The State of Flow

Flow is a mental state where a person is fully immersed and focused on what they are doing, involving complete mental engagement and enjoyment in the process. It’s the ideal state between boredom and anxiety, where challenges match skill levels, creating a sense of effortless action and deep involvement. You might have gone through this experience when you were doing something that brings you a lot of joy, like riding a bike, playing a video game, or playing a violin. You forget about time and don't notice when you get hungry.^[1] That’s what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who’s considered one of the co-founders of positive psychology, called “flow.”

Flow is hard to guarantee, but designers can create conditions that help it happen. They can balance challenge and skill, set clear goals, and provide immediate feedback. This approach helps users stay deeply engaged and motivated.

Extrinsic motivation, like rewards or avoiding negative outcomes, is a "carrot and stick" approach. It works temporarily but doesn't foster intrinsic motivation. To achieve a flow state, one must engage in a task voluntarily and find it enjoyable. Tasks that are not fully voluntary or enjoyable often rely on external rewards for motivation.

Flow occurs when we are intrinsically motivated, meaning we engage in a task because it interests us, is enjoyable, and provides a challenge that matches our skills. Immediate feedback also plays a crucial role. When in flow, we are deeply immersed and lose track of time, motivated by the task itself rather than external rewards. For example, a book reading app can set personalized daily page goals that are achievable yet challenging. This approach keeps users engaged and motivated through intrinsic satisfaction rather than external rewards.

Csikszentmihalyi indicates 8 components that make flow possible. One of them is having an achievable task. The person engaged in the task must believe they can accomplish it with effort. This doesn't mean the task isn't hard or challenging. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The task is difficult and requires significant effort. If the task is too simple, a person becomes bored and doesn't enter a flow state. If it's too difficult, they become frustrated and give up. The ideal middle ground is a task that seems achievable but demands considerable effort. For example, language-learning apps break down the complex task of learning a new language into smaller, achievable goals. Each level presents new vocabulary and grammar rules that challenge the user but are achievable with effort. As users progress, the difficulty gradually increases, ensuring that they remain in the flow state — engaged, challenged, and motivated.

One crucial component of achieving a flow state is concentration. For a person to enter flow, they must focus intensely, applying both mental and physical energy to the task at hand. When in this state, outside distractions fade away, and actions and thoughts align seamlessly to accomplish the task.

Here are a few tips on how to help users stay concentrated in a gamified context:

• Create immersive experiences: Engaging multiple senses and minimizing external stimuli help users concentrate better and enter a flow state.
• Incorporate visual and auditory cues: Bright visuals and sound effects capture and maintain user attention during cognitive training exercises.
• Encourage regular breaks: Short breaks after periods of intense focus help prevent fatigue and maintain high levels of concentration over longer periods.

One key component of achieving a flow state is having clear goals. Clear goals mean the person knows exactly what they need to do. There is no ambiguity about what is to be accomplished or achieved. The only question is "how" to accomplish the task, not "what" needs to be accomplished. For example, fitness apps often set specific workout goals for users. Each workout comes with clear instructions and objectives, such as completing a certain number of repetitions or holding a position for a specific duration. Users know exactly what they need to achieve, allowing them to focus on the "how" rather than the "what."

One crucial component of achieving a flow state is receiving immediate feedback. Feedback provides instant reactions to a person's actions, allowing them to know whether they are doing the right thing or need to adjust their approach. This immediate and continual feedback helps maintain engagement and focus, keeping the person in the flow state. For example, as users complete their workouts, a fitness app can provide real-time feedback on their performance, such as pace, distance, and heart rate. After the workout, users can receive detailed summaries and can see how their performance compares to previous sessions. This constant feedback will help users stay focused on their fitness goals and encourage continuous improvement.

One important component of achieving a flow state is effortless involvement. This occurs when a person is so focused and immersed in an activity that it feels almost effortless, despite the task being challenging. This paradox happens because the level of challenge matches the person's skills and effort perfectly. In this state, no external thoughts or distractions enter the mind, allowing complete concentration on the task. For example, in running apps, the challenge of running at a certain pace or distance could be matched to users’ current abilities, making the effort feel smooth and engaging.

One essential component of achieving a flow state is having control over actions. This means that the person feels in complete control of what they are doing and believes that their actions have immediate and purposeful results. For example, in a fitness app, users could be offered full control over their fitness journey. They can define their fitness level, choose the type of training that suits them, and set their own training schedule. By doing so, users will feel more in control of their actions and stay motivated to stick to their fitness plans.

One key part of achieving a flow state is losing self-conscious thinking. In this state, actions and awareness merge, and concern for oneself fades away. People become so absorbed in the activity that they are fully focused on the task at hand, without self-doubt or external concerns. They also lose track of time and can even forget to eat, becoming so engrossed that hours pass unnoticed. This deep concentration lets individuals perform at their best without distractions. For example, in a digital drawing app, users can get deeply involved in creating art, fully focusing on their work. The app's intuitive interface, real-time feedback, and a wide range of tools could help users concentrate on their creativity without being distracted by technicalities.