Anybody who knows me knows I read. A lot. As in more than anyone else I know. I'm also introspective, and meta-contemplative. So I recently spent some time (while Bo was throwing rocks in the pond) thinking about why I read so much. Also why I enjoy gaming, music, etc. Besides the fact that I'm an escapist (more on that in a bit). I really enjoy a good immersive activity (aka flow).
If you've never read Peopleware, and don't know any artists, engineers, programmers, or other people who spend a lot of time in concentrated creative thought, flow is the state where you are so concentrated on something that the real world loses focus, and you are immersed in thought to the point of being unaware of what's going on. While this may not sound very practical, it's a useful semi-meditative state where you can REALLY get some creative thought done, partially because it's really hard to disturb. While coding, I've been in this state for hours at a time, looked up at a clock, and realized that I've spent a day without eating, drinking, etc. For all the positive benefits, there are some negative ones. First, I ocassionaly get in trouble when I'm concentrating because I'm not paying attention to anything else (so I don't hear conversations in the room, etc. For all intents and purposes, this is absent-minded professor syndrome).
Secondly, and perhaps more problematic is that flow is addictive. There's a good reason that the professions I listed off before are known for being workaholics, working extra hours, or long bursts event if it's not required or mandated. I find I try to fill my leisure time with activities (reading, music, martial arts, gaming, juggling) that are also conducive to this mental state.
I've about whether I could get myself into a flow state while doing housework, but the problem is that it doesn't require enough thought (or else I haven't practiced enough at it), and I get multi-tasking with other thoughts. This precludes a flow-state.
Something else I've been thinking over recently is gratitude vs. materialism (aquisitiveness). I've long since noticed that I am really interested in acquiring some quirky toy (weapon, instrument, juggling supply, book, etc). Once I've had it for a while, I'm significantly less interested in said today than I was before I had it. The simplicity of the following idea will probably floor some of you, who will think something along the lines of, "Well, DUH". However... when I'm being aquisitious (is that even a word), I'm not grateful for what I have.
Why? Let's look at juggling supplies. I have plenty. Balls, clubs, knives, steel rods, etc. Yet if I spend too long drooling over dube's website (dube.com for all you aspiring jugglers. I recommend them because I have had a great experience with their return policy) then I get avaricious for some toy that I don't have. I don't need it, I could either practice with what I have, make a functional low-grade version of whatever it is, or live just fine without it. However, the avaricious hunger has been awakened, and must be sated. Or else I'll get cranky or something.
I've noticed that at those moments, I'm REALLY not grateful. Not one bit. Not for any of the toys I have. My current pondering is if gratitide is antithetical to, or simply quiescent to greed.
In any case, materialism (the idea that stuff makes you happy) is hereby disproven. Yet, even being aware of that... can I resist the allure of a new toy? Oooooh... shiney.
I remember the book (Peopleware?) going off on how managing in a non-flow activity. The book's point was that this was often a barrier to understanding between the manager and the coder/engineer that lead the manager to casually interrupt their people's flow state. Managerial activities are often communication activities and/or being responsive to new requirements which are similar requirements to caring for small children, which is definitely a non-flow activity. I think that perhaps all responsive rolls are non-flow jobs.
ReplyDeleteAt college I'd occasionally find myself to tired or mentally used up to enter the flow state needed to do my homework. There was generally no recourse but to take a mental break and do something else for awhile. Anymore I find that after extended periods of time of child herding I really crave flow-state time.
However, housework can be a flow task, depending on how deeply you get involved. I think I've felt this more with deep cleans (cleaning check preparation for example) rather than the quick pickups and switches from dishes to laundry etc that are required by everyday life. However, for me it is a less easily defended flow state than, say, reading a novel or solving a puzzle. And if a flow state is frequently distributed it is very exhausting and draining.
Hannah