Got Creative Block? How to Enter the Flow State in 5 Minutes or Less

What if you could enter the flow state on demand, and unlock focus & creativity every time?

The Science of Creativity

Mihaly Csikzmentsky, who developed the flow state theory, identified concentration, clarity, and challenge as key components.

Follow these 3 steps to enter the flow state:

Concentration

Before you start working, prime your environment for focus. Block distractions (notifications off, close extra tabs, listen to white noise/classical) and increase inspiration (gather your favorite quotes, curate a gallery, write a post it on your wall with your goals and your why).

Clarity

What exactly are you doing? Spend 1 minute to plan. For example, instead of: “I will write an essay”, specify:

• Result (e.g., 300-word essay)
• Time allocation (e.g., 20 minutes)
• Steps (e.g., select idea, outline, edit)

Challenge

Constraints cultivate creativity, tapping into the concept of desirable difficulty. A healthy level of challenge enhances thinking & memory. You can add constraint to your creative process by modifying the time, method, or topic. For example, give yourself 5 minutes to brain dump, only drawwith your left hand, or explore how your topic would be relevant to someone with limited resources (i.e. time, money).

Cheers to Consistent Creativity!

Creativity is a mix of science and art, and there is some method to the madness. By leveraging the 3 steps to flow, you can create more consistently. This method has helped me maintain a writing habit alongside being a full-time student with two jobs. I hope it helps you too 🙂