Navigating the Rapids (Finding Flow Part 2)

Balancing Skill and Challenge to Find Flow

The river in front of my cabin is wide and slow; floating on it with my inflated lounger feels wonderfully lazy. I can lose track of time, feeling the contrast of the cool water beneath me and the hot sun above, watching the light dance off the ripples.

Last week I began a discussion on flow, the state of complete absorption that can enhance both productivity and creativity and leads to a satisfying work life. And while floating on the river might seem like a state of flow, it is missing one important thing. Skill.

A few miles downstream, the meandering river turns to rapids. Getting through these rapids on a floatie would take a certain amount of skill and the help of local outfitters to haul you back after a day navigating all the rocks. You might experience a few moments of flow, when the challenge and your skill level are perfectly balanced.

Photo by Michael Krahn on Unsplash

Have you ever experienced this kind of moment—or a few hours—where you were so engrossed in an activity that time seemed to fly while everything effortlessly fell into place? This state of deep focus and heightened productivity is a "flow state."

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“Flow is an optimal state in which you feel totally engaged in an activity . . . In a state of flow, you're neither bored nor anxious, and you don't question your own adequacy. Hours pass without your noticing.” – Susan Caine, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

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Having this certain level of skill in an activity—writing or knitting or standup comedy—allows you to perform the skill effortlessly while losing track of time and self-consciousness.

But what if your skill level is not up to snuff? You practice. Honing these skills can contribute to a more fulfilling work life—not only by improving your performance and helping you stay ahead in a competitive field—but also by increasing the likelihood that you find yourself in a flow state during the workday. And at least one expert tells us that being in flow more often is one of the keys to happiness.

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“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

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FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

To experience flow, we must sharpen our skills to meet the challenges presented by our work. If the challenge level surpasses our skill level, we may experience anxiety or stress. Conversely, if the task is not challenging enough, we can feel bored.

This Substack is about managing projects, so let me give you some examples. Managing projects is a skill—and in fact, several skills from effectively managing time, budgeting, or working with a team.

I am rarely in flow (maybe never?) in meetings. I am rarely in flow when I am updating my budgets. These areas of my work life just don’t present enough challenge for my skill level.

On the other hand, I do a bit of computer modeling to simulate aquatic systems using elements of physics, chemistry, and statistics. It is something I struggle with at times, because it takes a lot of brain power. Especially if I am learning a new program. At these times, I am definitely not in a state of flow. But once I take the time to learn and practice using the program, I am able to run a number of simulations and get lost in the outcomes of those simulations.

Similarly, if a person struggles with time management, they might read a book on that subject—here are several of my favorites. If working with a team is a challenge, they might enroll in a leadership seminar.

We can’t be in flow all the time and we shouldn’t expect that. But if you can find at least one activity with a level of challenge that balances perfectly with your skill set—whether it’s writing or playing chess or navigating river rapids on a floatie—try and spend more time with that activity. The complete immersion in this type of activity may just lead to a pleasurable and flowy experience.