The ObservatoryDesigning for flow
Flow doesn't come from luck. It arises when three conditions meet. Adjust the controls until a dead task starts to come alive.
How it works
- The three conditionsWriteChoose
- Turn the controlWrite
- Test and read offWrite
Flow, the state where time disappears and the work carries itself, sounds mystical but has a known construction.
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Why does it work?
The flow concept (Csikszentmihalyi) and its conditions (clear goals, immediate feedback, a balance between challenge and ability) is well-established research that is still developing (Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi 2014). Deliberately designing tasks around those conditions is less studied as an intervention. The closest is job crafting research, with moderate support.
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