Artists go there, so do athletes of all types. You have probably been there a few times too. It’s what many people call the “zone”. When Tiger Woods play golf, he does not think about the crowds, the opponents and the money at stake, he focuses exclusively on each shot. Flow is a state of total concentration in which you are so intent on what you are doing that you are oblivious to what is going on around you. When you are involved in an activity that produces the flow experience, your worries leave you. Time flies and you lose all awareness of yourself as your body in mind work in harmony.

You may not feel particularly happy during the experience itself, especially if it is an arduous one, such as running or swimming. However, once you have finished you feel a great sense of satisfaction, self-esteem and confidence. Research has also shown that people who report experiencing flow on a regular basis feel that their lives are meaningful. We often experience flow when engaged in sports and creative pursuits, such as painting, crafts and music. However, flow is created by how you go about an activity and so can be found anywhere.

Indeed, you will feel happier if you are able to create flow in a wide variety of pursuits. If you rely exclusively on one activity, such as your job, for your flow experiences, there is a danger that you will become obsessed with that activity and neglect other important areas of your life.

Although the ability to enter the flow lies within you, you cannot force yourself into this state of mind. Rather like attempting to get to sleep, the harder you try, the harder it becomes. However, you can create the conditions to make flow more likely to occur. For example, slow down your thoughts in readiness for the task you are about to undertake, perhaps by meditating or taking deep slow breaths. Embarking on an activity in an agitated mood makes it very hard to immerse yourself in the task at hand.

Choose an activity that presents a realistic challenge to your abilities and allows you to aim for clearly defined goals. If you are faced with too great a challenge, you will feel anxious and demoralised; not enough of a challenge and you will be bored. As you improve in the task, raise your expectations, so that you are always aiming for a goal just above your current skill level. Flow is also likely if you do something that provides immediate feedback. For example, every time they move to a new hand or foot- or foothold, experienced rock climbers can tell immediately if they are making the right moves.