Ways to Relieve Stress

How to Use Flow to Reduce Stress

Flow can help you

• relieve a lot stress in your life
• be far more productive

I'll explain what it is. How it can help you. And most importantly how you can generate it yourself. It's a simple skill we can all learn.

Flow Explained

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi invented the concept of flow when he was researching happiness.

• You're most happy doing an activity that stretches you. Pushes you to your limits.
• You can become completely absorbed in these kind of activities. So nothing else seems to matter. He called this a Flow state
• You're happiest when regularly in a flow state.
• Flow does not happen by chance. You can create it .

Have you been in a flow state? Think back to any time you were deeply involved with something - it could be any task. Something which required a little concentration but not too much. Something you were familiar with. It could be playing a musical instrument, painting or even washing the car.

You didn't notice the passage of time. One moment seemed to flow effortlessly to the next.

Of course these moments can be rare. But you can generate more of them if you know how.

Generating Flow

• stretches you.
• you can finish in one sitting
• has well-defined goals
• gives you feedback. So you know how your doing.
• fits with your abilities.

The last point is particularly important. If the task is easy you'll get bored. Too hard and you'll become frustrated and give up.

Try encouraging flow in your daily life. You can bring it into lots of activities like working at the computer, gardening or cooking. Remember it works best if the task fits your abilities. So if you find something difficult just increase your skills. Go on that word processor course or read up on gardening techniques. Otherwise you'll just get frustrated.

If you find a job too easy or boring think of ways to make it more challenging ...

More Ways to Relieve Stress - Flow at Work

Imagine how it would feel to be in a state of flow at work. Instead of being bored, frustrated or clock watching you'd be totally absorbed with your work. You'd be happy and much more productive!

Maybe you've got a mundane job you don't like. But you can still generate flow. Csikszentmihalyi's book "Finding Flow" is full of examples of people with "boring" jobs who did it.

It's all about directing your attention. Anything can seem dull at first glance. Running marathons, cleaning the house driving to work. But when you direct your attention to the detail of what you're doing a new world opens up. Suddenly it becomes fascinating.

Give a go yourself. See what a difference it can make.

More Ways to Relieve Stress -Meditation and Flow

Meditation can help you develop your attention. Mindfulness meditation is particularly good for this. Have a look at these easy meditation techniques or meditation mp3s to find out more.

Enjoyed Ways to Relieve Stress?

then read...

• 5 Effective Ways to Deal With Stress
• 4 Ways Meditation Relieves Stress Signs and Symptoms
• Everyday Easy Meditation Techniques for Stress Relief

And more on what causes stress....

• What is Stress - Part 1
• What is stress - Part 2
• What is stress - Part 3
• Stress Signs and Symptoms: How To Recognize Them

Return from Ways to Relieve Stress to Ways to Deal with Stress

Return from Ways to Relieve Stress to Learning Modern Meditation