How to enter a “FLOW” state during practice?

Have you ever been so into something that time just vanished? Maybe while watching your favorite movie, going on a great date, or binge-scrolling videos you swore you'd stop after “just one more.” Suddenly, it’s 2 a.m. and you’re wondering where your life (and sleep schedule) went.

If that sounds familiar, congratulations—you’ve already experienced a taste of flow.

Now, imagine if we could bottle that feeling and bring it into something productive, like… violin practice! Or studying. Or writing that thing you’ve been putting off. That’s where the concept of flow comes in, and it’s not just for monks or artists, it’s for everyone, including your child learning the violin.

What Is Flow, Anyway?

The term “flow” was coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (yes, it's pronounced roughly like "cheek-sent-me-high"), a Hungarian-American psychologist and one of the founding minds of positive psychology. He introduced the concept in the 1970s to describe a mental state where you are fully immersed in what you're doing—with high focus, full involvement, and just the right amount of challenge.

In a flow state:

• You lose track of time

• You stop overthinking

• You feel energized, not drained

• You actually enjoy the task (yes, really)

And the best part? When you’re in flow, learning becomes faster, deeper, and way more satisfying.

How Do You Get Into a Flow State?

Great question. Flow doesn’t just show up when it feels like it. But you can invite it in—like a well-behaved guest—with a few simple tricks.

Based on some ideas from the book Don’t Challenge Human Nature 2 by Jimmy Pan (潘楷文), here are the key ingredients to cooking up your own flow:

1. You actually want to do the thing.

Crazy concept, right? But seriously—if it’s something you choose to do (versus being forced to), you’re already halfway there. So ask yourself:
“Why do I want to do this?”
”What’s interesting about it for me?“
Even a boring scale can be exciting if you reframe it as the key to mastering your favorite song.

2. You have a clear goal.

"Practice violin" is too vague. Try:
“Today I’ll play the second section of this sonata five times in tune without stopping.”
Small, specific goals = easier entry into flow.

3. You set the mood.

Yes, vibes matter.
Turn on a warm light. Grab a cozy blanket. Pour yourself a cup of something that feels like a hug in a mug. A comfortable, focused atmosphere helps your brain settle in and stay there.

4. You get feedback.

Feedback = your brain’s favorite game mechanic.
That means hearing the difference when you play in tune, or noticing you nailed that tricky shift.
Apps can help here too—I love one called Forest, which grows a tree each time you focus for a set amount of time. Stay focused, and soon you’ll have a whole forest (and maybe a newfound sense of discipline).

Make it stand out

It’ll show you how long you focused in each day, week, month, and year.

Try it if you’re interested! App logo ⬆️

Final Notes:

Flow isn’t magic. It’s just about setting up the right conditions. You (or your child) can absolutely experience it during practice with the right mindset, clear goals, and a cozy environment. And once you taste that feeling of focused enjoyment? You'll want to come back to it again and again.

Now, go forth and find your flow. Just don’t blame me if three hours pass and you forget dinner!