![]() In other words, you’re more likely to get into flow when you’re doing a physical activity you love than when you’re begrudgingly going to the gym. “Enjoyment is one of the reasons behind the flow experience,” says Dr. The chances of getting into a flow state are slim to none if you don’t like what you’re doing. Here’s how to harness flow in your fitness game this year. How you find flow might require some experimentation, but there are some universal conditions that have been shown to help. ![]() So how can you tap into it? Every individual is different-for some athletes, listening to a specific type of music helps them get into the zone, while for others total silence before heading out onto the court is key. Flow happens when the conditions of your workout perfectly align to create that zen state-you can’t force it. The harder you try to find flow state, the more elusive it will be, warns Last. When you’re immediately getting something out of your workout-like the energizing experience of flow-you’re going to be more intrinsically motivated to stay with it. Stefan Koehn, a sports psychologist and lecturer at Liverpool Hope University in the UK. “When it comes to frequent, continuous exercise, flow is very helpful for sticking with the activity,” says Dr. Tapping into flow can help make any workout or athletic activity more enjoyable, more effective, and something you’re more likely to keep doing. You don’t have to be a pro to experience the benefits of flow state, however. No energy or capacity is wasted on invading thoughts or actions. “I would have less anxiety, fear, and worry and was able to focus all of my energy on my performance. “Flow is beneficial because it gives you confidence,” says Sharon Day-Monroe, a three-time US heptathlon champion, two-time Olympian, and track-and-field coach at the University of California, Los Angeles. They also found that the experience of flow is linked to better athletic performances. In a 2019 study of Brazilian triathletes, researchers found that flow state occurs with the right mixture of skills, clear goals, and feedback (more on how to harness those factors in a minute). ![]() But flow is particularly well-studied among athletes. “I empowered, as if I could do absolutely anything at that moment.”įlow state has been documented by artists and musicians, and you may have even experienced it while preparing for a final exam or paper. “ invincible and so in tune with my surroundings,” says Jayleen B., a first-year graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Honolulu. It doesn’t matter how easy or hard it is-you’re just doing ,” says Nate Last, a mental performance trainer and owner of Mental Grit Consulting in Riverton, Utah. “It’s a state where people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. The term “flow state” was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe the feeling of deep focus that allows you to perform at your peak. Flow-that sensation of total unity when your body and mind feel like they’re on autopilot -is a well-studied phenomenon.
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