Being “in the zone” or “finding your flow” refers to a mental state of complete immersion, focus and enjoyment in an activity. It’s often characterized by the feeling of a person being fully engaged, in what they are doing, when time seems to pass quickly.
I find that I do my best bodywork, riding and teaching when I’m “in the zone”.
Here are a few tips to help you “find your flow”:
1. Practice single-mindedness. Be fully present and mindful of what you’re doing, rather than worrying about the past or future.
2. Focus all of your attention on the task at hand, minimizing distractions and interruptions.
3. Keep your eyes off the clock and allow yourself to lose track of time.
4. Having a specific aim helps to create a sense of purpose and direction.
5. Flow typically occurs when the challenge matches your skills. If it’s too easy, it’ll be boring, too hard and it could become frustrating (this one applies to your horse, too) or even dangerous.
6. Seek constructive feedback to understand how you’re progressing and help you maintain engagement.
7. Find joy and satisfaction in the process itself rather than focusing on the outcome.
Finding your flow is rewarding:
1. A state of flow often correlates with peak performance due to the intense focus and lack of self-consciousness.
2. High levels of engagement in flow lead to the release of dopamine. This neurotransmitter makes you feel more relaxed, optimistic, energized, and dedicated to the task at hand. When we experience something positive, dopamine helps us register it as pleasurable and encourages us to do it again. It is possible that your horse experiences something similar when fully engaged in an activity he enjoys.
3. The improved focus and increased confidence experienced in flow can help reduce anxiety and stress levels and improve emotional regulation.
You may find that you need to tweak your mental preparation and seek out experiences that enable you to immerse yourself in this state. For example, a long conditioning walk might seem boring at first, but you could use it to finesse your timing by identifying when a certain hoof touches the ground and comes off again, and find yourself feeling flow while you work on it.
Your brain will be best able to work in flow for up to about 1 1/2 – 2 hours at a time with breaks in between to rest. You can find different types of flow throughout your day in multiple forms: you might work best in the morning, go for an absorbing ride to clear your head in the afternoon and lose yourself in a book at night. Sounds like a pretty great day, right?
Finding your flow is a personal journey that can help you perform at your best, lower stress and bring meaning to your experiences. I’d say, it’s worth finding.
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