We live in a world that celebrates hustle. Move fast, stay busy, get more done. Productivity, we’re told, is about speed: Plowing through your inbox, checking off your to-do list, and constantly moving on to the next thing.

But what if real productivity doesn’t come from moving faster?

What if it comes from going deeper?

That’s where the concept of Flow comes in.

You might’ve heard it described as “being in the zone.” Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term to describe those moments when we’re fully immersed in something—completely focused, energized, and engaged. Time either stretches or disappears altogether. There’s no self-doubt or second-guessing. Just momentum and presence.

Most of us have experienced it. Maybe while playing a sport, writing, practicing music, or fixing something by hand. The work feels almost effortless, not because it’s easy, but because we’re fully tuned in.

Why Flow Matters Now

These days, many of us are constantly distracted. Notifications, multitasking, and nonstop demands make it hard to focus on anything for long. We stay busy but often feel like we’re not really getting anywhere.

Flow offers an alternative multi-tasking and competing against a to-do list. It leads us into a deeper kind of work, where focus comes naturally and the task feels meaningful, because we’re truly present while doing it.

What Creates Flow?

Csikszentmihalyi’s research found that Flow tends to emerge when certain conditions are in place:

• Clear goals. You know what you’re working toward, even if it’s something small.
  
• A balanced challenge. The task stretches your abilities but doesn’t overwhelm you.
  
• Immediate feedback. You can sense or measure your progress.
  
• Intrinsic motivation. You care about the activity for its own sake.
  
• Minimal distractions. You’re able to give it your full attention.
  

Flow isn’t tied to a particular kind of activity. It depends more on how deeply you engage with what you’re doing.

How to Invite Flow Into Your Life

According to high-performance researcher Steven Kotler, you can’t force Flow, but you can create the conditions where it’s more likely to show up.

Here are a few ways to make space for it:

• Protect your focus. Silence your phone, block out time, and give your attention to one thing at a time.
  
• Start with intention. Even a simple statement like “I’m going to write for 30 minutes without interruption” can help shift your mindset.
  
• Choose something that matters to you. Flow doesn’t happen in tasks you dread. It needs a bit of interest or curiosity.
  
• Match the challenge to your skill. Too easy and it’s boring. Too hard and it’s overwhelming. Flow lives in that space in between.
  
• Follow your energy. Notice when you naturally lose track of time. That’s often where Flow is already happening.
  

Redefining Productivity

Flow gives us a new way to think about productivity. It’s not about grinding harder, it’s about showing up more deeply.

Csikszentmihalyi outlined the psychological ingredients that support Flow. Kotler mapped out the habits and behaviors that help you find it. What I’ve been reflecting on is how we can deliberately bring Flow into the parts of life that matter most, whether it’s a project at work, a creative pursuit, or a spiritual practice.

In some of my earlier posts, I’ve written about slowing down and being more present. A slower pace doesn’t mean doing less. In fact, it might mean doing more of the right things.

When we remember quiet acts of kindness or reflect on our most meaningful memories, we tap into a sense of gratitude. That gratitude becomes energy that helps us pay deeper attention and stay more engaged.

Flow builds on that foundation. It brings presence and productivity together. When you start intentionally making space for Flow, you often find yourself doing better work and enjoying it more.

When I Feel Flow

For me, Flow shows up most often when I’m learning something new. These days, that’s been pickleball. There’s so much nuance to the game that I never noticed before. I love the process of figuring it out and improving.

I also get lost in research, especially around how AI is impacting society and the different AI approaches that are being developed. I’ve spent most of my career in tech, and I’m still naturally curious about how emerging technologies shape the way we live and work. Those hours of reading and exploration tend to fly by.

And then there’s language learning. Whether it’s Korean or French, I often lose track of time. When I’m speaking Korean with my relatives or having a conversation in French while traveling, I stop thinking and just respond. It feels natural, fluid… like effort without effort.

One Last Thought

What’s one thing this week you could give your full attention to?

Not because you have to, but because you want to.

Try inviting Flow into the project. It might be waiting for you there.