Being ‘in the zone’ or feeling your Flow can help you revise more easily – and actually enjoy it more. Discover what a Flow state of mind is, the benefits, and how you can find yours.
Have you ever been so engrossed in something that you don’t think about anything else and time seems to absolutely fly by? When ‘you’re in the zone?’ That’s your Flow.
When you’re in this state of mind, your attention is 100% focused on the moment. And if that moment is when you’re revising for your exams, then you’re more likely to retain what you’re learning about.
In this article, we explore what Flow state is and how to find yours so you can optimise your revision performance.
According to the psychologist, Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi, who has carried out extensive research into Flow, it’s: ‘The holistic sensation people feel when they act with total involvement.’
Added to that is the fact people enjoy what they are doing at the time when they are in a state of Flow, which has been captured in this quote from one of Csíkszentmihályi’s research candidates: ‘My mind isn’t wandering. I am not thinking of something else. I am totally involved in what I am doing. My body feels good. I don’t seem to hear anything. The world seems to be cut off from me. I am less aware of myself and my problems.’
The advantages of feeling your Flow are reportedly widespread and span beyond making you enjoy certain activities. Benefits include:
According to Csíkszentmihályi, there are 10 common characteristics associated with Flow. You do not have to experience them all in order to be in a state of Flow.
Whether you’re revising or doing something else, you’ve found your Flow if you: 3
Now that you’ve read about what Flow is, what the benefits are of feeling it, and how you can identify it, are you keen to know how to feel your Flow, so you can boost your revision performance?
Follow these 8 practical steps:
These exercises can help you find your Flow too, whether you’re revising or at work:
exercise one:
When were you last working in a Flow state? Identify the specific details - what was the type of work, where were you working, who were you working with, did you have a deadline?
exercise two:
When you were last in a Flow state, as identified above, what skills were you using? Do you have time to do more challenging tasks that better match your skillset?
exercise three:
What practical steps can you take to set up the conditions for more Flow working?
exercise four:
What should you stop doing that prevents you from finding time to work in Flow?
While it may not be something you’ve really thought about until now, finding your Flow is incredibly useful, not just when it comes to revising for exams, but boosting your productivity at work too.
For more practical guidance on effective revision read, ‘How to boost your productivity when revising.’
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