Brain Health and the Flow State
We are living in a fast-paced world, and many of us feel overworked and overwhelmed. It is essential to find internal balance, also known as homeostasis, in order to feel our best and flourish.
How can we navigate life’s challenges with awareness and resilience?
The answer is to pursue a “flow state”. A flow state is any state in which we lose track of time and are fully present in the moment.
The brain behaves differently during this state because we are deeply focused and immersed in the activity.
During this state, we increase our levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which enhances motivation, pleasure, and reward within our brain.
The positive benefits include better performance, greater motivation, less distraction, and enhanced well-being.
You likely have experienced this flow state at some point in your life — it is a sense of fluidity beyond the point of distraction. Time slows down or stands still, you are in sync and perhaps feel “in the zone”.
The flow state is accessible to everyone, whether you’re engaged in movement, a creative pursuit, or even a simple day to day routine.
Renowned positive psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi describes eight characteristics of flow:
Complete concentration
Clarity of goals mind
Transformation of time
The experience is rewarding
A combination of effortlessness & ease
Balance between challenge and skills
Actions and awareness merge together
There is a feeling of control over the activity
Here are my favorite ways to find a flow state and examples to try!
Cooking
Yoga
Dancing
Sports
Reading
Playing an instrument
Drawing
Solving puzzles
Gardening
Walking in nature
Let me know how it goes!
Dr. Jenna Fernandez, Integrative Nurse Practitioner
