on tasks that match one's skill level with the right level of challenge.
Dividing larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones can help build momentum and maintain focus.
Unambiguous feedback from peers or colleagues can aid in overcoming challenges and progressing.
Autonomy in work allows individuals to use their own skills and knowledge without external direction.
Novelty and curiosity can trigger a state of flow by changing the environment or approach to a task.
Working on tasks that are intrinsically rewarding can lead to a flow state more easily than external rewards.
Internal rewards from making progress are more fulfilling than external rewards like money.
Curiosity and a sense of purpose can naturally draw individuals into a state of flow.
Caffeine can help some individuals enter a state of flow more consistently, but its use should be moderated.
Eliminating distractions and concentrating on a clear goal can facilitate a flow state.
Working at the edge of one's capabilities can be challenging but is conducive to achieving flow.
Embracing discomfort and challenging oneself is key to reliably entering a state of flow.
The golden rule of flow is that the challenge of a task should slightly exceed one's skill set.
Consistently achieving flow requires attention to triggers and a conscious effort to implement them.
The journey towards goals is scientifically proven to be more rewarding than the destination itself.
The video provides practical tips on how to recover focus and set effective goals for achieving flow.
Transcripts
for a long time I've been intrigued by
the Flow State especially because I've
struggled with Focus for as long as I
can remember I think flow can be most
accurately described as effortless
efforts he stayed in which five hours
going by feels like just five minutes a
10-year long McKinsey study found that
their top Executives reported being five
times more productive in a state of flow
so if we could replicate that we could
potentially spend our entire Monday in
flow and take the rest of the week off
while still getting more done than
everyone else that's not working in a
state of flow so knowing that it makes a
lot of sense that spending a lot of time
in a state of flow makes us more
productive and that's great for reaching
our work related goals or our creative
side hustle goals but according to the
research people are also most happy when
they spend time in a state of and that's
because we progress so quickly through
whatever we're working on while we spend
time in a state of flow that it's very
easy for us to feel a sense of
accomplishment and progress while we're
working towards our goals and if you
watch my previous videos then you know
that internal rewards that come from
making progress and achieving small
tasks and working towards our goals is
much more rewarding than any external
rewards and that's because working
towards a task or goal and internally
rewarding ourselves because we're making
progress towards a goal releases
continuous small hits of dopamine as we
work towards that goal as Stephen Cutler
says motivation is what gets us into the
game learning allows us to continue to
play creativity is how we steer and flow
is how we amplify the result beyond all
reasonable expectation so how do we
reach a state of flow well as it turns
out we've so far discovered 22 different
triggers that can help us get into the
Flow State there's probably many more
but so far these are all we have while I
was in university I always felt most
focused while working on an important
exam I've often tried to replicate that
Focus throughout my academic years but I
couldn't quite replicate it apparently
High consequence is one of the 22
triggers of Flow State but because
diving into all 22 triggers would make
this a very long video we'll focus on
the few triggers that are easy to
control and that I've personally found
most helpful for getting into a state of
flow the first trigger concentration
just concentrate really hard and you
might get into a state of flow well if
you've tried this you probably found out
pretty quickly SFI that it's not that
easy I've always really struggled with
focus and concentration but what I found
out only recently is that to get into a
state of Flow by concentrating really
hard you first need to figure out what
it is that you should be concentrating
on so you need to start by having a
really clear idea of what you should be
doing and once you know what you should
be concentrating on you can layer other
internal Flow State Triggers on top such
as finding the right balance between
your skill level and the challenge at
hand as well as getting unambiguous
feedback and working autonomously as
well as a sense of curiosity purpose or
passion a good balance between your
skill level and the challenge at hand
meaning that the task we focus on are
not so easy that we get bored while at
the same time not being so difficult
that we can't work through them and we
get this heart and overwhelmed by what's
in front of us I found that it really
helps to divide bigger tasks into
smaller more manageable tasks that way
you'll not only have a better idea of
what you should be focusing on and what
you should work on in that moment but it
also makes it much easier to build up
momentum by starting with smaller tasks
and working your way up to more
difficult or challenging tasks really
allow yourself to feel uncomfortable and
embrace that discomfort of working on a
