What is the video all about?

A tennis player wins her second straight set, feeling like she can . A musician works to , unfazed by mistakes as he repeatedly plays the same four bars. A scientist fails to notice her from the next room, having analyzed data through the night. While each of these people is immersed in a different activity, requiring specific skills and knowledge sets, all three are experiencing what is known as flow— a unique mental state of . And while you may not be a scientist or professional athlete, anyone can find flow. This is a good thing, as those who more frequently experience flow report higher levels of positive emotions, creativity, and feelings of accomplishment. Further, research has linked it to increased productivity, , and academic achievement. But what exactly is flow? And how can we find it in our daily lives?

Flow is more than just . Psychologists go so far as to define flow as an with several defining features. First, those in flow tend to feel so effortlessly engaged in a task that time seems to fly by. They are . In contrast with cycles of procrastination, when it can feel , during flow it can feel difficult to stop. Flow also tends to or self-judgment, in turn fostering creativity. And people report experiencing a sense of oneness with what they’re doing, allowing for . Further, brain imaging studies have shown that flow is accompanied by changes in neural activity, notably in regions that play a role in attention, self-awareness, and self-consciousness. Despite decades of research, many questions still remain. How do the brains of those in flow compare to those in other states of consciousness, like ? Does flow arising from physical activities like sports recruit the same brain areas as more mental tasks like writing or math?

And scientists are still working to understand why certain activities are more likely than others. While we don't know for sure, there are several theories. For example, people more often report finding flow when doing things , meaning activities they find purpose, meaning, or enjoyment in. This may include participating in a favorite hobby, but also , studying topics you find interesting, or even completing . Likewise, it may be more difficult to find flow in tasks you do only because you have to, not because you want to. Other research suggests balancing personal skill level with the activity’s challenge is key for finding flow. In other words, if a task is too easy, you . If it’s too challenging, you may become discouraged. The of Tetris, for example, keeps skill-challenge levels in balance by increasing the fall speed of blocks as players get better at the game. Still, other studies suggest that it’s most important that activities have clear goals and allow you to assess your progress along the way. For example, practicing a song allows you with each note. This also may be why people find flow when playing games of chance, even though those games don't require skill. Moment-to-moment feedback may be enough to .

While no can guarantee flow, there are steps you can take to increase your chances. Find a quiet environment free from . Break your tasks into small, specific segments that are easy to track and learn from. Set clear end goals that are challenging but not frustratingly so. If you find the task to be tedious, to up the stakes. For example, when cleaning your dishes, attempt to finish them all in a certain amount of time. When running, try to of a song. Most importantly, and perhaps most frustratingly, don't focus too much on reaching flow. That sort of might just prevent you from finding it.