What is the 'flow state'?

When an artist reaches their 'flow state', their creativity flourishes. Their decision-making becomes intuitive and effortless. This is the time when they can create their very best work.

Some even find the right choice of music can help them enter their flow state to achieve focused, uninterrupted creativity.

Flow state meaning

Positive psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura first popularised the idea of the 'flow state'.

They described it as the condition of being immersed in a single task so intensely that external distractions disappear, your sense of time fades, and you become fully engaged and in control of what you're doing. Everything seems manageable, your skills seem to come alive, and you're able to make the right decisions quickly.

In other words, you're just doing, not thinking about doing. You are 'in the zone'.

Flow state psychology

When you experience the flow state, your brain works differently. You experience a flood of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that rewards you for achieving your goals. This leads to increased feelings of pleasure and a motivation to carry on.

Some scientists also believe that your brain's locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system becomes very active when you're in a flow state of mind. This response deepens your engagement in a task or project and means you find it easier to make decisions.

How to enter flow state

To achieve flow state on a project, Csikszentmihalyi identified the following conditions, although not all have to be present:

• Personally rewarding: The task feels meaningful to you and motivates you to stay engaged in it.

• Clear goal: A defined goal on a project or during a work session leads to the feeling that you're making progress.

• Single focus: You are completely absorbed in the task at hand and you have no wandering thoughts.

• In control: You feel control over yourself, the task at hand, and the desired outcome.

• Mindfulness: You experience an immersive serenity and a faded awareness of self.

• Warping of time: You are so focused on the "now" that the passage of time doesn't register.

• Immediate feedback: The feeling of knowing how well you're doing in your task so you can adjust what you're doing to stay on course.

• Balance of skill and difficulty: You need to feel confident that you can complete the task or project at hand. At the same time, it should be challenging enough to keep you interested.

• Lack of physical awareness: Basic feelings like hunger or fatigue are barely, if at all, perceptible.

• Intense concentration: You are so fully absorbed in the task that you don't have the mental or emotional space for anything else.

How you get to your flow state is personal to you. What works well for you might not work at all for another. The key is experimenting to find the perfect balance of conditions that take you to your flow state consistently.

Flow state activities and your environment

To improve your chances of getting into flow state for a creative session in your workplace:

• Create a distraction-free environment so that you can fully focus on the task at hand without interruptions.
• Define a clear goal for the project or session so you can structure your day and keep focus on a specific task.
• Set your mobile phone to "do not disturb" and switch off your email notifications to reduce the likelihood of being stopped mid-flow.
• Focus on one major task during your session that will require a significant portion of brain power.
• Schedule your work sessions for when you generally feel most alert and focused to get the best results.

The science behind music and the flow state

Stanford University research showed that music improves your memory, ability to predict, and attention span.

Here's how different types of music can enhance how you work:

• Classical and orchestral: The layered compositions are great for engaging your brain without distracting you too much, making them ideal for complex tasks.
• Ambient and atmospheric: Atmospheric background music doesn't demand our attention but it helps us focus, brainstorm, and visualise.
• Electronic and techno: The elevated pace of dance background music is excellent if you want to maintain a steady working rhythm, particularly on repetitive tasks.
• Binaural beats: Flow states may be linked to specific brain activity patterns. Binaural beats use slightly different frequencies in each ear and encourage your brain to match the frequency. Researchers believe this can help you enter a more focused state.
• Video game soundtracks: Perhaps the ultimate flow state music, video game background music is intentionally designed to improve gamer focus without distracting too much.
• Nature sounds: If you achieve flow and improve your focus in a soothing environment, the sounds of the natural world like the forest, ocean, or rain are ideal.

Using the Universal Product Music Library in your next production

Music can play a powerful role in helping you achieve - and maintain - a flow state.

The right music can also grab your audience's attention to keep them hooked. It can help them feel more connected to your work, whether it's a film, advertisement, or anything in between.

Ready to find out more? Register now with Universal Production Music and discover the power of perfect sound.