The Huberman Lab Podcast 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. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
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