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How to enter flow state

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Flow is more than just concentrating or paying attention; it's a unique mental state of effortless engagement. And those who more frequently experience flow report higher levels of positive emotions, creativity, and feelings of accomplishment. But what exactly is flow? And how can we find it in our daily lives? Explore steps you can take to increase your chances of finding flow.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer Shannon Odell
  • Director Leah Putnam
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
  • Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Anna Bechtol, Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
Additional Resources for you to Explore
In recent years, "flow" has become a ubiquitous term among scientists and laypeople alike. If you'd like to learn more about where our fascination with this elusive mental state came from, you might like to read the book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, originally  published in 1990 by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934-2021). Csikszentmihalyi is considered one of the founders of positive psychology and referred to by man as the "father of flow." Read here for an overview of his research, or if you'd like to hear from the scientific pioneer himself, watch his moving 2004 TED Talk on "the secret to happiness."

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer Shannon Odell
  • Director Leah Putnam
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
  • Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Anna Bechtol, Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell

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