Hi, Sam here.
Welcome to Radio Headspace.
So we use the word flow a lot, whether we go with the flow or get into the flow.
we can all agree that it seems like a pretty pleasant state to be in.
It turns out that the state of flow has been studied thoroughly to reveal what it really is,
how to get into it, and how it can benefit us.
Flow is described by researcher Mihai Csikszentmihalyi as a state of being when one is fully engaged in a task that is just challenging enough to be engaging and rewarding.
During flow, our brain's dopaminergic reward system is more active.
This essentially means that our brains send a chemical signal for us to feel good.
We have an increased sense of optimism and hope.
We feel energized and motivated.
There are two main modes associated with motivation, which are exploitation and exploration.
When our brain is in an exploitation mode,
It has determined that a perceived reward is worth the effort that it takes to attain it.
But when we're in an exploration mode,
we're easily distracted and prone to self-referential thinking like worry and rumination.
In essence,
our brain has determined that the task in front of us is not worth the reward or is too challenging for us.
To reach flow, we must devote some time and energy into getting relatively good at something.
Therefore, flow states are commonly experienced by artists,