Be well at work: find your flow

When was the last time you woke up excited to go to work? When was the last time you felt genuine joy when working on a project?  A complaint of many is that their work is too routine. This daily repetition of tasks causes us to lose interest, as does having to face seemingly astronomical challenges on a regular basis. Along with this loss of interest, overtime, we also lose hope, motivation, and drive, until we question why we’re there in the first place. 

Does this sound like someone you know, perhaps even you? “Working hours” make up at least one-third of our day. For some, it’s much more. If we’re not happy for one-third of the day, every day, are we truly happy at all? 

Philippians 4:12-13, NIV, reminds us, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Once “secret” to workplace satisfaction is to find your flow.  “Flow” was coined in the 1970s by Hungarian Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. At its core, flow is the balance of challenge and skill. Whether you are completing a routine assignment or embarking on a new project — the idea is to hit that sweet spot between feeling equipped for the assignment and feeling pushed in the assignment. The completion of such brings you to a place of contentment with your work. However, some of us may find flow difficult to achieve. 

The skill factor of flow is an issue for some. They feel that they are overqualified for what is asked of them. For example, this may be someone whose work is repetitive and monotonous day-in and day-out. How can they find flow? 

A June 2016 issue of Psychology Today suggests “turning a dull job into one of novelty by paying close attention to each step involved,” can help one find flow. With each task, you intentionally engage by asking yourself questions such as, “Is this step necessary? Can it be done better, faster, or more efficiently? What additional steps could make my contribution more valuable?” You can even turn your findings into a manual or flowchart, thereby scratching that skills itch and providing more meaning to your work experience. 

Another way to achieve flow is to exercise mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of being aware of your present and acknowledging each moment as it passes. Practicing mindfulness at work can be done by committing to being intentionally focused. When our skill sets are high and the demands on us are low, it is easy to get distracted. The mind starts wandering to problems at home, or it may replay a negative conversation with a spouse, or it may be grieved with financial issue, or it may even get drowned in emotions like depression. It is easy to get pulled down this path when what you’re doing in the moment doesn’t require much mental energy. However, if we challenge ourselves to be focused on the moment, it can protect us from heading that direction. 

Psychology Today suggests building a focus fortress. Create a space where you will have no distractions for a set amount of time. This may include closing out all browsers on your computer, except for the ones you are working on presently, putting your mobile device on “do not disturb,” and putting on noise cancelling headphones. Get back to appreciating the effort each individual task requires. Consider, “When did I learn the skills to do this? When did it go from being challenging to easy? What new skills have I picked up as a result? What does my work here today mean in the grander scheme of the company?” Get very intentional about understanding what you do and the impact it has down the road. 

You might not be excited about your current job, but there is a secret to being content in every situation. They key is to find that secret in this assignment, as you develop the skills, characteristics, and relationships, necessary for the next assignment. Get intentional about designing a wellness experience where you work.

Learn more ways to be intentional about your wellness by joining your Temple Fit Family at the Seventh Annual SHE Tea: Women’s Wellness Conference from June 6-12. This conference features real conversations with real women about real life. This year, we are discussing dating, marriage, finances, dental health, purpose, finding the right church, women’s hygiene, and more. For tickets and sponsorship, visit www.templefit.co/shetea2021.