Expat Happiness Tip #4: Find Your Flow

Posted on 18. May, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Tools & Resources
1 comment

Being in a state of flow is one of the most powerful happiness tools at your disposal.

You probably have experienced flow before, even though you may not have called it that. You were so engaged in an activity that you lost track of time. Your thoughts and actions were perfectly coordinated, one step flowing seamlessly into the next. You were focused, efficient, in control. You were “in the zone”.

This kind of experience is not only gratifying in the moment, it also has a lasting impact on your general happiness levels. Flow reduces stress, increases productivity and reminds you to fully enjoy the present moment. In other words, flow provides you with a peak experience of being in control, fully engaged and grounded in the present.

Wouldn’t it be great to experience flow on a more regular basis?

As I am sure you will have noticed, some activities lend themselves to flow better than others. Playing sports, making art, working on something you enjoy immensely = good for flow. Having a root canal, running late in traffic, dealing with local bureaucrats in a language you barely understand = not great for flow.

Good news! As expats, we are ideally positioned to achieve flow.

Here is why: the best activities for flow are challenging enough to keep you engaged, but not so challenging that you end up discouraged. They are meaningful to you and allow you to develop your abilities.
From picking up a new language to enjoying the recreational activities offered in your new location, the expat life is packed with opportunities to lose yourself in varied, interesting and challenging pursuits.

Living abroad is also a perfect time to re-design our lives as we see fit, which could mean delving deeper into our hobbies and personal projects, or trying our hand at new ones.

For example, I have noticed that I easily fall into a state of flow when I make art using a technique that is new to me. Same thing when I reach that point in language learning where I can start stringing sentences together, but I am still working hard at memorizing the grammar and the vocabulary. Stretching myself and learning new skills that I can use to create and communicate is key for me.

Five tips to invite more flow into your life:

1. Keep it interesting, challenging and important

You may need to experiment with several activities before you find the right ones. If you are stumped, try re-reading your life purpose statement and notice if anything comes to mind.

Do you have any hobbies or passions? How could you go deeper, or stretch yourself a bit in your practice?
Is there anything you have always wanted to try or research?

Flow is not just about leisure or recreation – what about your work? What tasks do you enjoy so much you could lose yourself into them?

2. Create quiet, uninterrupted time

Not always easy, I know. Schedule a chunk of time in your day planner if you have to. While you cannot exactly create flow on demand, making time to properly focus is key. The last thing you want is to be rushed, distracted or interrupted in your flow-creating activity!

If this feels impossible to achieve (or too self-indulgent), taking a class or joining a group can give you the structure and accountability you need to make time for flow.

3. Notice any patterns

Night owls tend to experience flow after midnight when all is quiet around them. Morning people cannot get enough of the gorgeous 6:00 am light to work on their art or do yoga.
Some thrive near the water or sitting under a favourite tree. Others do their best work at their kitchen table.

What works best for you?

4. Design a little ritual

To fully enjoy the benefits of your state of flow, give yourself a few moments before returning to “normal life”. You could do a short meditation; write in your journal; light a candle… anything that helps you appreciate the experience you have just had.
I like to lie on my back, close my eyes and relax for a few minutes.

5. Keep practicing

Finding your flow can take time, and inviting more flow into your life requires practice. Often, it is a matter of getting good enough that you can relax into what you are doing, yet not masterful enough that you can go through the motions with your eyes closed. Remember, we want to always stretch ourselves a little – and that takes practice!

Also, the more you practice, the better you will get at noticing your patterns and what works for you. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to create optimal conditions for you to experience flow even more often.

For more information about flow, see “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by psychology professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi (say that three times fast!)

What experiences of flow do you have to share? Do you agree that they had a lasting impact on your well-being and happiness levels?

Emmanuelle

Image: “South Goodwin” by Charles J Sharp, via Wikimedia Commons