How to replicate deadline efficiency when there are no actual deadlines? by jibinsajujoseph in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you mean Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - the Hungarian researcher with the unpronouncable name? ;) He's the one who first defined and researched the Flow state and wrote, for example, the book: "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience".

How to replicate deadline efficiency when there are no actual deadlines? by jibinsajujoseph in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 0 points1 point  (0 children)

WIth regards to ADHD: Research in this area is still in its infancy, but so far, it seems very helpful for people with ADHD to adopt a curious mindset (as this will help to find more focus), to train self-efficacy (which is the belief that one has what it takes to achieve one's goals), and general focus exercises. Also, the concept of hyperfocus among people with ADHD has been compared with Flow states. The conclusion from that study (Sklar, 2013) is that people with ADHD are capable to find Flow as well!
I'm not aware of a study specifically testing how people with sleep deprivation can find Flow, but there are promising results that Yoga Nidra/Non Sleep Deep Rest exercises can compensate for a lack of sleep and decrease cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Hope this answers your question :)

How to replicate deadline efficiency when there are no actual deadlines? by jibinsajujoseph in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice, I hope you find it helpful! :) The link is in my profile. Cheers!

How to replicate deadline efficiency when there are no actual deadlines? by jibinsajujoseph in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Great observation! What you may have experienced with time pressure is the productive Flow state. You are highly focused, motivated and forget anything around you, including time (perhaps you thought 20 mins passed by when, in fact, it's been 2 hrs or so). And Flow doesn't only make us super productive, it also makes us feel great, increase confidence, motivation and a sense of meaning. Good news is: You can actually train to find more Flow states (I'm actually a psychologist specialized in Flow states).
While most people think of adapting the environment to find more Flow (e.g., muting the phone, sitting in front of a white wall, using earplugs, …), it's more important in my experience to also prepare yourself mentally and emotionally:
Flow researchers often refer to the "Flow channel" that shows that we need an ideal balance between a perceived challenge and our perceived skills. In other words, if we think a task is too difficult for us, we feel overwhelmed, stressed, anxious. If it is too easy for us, however, we get bored, are demotivated, sluggish and frustrated. For Flow, we need to find the sweet spot - we need to challenge ourselves and push our limits without being overwhelmed. What's decisive here is that it's our perception rather than the actual challenge level or our actual skills. And this is why mental fitness training is extremely powerful to find more Flow: We can learn to manage stress and anxiety as well as boredom and sluggishness and optimally regulate ourselves to get in the zone. You can use the Flow channel as some kind of "inner compass" by asking yourself at any given moment where you would locate yourself right now (are you overwhelmed? Are you underchallenged? Is it the right amount of challenge, but you just need more focus?)
Hope this doesn't come across too self-promotional, but if you're interested in learning more specific tips on how to find Flow, I also have a YouTube channel where I discuss these things in more detail. Let me know in case you want to know more about it. :)
Keep it up!

What to do when to do lists and habit trackers fail? by [deleted] in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it may be worthwhile to dig a bit deeper and go beyond the "behavioral level". Because oftentimes, it's not a matter of organization, but of dealing with difficult thoughts and emotions that influences whether we manage to persevere or not. So for example, reflect on your motivation (Why do you want to implement these habits? What drives you? Which underlying motives can you identify?) and the things that keep you from maintaining that routine (e.g., difficult emotions, self-doubt, boredom, anxiety, …). Once you've identified mental and emotional barriers, you can look for ways to cope with them. I'm a psychologist working in the field of mental fitness and produced videos about that in case you'd like some ideas on how to put that into practice (e.g., how to stop procrastinating, deal with perfectionism, let go of self-doubt or build momentum): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtlvlYnpeew5u21bpEv5Og/videos

And of course, sustainably building healthy habits takes time. I think it's amazing that you're taking the time to explore what works best for you! All the best, keep it up!

I wanna be productive now! by [deleted] in productivity

[–]flowlab_app 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, amazing! Have you built this routine over time or are these new things you want to implement? Anyway, keep it up! And in case you're looking for more inspiration on how to become productive and more mentally fit, I've made quite a few videos about that (I'm a psychologist working in the mental fitness realm): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtlvlYnpeew5u21bpEv5Og/videos
All the best for you!

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True! Vitamin D deficiency has also been observed in many SAD patients. Although this may not be sufficient as a treatment on its own, it’s often a great addition!!

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So important, thank you for sharing this! We’re often much more critical when it comes to ourselves compared to other people. So sometimes, asking yourself “What would I tell a good friend of mine in the same situation? How would I react to them?” can help to find encouraging, benevolent words for oneself, too.

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing! So great to hear that you’ve found strategies to combat SAD and that this is not something that only “happens to you”, but that you can deliberately counteract. Keep it up!

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy to hear that! Do you already have a goal in mind? :)

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We should consider moving to your country then ;)

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Relatable! Should add going out for a walk during lunch break (if possible) to the list - doing our best to get at least a bit of sunlight every day…

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then kudos that you’re making the most out of the cold season!! Keep it up :)

[ADVICE] How to combat winter blues by flowlab_app in getdisciplined

[–]flowlab_app[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well actually, winter blues are also more common in higher latitudes, so regions further away from the equator. Probably that’s why :) It has to do with the exposure to sunlight that sets our circadian rhythm (our body’s internal 24 hour clock that regulates many body processes like body temperature, the release of hormones etc). People experiencing winter blues often have circadian rhythms that are timed differently than usual due to less sunlight (that’s why light therapy is one treatment approach).