Key Takeaways
A state of "flow" is when you lose yourself in a particular activity—one that is relatively challenging and lets you monitor your progress toward a specific goal.
Many people have reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health.
Researchers found that people who achieved a state of flow felt less lonely and more positive during stay-at-home orders.
Within a few months, we were told what we needed to keep - and each other - safe from COVID-19. Face masks, regular supply of hand sanitizer, and personal space are more than usual, at first. You can add tolerance and resilience to the list too - no doubt it is necessary to get orders to stay home and to face limitations in all areas of life.
But there may be more to add to our coronavirus toolbox: flow status. In fact, new research suggests that this could be a solution to the emotional stress of an epidemic. More than 5,000 people detained in the first months of the COVID-19 outbreak participated in the study, which was published in Plos One in November.1
Study Findings
Participants answered online survey questions about how many times in the past week they felt completely focused on what they were doing and how much they felt at the same time were encouraged and challenged both of the essentials of flow. Investigators found that those who experienced a state of fluency reported decreased loneliness and higher levels of positive emotions, even if they were living alone at home during the separation.
Those who were locked up for a long time received a negative emotional impact. However, participants who experience higher flow rates are more likely to cope with overtime divisions.
What Is Flow, Exactly–and How do We Find It?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first coined the idea that the "flow" of the mind refers to the length of time a person is fully focused on whatever he or she is doing. 2
"Flow is a feeling of being 'in the zone' - focusing entirely on enjoyable work," said Kate Sweeny, PhD, co-author of the PLOS One research and professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Time goes by, and you do not realize your thoughts or experiences outside of your work. ”
Sweeny argues that the types of jobs that are most likely to produce a flow rate are those that challenge the right value (i.e. they are not the easiest or least difficult) and that allow us to track our progress towards a particular goal. "Video games are designed to make it flow," he adds. "But almost anything can be a work in progress if you pay attention to the level of challenge and be aware of your progress."
Flow is good for our well-being under pretty much any circumstance, but it may be particularly helpful during stressful periods of uncertainty, when we just want time to pass a bit faster and to mute our worrisome thoughts.
— KATE SWEENY, PHD
Recreational activities such as playing music, cooking, painting, knitting, and gardening can all create a tendency to flow. Pursuing sports, such as sports, yoga, or running, can also put people in a dangerous position.
And you do not have to be a specialist in any of those things to enjoy the benefits of flow. “The thing I love about streaming is that anyone can find it,” Sweeny said. “You don't have to practice, you don't have to learn new things; you just have to make a little effort to challenge yourself and keep track of your progress. ”
It’s important to note that overeating by watching a TV series or indulging in your favorite movie, while having fun, is not considered synonymous with being in a state of flow because it is not a functional state.
Flow and COVID-19
With two out of five Americans battling mental health problems and substance abuse during the epidemic (each data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 3 now seems to be as good a time as any other attempt to find our way out -
"Flow is good for our well-being under any circumstances, but it can be especially helpful during difficult times of uncertainty, when we just want time to pass slowly and calm our anxious thoughts," Sweeny said.
Engagement in activities at home may represent people who have more opportunities and interest in the activities they can do at home, and so in that way it is not surprising that it is a direct predictor of well-being while stuck at home, during shelter in place.
— ELISSA EPEL, PHD
"Participation in homework can represent people who have the most opportunities and interests in the work they can do at home, so it is not surprising that it is a precursor to well-being while sticking at home, during shelter in the area," eSan Francisco. "It's great to know that flow protects our well-being."
Although the findings of the PLOS One study are still relatively new, and researchers only establish an association — not a cause-and-effect relationship — between flow and better mental health, experts agree that flow can be a powerful protection against COVID's burden- 19 home orders and other restrictions