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The Science Behind Work That Feels Effortless

And how to tap into it intentionally

Shannon D. Smith
2 min readApr 3, 2024

I don’t know about you, but there are days that I am so absorbed in a task that hours flew by, and the work just seemed to do itself.

I love those days — they’re filled with creativity, insane productivity, and a deep sense of satisfaction.

Turns out, there’s a name for this amazing state! Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls it “flow” — a mental state where you’re fully immersed, effortlessly productive, and feel incredibly fulfilled by your work.

The good news? We can all learn to tap into flow more intentionally.

What Makes Flow So Powerful?

Here’s why those “flow state” days feel so incredible:

  • Effortless Focus: Distractions fade, and you’re completely present in the task.
  • Heightened Creativity: Problem-solving gets easier, and new ideas seem to bubble up effortlessly.
  • Work Becomes its Own Reward: The task itself becomes enjoyable, reducing burnout.

Ready to Experience More Flow?

In the next issue of this series, I’ll share tools to discover your personal “flow triggers” and create a ritual that helps you…

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Shannon D. Smith
Shannon D. Smith

Written by Shannon D. Smith

The Alignment Architect | I help professionals and organizations cultivate alignment in their careers, teams, and workplaces for sustainable success.

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