challenging task because you're probably
capable of doing it and you're probably
capable of much more than you think
unambiguous feedback meaning you get
actionable feedback from someone like a
peer friend or a colleague that helps
you move forward through a problem which
you were previously stuck on or had
trouble navigating as well as allowing
you to improve on something you
previously worked on autonomy allowing
you to use your own knowledge experience
and skills without someone else telling
you exactly what to do and how to do it
novelty and curiosity are closely
related when it comes to triggering a
state of flow from a more practical
perspective trying something new every
single day might not help us get closer
to our goals but we can still use this
to our advantage by changing our
environment or trying a new approach for
example if you always study from home or
from the library why not switch it up
and try working from a coffee shop for
once that actually brings us to in
another trigger curiosity passion or
purpose because it's so much easier for
us to completely lose ourselves in
something that really matters to us or
we're really naturally interested in it
if the activity you're engaging in is
rewarding to you in and of itself it's
much easier to trigger a flow State as I
mentioned earlier external rewards like
money and buying fancy things for
ourselves are much less powerful
especially over the long term than our
internal reward system of course money
does matter to a certain extent and it
does by happiness in the sense that we
need money to live our lives and provide
for ourselves or our families but if we
feel like the things we are working on
really matter to us and we feel a sense
of purpose while working hard and making
slow and steady progress that's much
more reward adding than any external
reward that we could get ourselves
because we can derive so much more
pleasure and fulfillment from the
process of working towards our goals
it's about the journey not the
destination turns out to actually be
scientifically true I touched on this in
an earlier video which is linked down in
the description as well as somewhere
around here curiosity
when our curiosity gets peaked and we
naturally want to figure out something
or want to know more about a certain
thing it's much easier for us to engage
with something which we feel naturally
drawn to because it feels so natural
there is no resistance and there is no
friction and we have a very pure
motivation that comes from within as
opposed to being motivated solely by
external Rewards or external pressure
these triggers may sound obvious but it
wasn't until I started paying attention
to them and until I consciously started
implementing them then I was able to get
into a state of flow consistently so for
example I try to get feedback on my work
from a friend or a peer but I also make
sure that I know exactly what my goal is
and what I should be working on while
also dividing the bigger goals into
smaller more manageable tasks and I make
sure that I'm in a quiet quiet
environment and pop on some headphones
or so to make sure that I'm able to
concentrate on the task at hand I also
made a video about how I recovered my
ability to focus on a task as well as a
video on effective goal setting so if
you're interested in those things I'll
also put a link to those in the
description
now caffeine is a powerful stimulant and
I found that it can really help me to
dip into a state of flow more
consistently although it's not
officially a trigger for Flow State I
acknowledge that it helps me Focus but I
don't use caffeine every day and because
it has a pretty significant half-life of
about 5 hours meaning that 5 hours after
consuming caffeine half of it is still
in our body for that reason I really do
my best to not consume any form of
caffeine after 1 pm so to summarize all
of that concentrate by eliminating
distractions breaking tests down into
smaller more manageable tasks and having
a clear idea of what you should be
focusing on to move you closer to your
goals whenever possible try to work at
the edge of your capabilities why the
work is challenging but not so difficult
that it can be done and allow yourself
to feel uncomfortable people embrace the
discomfort and don't get discouraged
have some faith in yourself because you
can do more than you probably think try
to get actionable unambiguous feedback
from friends family co-workers or peers
and whenever possible try to work
autonomously so you can use your own
knowledge skills and experience then try
to introduce novelty and
unpredictability to keep things fresh
and engaging and lastly whenever
possible work on things that you connect
to on a deeper level and that you're
really naturally curious or passionate
about because that makes it so much
easier to completely lose ourselves in
our work and tap into the Flow State and
finally remember the golden rule of flow
we pay the most attention to a task if
the challenge of that task slightly
exceeds our skill set so to get into a
state of flow reliably we have to
embrace the discomfort and challenge
ourselves just enough that the tasks
slightly exceeds our skill sets while
not being so difficult that it triggers
anxiety or stress
I hope that this video was somehow
helpful or useful to you and if you
liked the video feel free to subscribe
as always though thank you so much for
watching and I hope you have a great day
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