Flow state

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei, and here with me is Becca. How are you doing, Becca?

Hey, Feifei! I'm doing well thanks. I've had a very productive morning. I finished lots of tasks and made a to-do list for the afternoon. I feel like I've entered a flow state pretty early in the day.

Yes, you seem to have been very busy. But Becca, what do you mean by a flow state?

The phrase 'flow state' gained popularity on social media. A lot of young people use it as part of their everyday language. When we enter a flow state, we feel that we are fully focused on something. It's a kind of mental state where we're fully concentrated on whatever we're doing and, because of that, we feel like time moves more quickly. We might not think about anything else other than what we're doing, and we might do it more skilfully and easily as a result.

Ah, that's why you feel like you’ve had a very productive morning. Do you enter a flow state often?

Hmm not very often. It's hard to enter a flow state, or get into a flow state, when the conditions around you aren't right. For example, I love going to cafes to do some work, but it can be hard to get into a flow state there because they're sometimes busy or distracting.

Yes, I agree. And is it only work tasks that you feel you get into a flow state for?

Not at all! It's probably easier to get into a flow state with activities that you really enjoy. For example, I love painting, but I don't do it often – I just don't have the time. So, when I have an idea of something I'd like to paint, I make sure that I have a free day to do it. I sit comfortably, put on some relaxing music and I enter a flow state. Before I know it, it's dark outside and the day has completely passed me by.

You paint the day away, Becca. Now let's listen to more examples of 'flow state'.

When I pick up my guitar and start playing, I enter a flow state quite quickly and then time flies. I've got no idea what's happening and it could be hours later when I finish. I find it easiest to get into a flow state when I'm working from home, I've got some music on that I like, and I've got a hot drink with me. Then, I can just start work and carry on for ages. I find it really to get into a flow state when lots of people are talking around me. I really just need silence.

This is a cool expression. I think I've heard of flow state being used in meditation before.

You certainly might've done, Feifei. Flow state is also a technique in yoga and meditation to train the mind to focus. You might also hear it in science. Flow state happens when particles are able to move, or flow, more freely. For example, when solid ice is heated and becomes a liquid.

So, in science, 'flow state' has quite a different meaning to the one we’ve talked about in this programme.

It does. Now, let's get into a flow state and get this episode edited and posted.

Yes, let's do that. We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you soon!

Bye!