A Foolproof Formula To Shift From Freeze to Flow State

With all the changes and unknowns that we’ve had to contend with over the past two years, many of our clients working in organisations within various roles, and across states and sectors, have shared that employees are feeling ‘stuck’ or ‘frozen’, particularly over the past 12 months.

Most people are very aware of the fight and flight responses however, the freeze response is less known. So, let’s have a look at this response.

The fight-flight-freeze response is your body’s natural reaction to danger. It’s a type of stress response that helps you react to perceived threats, like an oncoming car or growling dog.

The response instantly causes hormonal and physiological changes. These changes allow you to act quickly so you can protect yourself. It’s a survival instinct that our ancient ancestors developed many years ago.

Specifically, fight-or-flight is an active defense response where you fight or flee. Your heart rate gets faster, which increases oxygen flow to your major muscles. Your pain perception drops, and your hearing sharpens. These changes help you act appropriately and rapidly.

Freezing is fight-or-flight on hold, where you further prepare to protect yourself. It’s also called reactive immobility or attentive immobility. It involves similar physiological changes, but instead, you stay completely still and get ready for the next move.

Fight-flight-freeze isn’t a conscious decision. It’s an automatic reaction, so you can’t control it. In this article, we’ll explore what you can do if you’ve been feeling like you’ve been mentally frozen. This is particularly important if you’ve been giving yourself a hard time for not doing a work or study task or any other aspect in your life that may have flowed more easily for you prior to Covid-19. You may have simply been in an extended freeze state for protection purposes to survive recent times. Let’s now help you start moving closer towards flourishing and thriving.

To help you, here’s a formula that many of our clients have found useful for shifting from freeze to flow state.

According to the old saying, time flies when you’re having fun. The same thing happens when you’re in a state of flow.

That’s the term coined by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Flow describes an experience where you lose yourself in what you’re doing. You feel totally immersed and engaged.

There are even changes in your brain activity, like increased dopamine levels that are associated with enjoyment and motivation.

If you’ve experienced the exhilaration for yourself, you probably want more of these kind of highly engaged moments. Try this foolproof formula for avoiding procrastination by thawing out from frozen and for finding your sense of flow.

Benefits of a Flow State

There are many compelling reasons for trying to introduce more flow into your life.

Consider these important advantages:

1. Boost your mood. Sometimes you have to push yourself to do things that will eventually increase your wellbeing. However, flow feels a lot more pleasant than visiting the dentist, so you’ll be happier right away.
2. Manage stress. At the end of a busy day, you might want to sit down and relax. However, challenging yourself with something you find rewarding can sometimes be more effective than taking it easy. Try working on your hobbies instead of watching TV.
3. Build your confidence. Flow helps you to discover your strengths and maximize them. You start accomplishing more when you focus on activities that you love and excel at. Soon, you’ll find it easier to believe in yourself and your abilities.
4. Enhance your performance. Think about those moments when you’re at your peak. You’re more likely to excel when you’re working with passion and purpose.

Activities that Help Promote Flow

Depending on your approach, almost anything you do can give you feelings of flow.

These are a few of the most popular areas if you’re looking for where to begin:

1. Express your creativity. Choose a medium that you find exciting. You might write a novel or paint landscapes.
2. Play sports. Lead a more active life. Join the office softball team or sign up for a volleyball league with a community group. Train to compete at the Olympics or complete a 5K run for your favourite charity.
3. Pursue professional development. Upskill to add to your knowledge and skills. Take business or other courses that you need for your job or study topics just for the pleasure of learning. There’s usually some kind of funding available for you to upskill in your current role or to transition to another role.
4. Advance your career. Only 20% of Australian and New Zealand employees feel engaged at work, according to a 2021 Gallup poll. Ensure that you’re one of them. Think about the meaning behind your tasks. Try to structure your role in a way that allows you to apply your strengths. If you don’t know your strengths or are finding it difficult to find meaning in general, a course like Wellness Within (online) or the Wellness Toolkit one-day live group workshop, where you explore your purpose and values, are a great starting point.

Other Tips for Creating a Flow State

Once you’ve established your priorities, experiment with different strategies. Flow is a skill you can develop with practice.

Try these techniques:

1. Seek balance. Flow usually happens when you’re doing something that’s challenging, but within reach. Having an accurate sense of your capabilities enables you to aim high without overwhelming yourself.
2. Set specific goals. You’re more likely to reach your targets if you make concrete plans and write them down. Be precise about details and dates.
3. Limit distractions. Switch your attention to be on one thing at a time. Take a break from your phone and other devices for at least an hour each day.
4. Appreciate the journey. Cultivating flow does more than deliver positive results. Remember to savour the journey as much as the destination.

Spend more time on activities that bring you joy and help you to use your personal strengths. Encouraging a state of flow will make your life more satisfying and enable you to achieve better, both personally and professionally.

 Want to know more about flow?

DOWNLOAD our latest E-book – Harness flow state, for high engagement, performance and wellbeing

If you’d like to further develop your professional wellness skills for your career, our Nationally Recognised 10299NAT Diploma of Wellness Leadership course has helped others fast-track their career goals – Developed and delivered exclusively by the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy. You may even be eligible for FUNDING.