"Time slows. The mind chatter quietens. Outside distractions dial down to a hum. You are at one with the task at hand. Congratulations, you've reached flow state. Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi coined the term to describe a state of complete immersion in an activity, one in which focus comes naturally and you're "in the zone." Think of the hours flying by as a painter gets lost in their art. Or when you're juggling three browser tabs, the caffeine hits, and suddenly, your fingers start flying"
"Well, over on TikTok, a new trend has the internet sharing the hyper-specific ways they "genuinely" enter their "flow state" -the more chaotic, the better. One example: "When the iced latte, Zyn & Adderall hit at the same time and I genuinely reach flow state," a TikTok user wrote, blinking and looking around the room with full alertness, punctuated by slurping coffee through a straw."
Flow is a state of complete immersion in an activity, marked by slowed time perception, reduced internal chatter, and unified attention on the task. Social media users are posting hyper-specific, often chaotic triggers for entering flow, from caffeinated and nicotine combinations to mundane chores like matching socks. Flow arises when skill level matches task challenge: too easy causes boredom, too hard causes stress. The optimal "sweet spot" enables absorption and enjoyment, producing intense focus, clarity, and immediate feedback about actions. The phenomenon is experiential and can be fleeting, appearing across creative, cognitive, and routine activities.
Read at Fast Company
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