Time is relative. An hour spent reading your favorite book may seem only like a minute, but a few minutes doing a tedious chore may feel like an eternity. This relativity depends upon our mental state and attitude toward the task we’re attempting.

We’ve all had days where work is effortless. The task at hand fully absorbs us and, in almost a trance-like state, the work gets done.

For most people, such a heightened state of productivity is not only rare but also spontaneous. They appreciate these moments of being “in the zone” but are ignorant as to how to experience it at will.

This state of ‘being in the zone’ is also called the Flow State. Let’s find out what it actually is.

What is Flow State?

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a pioneer in positive psychology, first coined the term “flow” to describe a state of heightened focus when performing a task, to the degree that all else fades away.

In a flow state, your creativity is at its zenith, your focus sharpens, and your productivity peaks. Not only that, but you also feel good while performing a task in a flow state.

Contrary to popular belief, people do not feel their best when they are resting but rather when they are immersed in a task that fulfills them mentally, emotionally, and physically.

“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

This concept is also in line with the goals of positive psychology, according to which meaningful and fulfilling lives are achieved only through a blissful, harmonious balance of both work and play.

Now that you know what flow state is, here are all the ways you can achieve your productivity goals by mastering your flow state.

1. Calibrate The Difficulty of a Challenge

According to Annie Murphy Paul, calibrating the difficulty of a challenge is the key factor behind achieving a flow state.

People succumb to daydreaming when the task at hand is too easy. While a task that is too difficult induces anxiety, stress, and frustration that leads to procrastination.

In both these cases, the end result is an unmotivated or anxious state of mind that produces substandard work at best.

The main ingredient in achieving the heightened focused state is to find a task that challenges and stretches your abilities – something that is just outside the brim of your abilities. Not too easy that it induces boredom, and not too hard that it instigates anxiety.

Finding that sweet spot will make sure that you are stimulated enough to carry on your tasks in a smooth manner without being distracted by any interfering thoughts or emotions.

2. Practice Your Focus

According to a study by McKinsey and Co., individuals experiencing the flow state can achieve up to 500% increased productivity.

A key characteristic of a flow state is a heightened focus. That is also one of the main prerequisites required for increased productivity. But how can someone focus?

Far too many people think of focus as something that comes and goes on its own. Fortunately, that is not the truth. Focus, like any other activity, requires patience and practice to perfect.

You shouldn’t switch between tasks. It takes a certain amount of transitioning time in which the brain tries to develop the focus for the new task.

This transitioning period could be anywhere between five to twenty minutes long, on average.

Get rid of all the distractions like social media notifications etc., and try to focus on the task at hand for twenty minutes without any interruption.

By the end of it, you will not only be more focused on your work but will also have efficiently eliminated the starter’s anxiety.

3. Don’t Forget to Take Breaks

Too often, productivity is linked with the number of consecutive work hours. If that was the case, people working from home would not be more productive than those working a standard 9 to 5 on-site job.

No person can work consistently for 8 hours, it's just not possible. It's not only physically detrimental and mentally taxing, but it also does not guarantee the best work.

That’s where well-timed breaks come in. Not only do breaks provide a well-needed respite after a focused work spell but also rejuvenate a person before they dive back into work again.

An ideal break should be about one-third of the work span. Any more and you may lose your focus - any less and it may defeat the purpose of a break.

Take well-timed short breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout and increase productivity.

4. Identify Your Peak Hours

Different people function better at different hours of the day. Some may prefer mornings while some are at their creative peak in the wee hours of the night.

It's hard to be productive no matter how willing you are, if your mind is tired. After all, an exhausted mind cannot focus on anything.

Identify your peak productive hours to get the most out of them. All the effort to achieve the state of flow will not matter if you are done for the day.

The Bottom-line

The flow state is almost similar to mindfulness – it can be applied to a great many aspects of human life including, but not limited to, work and productivity. It promotes a healthy balance of work and play to achieve fulfilled and meaningful lives. Productivity acquired through the state of flow is not rigorous or hectic, rather it's pleasant. Thus, the flow state makes work rather enjoyable and helps get rid of the dread associated with it. Keep the above-mentioned tips in mind to achieve the state of flow and smash your productivity, one goal at a time.