Flow Start

Because Well-Being Comes First

Traditional school days often overlook learners' mental and emotional readiness, which impacts focus and engagement. Flow Start prioritizes well-being with activities that promote joy, connection and agency. It is easily scalable and can be implemented immediately in any school worldwide and improves focus, creativity and collaboration. Because well-being comes first.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated February 2025

Web presence

2021

Established

400 2023

750 2024

1.2K 2025

3

Countries

Students basic

Target group

Flow Start prioritizes well-being as the foundation for authentic learning and sustainable growth. By beginning the day with mindfulness, joy and connection, learners feel calm, focused and motivated, while educators build stronger relationships and experience less stress. Together, you set the tone for the day by being present, getting energized, feeling connected: Ready to flourish in life!

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Flow Start was created to address the lack of focus on mental and emotional readiness of learners in traditional schools. By starting the day with activities that promote well-being, joy and connection, learners will feel calm, focused and inspired. This scalable, inclusive approach ensures well-being comes first and creates a strong foundation for human flourishing.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Every morning, learners enter the learning space and immediately settle into Flow Start, a routine they have co-designed. The structure has been set together, so they know exactly how it works and can begin their day in a way that feels authentic and natural to them.

For 30–60 minutes (whatever you have decided on with your learning community), learners engage in self-chosen activities that help them feel calm, focused and ready to learn. They might write, create art, solve puzzles, read, exercise, hike, play music, build with LEGO, or even run a small café. Some prefer quiet, independent activities, while others thrive in social, collaborative settings.

Educators tune in with learners, creating a safe space for them to connect with themselves and others. Because Flow Start has become routine, learners enter a state of flow with ease, taking ownership of their mornings in a way that supports their well-being and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.

How has it been spreading?

Flow Start has been integrated as a morning routine in schools in Norway, Vietnam and the Netherlands. Its simplicity and focus on well-being make it easy to adopt. Annette leads weekly workshops, guiding schools through implementation and sharing its positive impact, ensuring it continues to spread as a scalable model that prioritizes well-being worldwide.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Anyone can start Flow Start today by dedicating 30–60 minutes each morning to learner-chosen activities like building, reading, art, hiking or mindful coloring. For in-depth information, detailed instructions and personalized support, you can reach out to annette@weareflowschool. Together, we can organize an online or face-to-face meeting to guide you through implementation and scaling.

Implementation steps

1. Warm-up Phase: Discover the Power of Flow Start

Imagine starting every school day with tranquility, focus and joy. Flow Start transforms mornings into moments of connection and readiness, where learners thrive emotionally, socially and academically. The first step is to be curious and learn about our success stories to see how schools worldwide are using this innovation to create lasting change.

2. Warm-up Phase: Participate in Flow Start Training

Schools can enroll in comprehensive training sessions led by our certified Flow Start Trainers. These workshops provide detailed guidance, customizable templates and practical strategies for seamless implementation. Trainings are available online and on-site.

3. Preparation Phase: Engage Learners and Brainstorm About their Dream Start of the Day

Begin with a class discussion: If you could choose how to start the school day, what would you do? Why? How would it impact your full day?
Encourage learners to dream big and share what helps them feel calm, focused and happy in the morning. Also share your own dreams for a great start of your day. Learners love to hear from you too!
This step ensures that Flow Start is shaped around the needs and interests of the learning community, giving all stakeholders a sense of ownership from the start.

4. Preparation Phase: Shape the Structure of Flow Start

Ask the learners: How can we organize Flow Start so that everyone can do what they enjoy at the beginning of the day? Guide and facilitate them in making decisions about when and where activities take place and what materials are needed.
By taking an active role in planning, learners experience agency: the power to make choices and influence their environment. This sense of ownership builds confidence, motivation and responsibility.

5. Preparation Phase: Organize a Trial Flow Start Session

Run a practice Flow Start session based on the plan the learners created. Let them experience their chosen activities, observe how the setup works, and note what feels smooth and what needs adjustment. Educators facilitate and support but allow learners to take ownership of their experience. This trial morning sets the stage for refining Flow Start into a routine.

6. Preparation Phase: Evaluate the Trial Flow Start Session and Improve The Plan

After the trial Flow Start, you organize an evaluation session. Let learners discuss in groups and share with the class:
- What went well? What did you enjoy? What should we keep doing? Why?
- What did not go that well and can be improved?
- How can we make Flow Start smoother and more enjoyable for everyone? Together, you decide on adjustments, as well as on an offical start. This step ensures Flow Start becomes a well-organized, learner-driven routine where everyone feels heard and valued.

7. Action Phase: Flow Start becomes Routine

With the plan refined, Flow Start will now be a daily routine. In a structured way, learners choose activities each morning that help them feel calm, focused and ready for the day. Educators support and guide while learners take ownership.
Regular check-ins ensure Flow Start stays meaningful and adapts to evolving needs. It becomes a natural, learner-driven way to start the day with energy, connection and balance.

8. Reflection Phase: Making Growth Visible

After 2 weeks of experiencing Flow Start as the new start of the day, it is time to reflect together and understand the impact a concious start of the day has on our lives.
By using one of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Project Zero's Thinking Routines, called 'First I thought, now I know', you invite learners to make the process and progress of experiencing Flow Start visible. Together you talk about the insights everyone got after two weeks of begining the day with Flow Start.

9. Sharing and Scaling Phase: Spread the Flow Start Vibes!

Flow Start can happen anywhere. Not just at school, but also at home and work. Your learners are the best ambassadors to spread the Flow Start Vibes all around. Let them present what Flow Start looks and feels like to other classes, parents and even at companies. By explaining to others what the impact of Flow Start is, they become experts and will become even more motivated and enage to invest in a concious start of the day.

10. Beyond School: Expanding Flow Start into Daily Life

Once learners and parents experience the benefits of Flow Start, they can extend its impact at home. Doing something right after waking up, like stretching, journaling, listening to music, sitting next to the fireplace or mindful breathing, helps create a smooth transition from sleep mode to wake mode. This also eases the shift from home to school or work: It reinforces well-being as a daily habit and makes mornings feel more intentional, calm and energizing. Now you are ready to flourish!