The 4 Steps to Get Into Flow
(Photo: Nadeen Nakib for Yahoo Health)
Every athlete performs best when they’re “in the zone” and reaches “flow.”
It’s one of the most beautiful moments to watch, when athletes reach flow state. It’s an eye-watering symphony in motion.
It’s the best feeling on earth, and its addictive nature is why we’ve seen so many amazing feats performed in extreme sports (and many brutal accidents as well).
I’ve always been passionate about getting in the zone, so I love talking to experts with intimate knowledge of what it means to be in flow.
Steven Kotler is a New York Times best-selling author who has overcome some extreme challenges to become the foremost expert on high performance.
He explains that the flow state is a huge release of positive neurochemicals that allow your body and mind to get in sync in a way that normally doesn’t happen. There are many benefits to this state — and not just with performing athletically. I asked Steven how this actually happens, and he broke it down into four steps.
Struggle: You exert yourself completely, try your hardest, and focus intently.
Relaxation: When you relax into the struggle, your brain can release neurochemicals that support relaxation — which feels great.
Flow: This is what creates the flow state and boosts your performance.
Memory Learning & Consolidation Phase: Neurochemicals have a very short lifespan in the brain. You can’t live in the flow state. Your brain has to have the down time to make the chemicals again.
Steven explains that people who experience a big letdown after being in flow run the risk of getting stuck there if they don’t understand what’s happening. To avoid this, Steven recommends getting plenty of sleep, keeping good daily habits to form routine, and learning about flow to understand what’s happening in your body.
To hear all of Steven’s wisdom about flow, and learn the triggers that get you into flow, listen to our whole conversation here:
For more on Steven, click here.
ABOUT LEWIS HOWES: Lewis is a pro-athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur who hosts the top-ranked podcast The School of Greatness. He interviews the best and brightest minds in health, entrepreneurship, relationships and lifestyle. Follow Lewis on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.