Like everyone else in Gen Z, I often become distracted. From social media to Netflix to podcasts to music, the distractions we face are limitless. It can feel impossible to block out so much digital chaos, and it’s even more difficult when we try to balance our digital lives with real life. With so much overstimulation, we don’t allow ourselves time to simply sit with our thoughts.
Recently, the buzzword “flow state” has bombarded my TikTok “for you” page. Reaching a genuine flow state means fully investing in an activity, completely blocking out your surroundings. Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi dubbed the term “flow state” long before it hit TikTok, describing it as an immersion and complete focus on an activity.
As I watched this trend overtake my social media feed, I realized how rare it is to actually reach a satisfying “flow state.” In today’s world, productivity can easily lead to burnout. Unlike when “flow state” was first coined, our ideal “flow state” often revolves around getting through daily tasks rather than finding inner happiness. This is largely a consequence of the digital age.
The Impact of the “Flow State” Trend
A few viral TikToks about reaching a “flow state” include young adults skillfully bouncing between multiple social media and streaming platforms, eating a variety of foods at once, thrifting, perfectly ordering food at a drive-through window, and tastefully gossiping with friends. Chaotic daily moments fuel this trend, and TikTok users show us how to find efficiency amid the hectic times.
While “flow state” initially seems to be nothing more than frivolous internet slang, this trend does have a dark side. For example, some have turned to social media to describe finding their “flow state” with an unhealthy mixture of caffeine, adderall, and Zyn. Others find productive satisfaction simply in sending more than two emails without checking their phone. Though it’s unfortunate, this has become the reality of Gen Z life.
Addicted to the Flow
While everyone has a different take on this trend, the message seems to be that short-term multitasking leads to short-term fulfillment. When you reach “flow state” while doing a certain activity, it can be hard to stop engaging in that behavior. In the long run, this can lead to addictive tendencies, trouble coping with mundane tasks, and burnout.
Often, Gen Z thrives off of small “dopamine fixes,” like scrolling through social media reels or buzzing with joy after receiving likes and comments on Instagram posts. This is why so many of us develop an addiction to social media, despite it lowering our self-esteem. No matter how much the digital age damages our well-being, we can’t escape it.
After reaching a flow state, Gen-Zers will reward themselves by “bed rotting,” in which they spend endless hours online while lying in bed. It is a vicious cycle of hyper-efficiency followed by a reward of inactivity. This isn’t being productive. It is the opposite.
To best access a genuine flow state, we need to hide our phones and focus on one task at hand.
The Danger of Multitasking
Neuroscientists have discovered that “Each time our eyes glance away from our computer monitor to sneak a peek at a text message, the brain takes in new information, which reduces our primary focus ” (PBS). This means that when we think we are doing more, we are actually doing less. The brain needs time to focus on one task before it can juggle multiple.
When we think we have reached a genuine flow state, we might actually be experiencing overexertion of the brain and body. Our minds need time to focus. Rather than doing many tasks at once, focusing on just one can improve overall concentration and memory. Our brains are not designed to repetitively switch tasks. We can only focus on one thing at a time.
A Message to Gen Z
Although the internet allows us to access information in seconds, which feels productive, our phones are slowing us down in the long term. The next time you have the urge to check your phone while at work or scroll on TikTok while trying to write an essay, know that you are negatively impacting your cognitive abilities in doing so. To really find your “flow,” eliminate distractions and let your head think on its own.
Featured image via Dai KE on Unsplash
Nice read, it is very relatable to people working in the IT sector. Multitasking and constant screen time feel normal, but it often leads to burnout instead of real productivity. I liked the point, focusing on one task and keeping distractions away can actually help us work better. Simple but helpful read.