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\u201cFlow\u201d is a term that you may have heard thrown around quite a bit, but are you sure you know exactly what it is? It sounds undoubtedly positive, suggesting a state of effortless output and profound enjoyment. At the same time, flow sounds a bit nebulous. What is it, exactly? And most importantly, how do you identify your flow?<\/p>\n
Think of it this way: Some days, you are super-productive and hyper-focused, so concentrated that you seem to lose track of hours passing, mealtimes, and the need to sleep. Other days, you feel like you are grinding away, maybe even fighting distraction while you try to work.<\/p>\n
The first scenario, of course, is you in a state of flow \u2013 accomplishing your goals, checking off tasks, and enjoying work so much that it doesn\u2019t feel like a slog. The second is you outside of flow \u2013 grinding away at your checklist while you attempt to stay off your iPhone.<\/p>\n
Of course, you can\u2019t always be in your flow, ideal as that would be. Still, there are certain ways to identify your flow, foster a flow-inducing environment, and get your best work done while you\u2019re focused, goal-oriented, and maybe even having fun. \u201cFlow\u201d was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi<\/a>, who discovered that people experience optimal satisfaction in a specific state of mind. That state of mind involves total immersion in a single activity, laser focus, and a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. That\u2019s flow.<\/p>\n Mihaly said that \u201cthe best moments [of our lives] usually occur if a person\u2019s mind or body is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, when your capacity is stretched, you can actually experience deep fulfillment and even pleasure. That\u2019s great news for those of us who enjoy taking on challenging projects or work.<\/p>\n Here are some feelings you may experience in the flow:<\/p>\n All of these factors combine to drive you to one goal: Accomplishing the task at hand with excellence.<\/p>\nThe tricky question is, can we cultivate \u201cflow\u201d in our workdays to help us become more productive, or do we simply wait passively for \u201cflow\u201d to happen to us? <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Here are a few simple ways to use time-tracking to identify your flow.<\/p>\n According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi\u2019s definition, flow doesn\u2019t necessarily happen when we\u2019re at work. You might find yourself in a state of flow while you\u2019re swimming laps, playing video games, or heck, tasting beer at a local brewery. But for the sake of this article, we\u2019re focusing on what you love to do at work<\/a>.<\/p>\n That being the case, think about the kind of work that you actually enjoy doing \u2013 you know, the sort of projects that don\u2019t send you running to social media, grabbing an extra cup of coffee, or questioning your decision to freelance for a living.<\/p>\n Maybe you love creating new logos for startup brands\u2026or writing copy for Facebook ads…or strategizing a business plan for a startup.<\/p>\n In any case, time-tracking can help you pinpoint those activities by allowing you to quantitatively review different types of work. If you use Timing, simply take a look at your big picture \u201cOverview\u201d tab to review what you\u2019ve finished each day (or week, month, or year).<\/p>\n Then ask yourself, \u201cWhat did I enjoy doing the most?\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019re not talking about what earned you the most income, or what was the easiest. Rather, what was the activity that you wish you could do all day, every day \u2013 the kind of work that you might actually do for free?<\/p>\n Those are the kinds of projects that get you into the flow, and the type of work that you may want to focus on exclusively pursuing; it will help you to create a freelancing career with a higher concentration of focus-fueling, fulfilling moments.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re in a state of flow, you\u2019re focused and productive for a significant measure of time.<\/p>\n
\n[content_upgrade_scripts]
\n[content_upgrade cu_id=”849″ preload=”1″]Free, Easy-to-Use Guide: 5 Tips for Getting Into Your Flow<\/strong>[content_upgrade_button]Click Here[\/content_upgrade_button][\/content_upgrade]<\/p>\nWhat is \u201cFlow\u201d?<\/h2>\n
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Time-Tracking Can Help You Identify What You Love to Do<\/h2>\n
Time-Tracking Can Help You Identify When You\u2019re Most Productive<\/h2>\n
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