Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience — how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills and cognitive functioning. Huberman is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017. His lab’s most recent work focuses on the influence of vision and respiration on human performance and brain states such as fear and courage. He also works on neural regeneration and directs a clinical trial to promote visual restoration in diseases that cause blindness...
https://www.hubermanlab.com
episode 167: Dr. Cal Newport: How to Enhance Focus and Improve Productivity
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Cal Newport, Ph.D., a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author of numerous books on focus and productivity and how to access the deepest possible layers of your cognitive abilities in order to do quality work and lead a more balanced life. We discuss how to avoid digital distraction, specific systems to best arrange and update your schedule, and how to curate your work and home environment. We discuss how to engage with smartphones and technology, the significant productivity cost of task-switching, and how to avoid and overcome burnout. This episode provides specific protocols for enhancing focus and productivity, time management, task prioritization, and improving work-life balance that ought to be useful for anyone, young or old, regardless of profession.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps(00:00:00) Dr. Cal Newport
(00:02:52) Sponsors: Helix Sleep, Maui Nui & Joovv
(00:07:00) Smartphones, Office & Walking
(00:13:08) Productive Meditation, Whiteboards
(00:20:04) Tool: Capturing Ideas, Notebooks
(00:24:57) Tool: Active Recall & Remembering Information
(00:30:02) Sponsor: AG1
(00:31:29) Studying, Deliberate Practice
(00:38:13) Flow States vs. Deep Work
(00:41:39) Social Media, Emergencies
(00:45:27) Phone & Addiction; Task Switching
(00:53:20) Sponsor: LMNT
(00:54:23) “Neuro-Semantic Coherence” vs. Flow; Concentration
(01:02:40) Internet Use & Kids; Video Games; Audiobooks
(01:08:15) Pseudo-Productivity, Burnout
(01:12:34) Social Media Distraction; The Deep Life
(01:18:03) Attention, ADHD, Smartphones & Addiction; Kids
(01:26:12) TikTok, Algorithm
(01:30:39) Tool: Boredom Tolerance, Gap Effects & “Thoreau Walks”
(01:37:43) Solitude Deprivation, Anxiety
(01:41:22) Tools: Fixed Work Schedule & Productivity, Exercise, Sleep
(01:47:52) Deep Work, Insomnia; Productivity & Core Work; Music
(01:55:08) Cognitive Focus & Environment; Isolation
(02:02:30) Burnout Epidemic, Digital Collaboration
(02:11:11) Cognitive Revolution, Balance
(02:16:45) Remote, Hybrid vs. In-Person Work; Zoom
(02:22:05) Tool: Pull-Based System, Designing Workload
(02:28:49) Tools: Multi-Scale Planning, Time Blocking; Deep Work Groups
(02:38:56) Tool: Shutdown Ritual
(02:42:37) Accessibility, Reputation & Flexibility
(02:47:29) Work-Life Balance, Vacation; Productivity
(02:54:47) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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