How has it been going? Are you more aware of flow experience within your day? Are you able to cultivate MORE flow?
Now that we know we can utilize flow as a strategy for enhancing work satisfaction, it is essential to build our toolbox for creating the conditions that facilitate flow!
We understand flow and its common antecedents:
- task variety
- autonomy
- job feedback
- task identity
- task significance
Let’s dive into task variety and how you can use it to increase the variability in your work!
Task Variety
Task variety refers to the range of different activities or challenges presented to an individual. A diverse set of tasks can enhance engagement and prevent monotony, which is essential for maintaining interest and motivation…and experiencing FLOW! Research supports that incorporating varied tasks can lead to higher flow experiences, as individuals are less likely to become bored or disengaged.
To develop and/or enhance task variety in their daily routines, professionals can implement specific strategies that enhance engagement and motivation. Below are some effective approaches:
Incorporate Diverse Task Types
Professionals should aim to include a mix of different task types in their daily schedules. This can involve alternating between collaborative tasks, independent work, creative projects, administrative tasks, and analytical tasks. Zuniga and Payant (2021) emphasize that varying the nature of tasks can help maintain engagement and promote flow, as different tasks can stimulate different cognitive processes and prevent monotony.
The basic steps for implementing this are:
- Step 1: Modify Task Sequence
- Step 2: Alter Methods of Completion
- Step 3: Incorporate Different Tools and Resources
- Step 4: Set Mini-Goals, Challenges, Themes
