Flow is a fancy way of saying Optimal Experience. You know what it feels like because you’ve been in flow many times. It’s when you’re unstoppable, everything works, and your focus and skill are laser tight. Let’s talk about how to get into reading flow, or how to have an optimal reading experience.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of FLOW – The Psychology of Optimal Experience, says, “The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile” (3).
Let’s unpack that.
Get Into Reading Flow
1️⃣ If we’re going to get into reading flow, our minds need to be stretched to the limit. Translation: If we’re reading second grade picture books, we’re going to get bored. Also, if we’re reading anatomy textbooks, our eyes might glaze over. We need to know our intellectual level as readers and be honest with ourselves. The goal is to find books that are at our level or slightly higher, wherein they can push us without melting our brains.
2️⃣ The work should be voluntary as well. You can get into flow if work or school assigns something for you to read, but it’s much easier if you do the choosing. Again, you need to to know yourself well enough to understand your passions and curiosities. If you have no interest in the origin of salt, why are you reading a micro history on the topic?
3️⃣ Finally, reading takes effort. To read well is to use your imagination, take notes, and apply what you’re learning. This stands for fiction as well as non-fiction. If your book can help you accomplish something difficult and worthwhile in your life, then you’ll have an easier time getting into FLOW because you care about the outcome.
I got on this kick today because of a video I saw recently about the value of reading in our “distracted” society. I think we would read more if we could get into flow. Anyway, here’s the video I saw:
It would be great if every reading session was optimal. That’s not going to happen. However, if you can choose books at or slightly above your intellect level (be honest), do so with a volunteer’s spirit, and use your books as tools to accomplish something meaningful in your life, then yes, more of your reading sessions will be in a state of Flow.
👋 Until next time, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
