Flow State

The Good Old Days of Concentration

I started to think about my school days. I would get home, dig out all of my art materials, make a huge mess on the floor, working away whilst scrunched up in a ball until I couldn’t feel my legs. I’d be up late working on something that I was 100% immersed in. I’d loose all sense of time, not even consider any basic needs (like sitting comfortably) and I’d be lost in my own world. I was hooked and couldn’t get enough of it!

Why do I find it so difficult to achieve this state now?

This set me off on a mission to look at lengthening my attention span, questioning social media addictions and digital distractions. This led me to find out that the state of focus I was looking for is actually known as Flow State.

A Bit More Research into it

Named by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in the1970s and set out into three simple rules by Johan Hari in his book Stolen Focus, I felt like I had more of an understanding of this mystical state.

Hari explains that our task needs to be:

- Something meaningful to us

- Stretching our abilities

- Have A Clear Goal

Starting with outlining the task, removing distraction and as many friction points as possible and then... Go!

Having faith that your idea will work and then just working on it, no shame or input from anyone else.

Applying this to the studio

I've cut out distractions, set my studio up to be more flow-friendly and consider Hari's 3 rules before I set out my task. Flow state is happening in the studio again!

What projects do you get lost in?

If you have a friend who might enjoy this kind of discussion, feel free to share this with them or if you have any thoughts on this subject please do leave a comment or drop me an email. To keep up with the latest blog posts, join my monthly round up here.

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Interesting reads:

Edited extract from Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention by Johann Hari, published by Bloomsbury. The Guardian

Stolen Focus book by Johan Hari

How To Do Nothing: Resisting The Attention Economy book by Jenny Odell

Losing Yourself in Flow State TED talk by Diane Allen

Spending Energy Part 1. Spoon Theory

Our time, energy and attention are so important to us, so why are we so happy to simply waste them?

When I took a year off from my studio and work, I was told about the 'spoons theory' created by Christine Miserandino. This idea was told in terms of chronic fatigue and illness, I think it's applicable for everyone too.

On a good day, a person starts off with 12 spoons of energy. Each task throughout the day takes up 1 spoonful. Getting dressed, eating breakfast, washing up... For a person with fatigue and low energy, these spoons aren't replaced, they're simply used up for the day.

Keeping it in mind that once your spoons are used up, that's it. You can start to look at tasks in a very different light. What are the things you want to do, what are the things you need to do and what can you either leave behind or ask someone to help you with.

In terms of work and studio practice, what tasks can you prioritise and get done and what can you either delegate or leave behind.

When was the last time you stopped the busy work and had a closer look at what you're peddling along with? Have you found any processes, analogies or methods that remind you to reduce or change your work load?

If you have a friend who might enjoy this kind of discussion, feel free to share this with them or if you have any thoughts on this subject please do leave a comment or drop me an email. To keep up with the latest blog posts, join my monthly round up here.

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More interesting finds:

Burn out & Drawing as Salvation blog by Emma Carlisle

The Spoon Theory article by Christine Miserandino. Energy levels when you have a chronic illness or suffer from Fatigue.

Kate Spencer's Life With Soul podcast - more about the tin bucket analogy

Benefits Of Creating Slower blog by Elin Loow

Spending Energy Part 2. The Energy Bucket

Energy Tin Bucket

I've heard different theories about the tin bucket, one might be that it's a stress bucket and the other might be that it's an energy bucket. I'm going to go with an energy bucket for this one - let's keep it positive.

In part one of Spending Energy I talked about the spoon theory and that it's a much shorter term way to look at energy. The bucket is a slightly longer term approach. No one wants to feel drained and unmotivated when it comes to showing up for the things they enjoy, this analogy from Kate Spencer helps to remind me about my energy levels and to identify where I can help myself.

Holes in the bucket

Where might your watery energy be draining out? Relationships, clutter, job problems, money worries, poor diet..? What can you do to reduce that flow or plug the hole(s) altogether?

For me, the news was causing anxiety, social media was making me unmotivated, the food shop was becoming overwhelming and I gave away too much of myself helping others.

To plug the holes that were draining me, I stopped consuming the news, I walked away from social media, I use click and collect for my weekly shop (with a food plan) and I am very conscious of where I help other people and guard my energy tightly.

Fill the bucket up

Secondly, look at where you can fill this bucket back up. Getting help with finances, setting relationship boundaries, eating well, talking to someone you trust.

I fill my bucket up with a change of scenery or a mooch around the city for an afternoon - open to new inspirations.

Even thinking about your energy in terms of money instead. What are you happy to spend a couple of quids worth of energy on and what would you rather not give your money to?

Simply put:

'Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.' - Derek Sivers.

If you have a friend who might enjoy this kind of discussion, feel free to share this with them or if you have any thoughts on this subject please do leave a comment or drop me an email. To keep up with the latest blog posts, join my monthly round up here.

________________________________________________________________________________________

More interesting finds:

Burn out & Drawing as Salvation blog by Emma Carlisle

The Spoon Theory article by Christine Miserandino. Energy levels when you have a chronic illness or suffer from Fatigue.

Kate Spencer's Life With Soul podcast - more about the tin bucket analogy

Benefits Of Creating Slower blog by Elin Loow