What is flow?

Flow, also known as being "in the zone," is a state of relaxed concentration where you are completely immersed in your task.

When in this flow state, people often lose track of time, and everything else seems to fade into the background. They're fully engaged in the task, whether it be writing, playing a sport, painting, or even doing a challenging puzzle.

Flow is typically associated with a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment, and it's when people feel at their most creative, productive, and satisfied.

Why is flow important?

The significance of flow lies in its connection to optimal performance. Numerous studies, ranging from mathematics to creativity, support this. At Pylot, we conducted our own research, focusing on competitive gamers where performance is easily judged by clear win or loss outcomes.

We had 16 gamers play 1634 games of League of Legends while we tracked their cognitive performance. The difference in win rate between high and low flow states was a huge 13%.

Average win rate for League of Legends players based on their flow state for that game.

A 13% difference might not seem significant initially, but let's ponder the myriad factors affecting performance in a team-based game like League of Legends. These include your teammates' capabilities, your own skill level, the opponents, your team's strategy, and so on. Even with these variables, a single player's flow state significantly influenced the game's outcome.

These findings resonate not just within gaming but also in work productivity, academic achievements, and creative pursuits. Flow emerges as the single most influential cognitive performance metric determining the quality of your task performance.

How can I spend more time in flow?

Considering the profound influence of flow on performance, why don't we activate this state all the time? Regrettably, it's not that straightforward. Elements like the time of day, the nature of the task, and pre-work routines all play a part in attaining high flow levels. Moreover, it is more difficult to achieve high flow when fatigued.

We recommend utilising Pylot to pinpoint your optimal work hours and schedule your most important tasks for those times. Furthermore, establish a distraction-free environment that is conducive to flow.

Next, you can begin experimenting with various routines. Does music help you achieve flow? What about coffee? Or perhaps a pre-work walk is beneficial? As everyone is unique, there's no universal approach. With Pylot, you can label your work blocks with tags like 'music' or 'coffee', and then compare your flow levels under different routines to identify what enhances your performance.

If you are struggling to achieve a flow state, avoid forcing it. We suggest shifting your focus in such circumstances. Instead of engaging in deep, focused work, transition to 'shallow tasks' like email or administrative duties. This way, you can maintain productivity, even when not at your peak performance.