DOOM’s Flow State: The Role of Speed in Overcoming Self-Doubt
Hesitation means death. DOOM's relentless momentum forces players into a flow state and reveals why speed, not perfectionism, is the key to overcoming self-doubt.
DOOM is not a game that tolerates hesitation.
From the moment players engage with its frenetic combat system, they are thrust into an unforgiving reality. Pausing to deliberate is not an option—it is a fatal mistake. The relentless onslaught of enemies demands constant movement, aggressive engagement, and an intuitive approach to decision-making. This high-paced dynamic fosters an immersive state of flow—an experience that extends beyond gaming and offers insight into productivity, execution, and personal growth.
For instance, in high-pressure fields such as emergency medicine or competitive sports, professionals rely on rapid decision-making to achieve peak performance. Similarly, individuals tackling creative or entrepreneurial projects can benefit from embracing quick execution over prolonged deliberation. Just as a DOOM player must trust their instincts and act without hesitation, professionals can develop confidence and efficiency by prioritising rapid decision-making and iterative improvement. Writers, for example, often find that drafting quickly and refining later leads to greater output than agonising over every word in the first pass.
This philosophy applies not only to creative work but also to competitive environments such as business and sports. The ability to react swiftly and decisively, rather than waiting for the perfect moment, can be the difference between success and failure. In both cases, action leads to momentum, and momentum leads to confidence. Much like a DOOM Slayer relies on quick thinking and immediate execution to dispatch enemies, individuals who take decisive action in their work can gain a significant advantage over those who hesitate.
The Psychological Basis of Flow
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conceptualised flow as a state in which skill and challenge are optimally aligned, resulting in heightened focus and effortless performance. In DOOM, this state is systematically induced through rapid enemy encounters, limited safe zones, and a soundtrack designed to synchronise with intense action. Players are compelled to act instinctively, foregoing hesitation and perfectionism in favour of decisive execution. This mirrors real-world scenarios where excessive deliberation hinders progress and fuels self-doubt.
Flow state is further reinforced by an element of risk and urgency. Studies suggest that individuals are more likely to enter flow when they perceive immediate consequences to inaction. This explains why tight deadlines often lead to bursts of high productivity—just as a DOOM player must eliminate threats quickly, a person working under pressure must focus intensely and execute efficiently. In high-performance fields like finance or emergency response, professionals often thrive under pressure, making rapid decisions that would be impossible in a low-stakes environment. The immediacy of consequences forces clarity, action, and a heightened state of focus.
Speed as an Antidote to Overthinking
Hesitation and over-analysis are common barriers to success in both creative and professional endeavours. For instance, a writer might endlessly tweak a single paragraph instead of completing a draft, or a business owner might delay launching a product due to an obsession with perfection—both scenarios leading to missed opportunities and stagnation. Building on this understanding of flow, DOOM presents an alternative paradigm: prioritise action over meticulous preparation.
Continuous movement prevents stagnation. Waiting for an ideal moment often results in missed opportunities. In DOOM, standing still leads to inevitable failure; in reality, inaction can be equally detrimental.
Momentum fosters confidence. Consistently taking action, even in small increments, reinforces self-efficacy. Each completed task, regardless of its imperfections, contributes to an overall sense of competence and capability.
Adaptability supersedes rigid planning. Effective decision-making in uncertain environments requires a willingness to adjust on the fly. As in DOOM, where survival depends on rapid problem-solving, success in complex tasks relies on iterative learning rather than preemptive perfection.
Risk-taking accelerates mastery. Embracing speed forces individuals to develop instincts and trust their abilities, which can result in a sharper, more confident approach to problem-solving. The most effective professionals and creatives are those who learn through action, adjusting their methods in real time rather than waiting for flawless execution.
Translating DOOM’s Mentality to Real-World Challenges
The principles embedded in DOOM’s gameplay can be applied to a variety of personal and professional pursuits:
Writing a novel? Abandon excessive planning and draft freely. Refinement comes through revision.
Launching a business? Rather than waiting for an infallible concept, initiate the process and iterate based on real-world feedback.
Learning a skill? Replace passive research with active experimentation to accelerate comprehension and mastery.
Making career decisions? Instead of waiting for absolute certainty, take the leap and adjust as you gain experience.
Public speaking? The best way to improve is to practice frequently, even if the initial attempts are imperfect.
DOOM incentivises relentless engagement, a principle that can drive real-world productivity when applied strategically. For example, professionals who adopt a "ship fast, refine later" approach—whether in writing, software development, or entrepreneurship—often achieve greater progress than those who wait for perfection. By continuously iterating and improving, they maintain momentum and avoid the paralysis of over-planning.
Additionally, speed and adaptability have become essential in the modern workplace. In industries such as technology, where software development cycles demand rapid iterations, or healthcare, where medical professionals must make split-second decisions, the ability to act quickly can be the difference between success and failure. Industries evolve rapidly, and those who hesitate or resist change risk falling behind. The most successful individuals and organisations are those that adopt a DOOM-like mindset—embracing challenges head-on and prioritising progress over perfection.
Mastering Execution Through Relentless Action
Perfectionism is often a manifestation of fear—a reluctance to commit without certainty of success. Consider an aspiring novelist who spends months fine-tuning the first chapter instead of completing a full draft. By the time they feel satisfied, they may have lost the momentum and motivation needed to finish the book. Similarly, in business, a startup founder who delays launching a product for fear of it not being perfect may miss crucial market opportunities. In both cases, hesitation caused by perfectionism prevents real progress. Psychological research suggests that this fear is rooted in an aversion to failure, as outlined in Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset, which emphasises the importance of learning through mistakes rather than avoiding them altogether. However, fear dissipates in the presence of decisive motion. By adopting the ethos of the DOOM Slayer—one of unrelenting forward momentum—individuals can dismantle barriers of self-doubt and propel themselves toward their objectives.
When looking at elite performers across various disciplines, a common theme emerges: they prioritise execution over endless refinement. Whether it’s athletes training for competition, entrepreneurs launching businesses, or artists producing work, those who succeed understand that action begets progress. By consistently moving forward, they develop resilience, adaptability, and confidence.
The next time uncertainty threatens to hinder progress, recall this fundamental lesson: execution through speed mitigates hesitation.
Act decisively. Iterate rapidly. Adapt continuously. And push forward until the goal is achieved.
