Let’s Talk About Flow
One of the newer trendy words in workplace chat is “flow.” Let’s talk about it. I had to do some searching the first time I heard it, and I feel like I’m not the only one.
First off, what is flow? According to this article (and several others), “Flow State” is a term used to define when you are fully engrossed in what you are working on. You won’t get distracted easily, and are at a higher state of productivity. You should also feel challenged or like you are using your talents in a fulfilling way. This article mostly talks about it as pertains to creative and athletic pursuits, but let’s try to think deeper about this idea. Can you enjoy the work you do daily for a paycheck, even if it isn’t a creative pursuit? Can you be skilled at it? If so, could you potentially find a flow state in work? Can you get that fulfilled feeling from something like accounting or marketing? I would argue you can and that in fact, many people go to flow states daily at 9-5 office jobs. Sometimes the fulfilling part may be missing if you are not being challenged or fulfilled with the work you do, but I think that is a conversation to have with your supervisor. Flow is merely getting into your work so completely that you don’t notice how long you’ve been doing it, increasing your productivity and fulfillment while at work.
How is flow productive? The idea is that you are so absorbed in your work that the world melts away and that this is how you have true productivity and fulfillment while completing something. After all, if it absorbs you fully, you must feel good when you have completed the project. What about when it’s a multi-day project though, and you don’t feel fulfilled when you have to break part way through? For me, that can leave me with a feeling of dissatisfaction, and I think that is why this is mainly talked about in creative and athletic pursuits. Most people can look at those things and say, “I made progress today. I may not be where I want to be, but I’m closer.” It’s harder to have that mentality about work, especially when we are driven so hard to be productive all the time.
Let’s have a quick chat about the idea that immersing yourself fully in your work is the only way to feel fulfilled by it, something that feels strongly pushed in every article I’ve read on this. It connects well with this idea of feeling dissatisfied when we aren’t done and need to break. Is it possible to feel fulfilled by being fully immersed in work? Yes, but it may be possible to be fulfilled while still taking breaks regularly to make sure you are hydrating and stretching.
Some on the Neurodivergent train may say, isn’t this just hyperfocus? The answer is, kind of. There are a lot of parallels here, and hyperfocus can definitely feel like this “Flow State.” That’s what I would warn you if you are one of my neurodivergent friends: Flow is great and helps you get things DONE, but don’t let yourself ignore your body and its needs (or important things happening around you) for the sake of work. If your work is in your special interest, you will be prone to flowing your way past the end of the work day. If you work from home, this can be even worse. I’ve found myself sitting at my desk working on something for 8-10 hours with no breaks for water, food, the bathroom… That isn’t healthy. Find balance in your flow, and if you can’t do it internally, set timers. You can put them on your browser, your phone, or even a physical timer on your desk. Don’t let yourself work more than an hour at a time, no matter how fulfilled you feel by that work. Every hour, stretch, sip some water, and get right back in that flow. If you are truly in hyperfocus, you’ll be thinking about your work while you do those bodily needs anyway, but the break physically will help you maintain a healthy mental focus.
My tl;dr of all of this is: Flow is good, and helps you hyperfocus on things that you love and fulfill you, but be careful not to overdo it. Your ability to hyperfocus is a double-edged sword, and these articles won’t talk about that aspect because they are not written for neurodivergent folks.
