In this episode, I discuss ways to set up your workspace to optimize productivity, focus and creativity. I discuss how to adjust light, physically arrange your work environment, and leverage body posture to enhance productivity. Additionally, I explore how to shift your work environment for particular types of tasks. Moreover, I review the role of body movement in the workspace. I also discuss sound-based tools that can either enhance or diminish cognitive functioning (the ability to focus on deep work). I describe a particular frequency of binaural beats that studies show can be used to enhance memory and recall. This episode covers quality peer-reviewed findings practical tools anyone can use, regardless of budget, in order to optimize their workspace to achieve heightened levels of productivity, increased alertness and focus, and creativity.
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Supplements from Momentous
https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Arranging Environment for Focus
(00:02:44) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT
(00:07:55) How to Increase Focus
(00:10:02) Lighting Your Work in Phase 1
(00:16:00) Lighting Your Work in Phase 2
(00:19:45) Lighting Your Work in Phase 3
(00:24:17) Where to Look While You Work
(00:28:02) Arranging Your Environment
(00:31:24) Body Posture
(00:34:22) How Long to Do Deep Work
(00:36:50) Set the Right Visual Window Size
(00:42:15) 45 min / 5 min Rule
(00:44:23) The Cathedral Effect: Analytic vs Creative Work
(00:55:50) Leveraging Background Noise
(01:02:20) Binaural Beats for Work
(01:06:38) The Best Binaural Frequency for Work
(01:11:17) How Binaural Beats Increase Focus
(01:13:56) Minimizing Interruptions
(01:20:01) Sit or Stand, or Both?
(01:25:18) Movement in the Workspace
(01:31:00) Summary & Shifting Work Environments
(01:39:36) Zero-Cost Support, Sponsors, Instagram, Twitter, Supplements
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Disclaimer

Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, & Creativity

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. Huberman is also actively involved in developing tools now in use by the elite military in the U.S. and Canada, athletes, and technology industries to optimize performance in high stress environments, enhance neural plasticity, mitigate stress and optimize sleep.  
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals including Nature, Science and Cell and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover and other top media outlets. 
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 5 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

Science

Health & Fitness

Life Sciences

In this episode, I explain how to strengthen and build a stable, pain-free back and how to reduce or eliminate existing back pain. I explain the anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord and vertebrae, intervertebral disks and nerve pathways, and the abdominal and back muscles that together can be leveraged to stabilize the back. 
Then, I describe protocols: “McGill’s Big 3” exercises, a highly effective psoas stretch, abdominal stabilization, breathing techniques, and protocols to reinforce essential supports for the back, including the neck, pelvis, feet, and toes. 
I also explain how you can reduce and potentially eliminate back pain and sciatica using a specific type of bar hang, “cobra push-ups,” medial-glute strengthening exercises, and more. 
Back pain greatly impedes one’s ability to enjoy daily activities; this episode provides zero-cost, minimal time-investment protocols to improve your back strength and stability and allow you to move through life pain-free and with ease and mobility. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman
Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Plunge: https://plunge.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Back Health
(00:03:47) Sponsors: AeroPress, Joovv & Waking Up
(00:07:57) Back Anatomy: Spine, Vertebrae, Spinal Cord
(00:12:07) Spinal Cord & Nerves; Herniated Discs
(00:19:50) Build Strong Pain-Free Back; Bulging Discs
(00:24:26) Back Pain & Professional Evaluation; Tool: Spine Self-Assessment 
(00:34:58) Sponsor: AG1
(00:36:29) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Curl-Up
(00:44:40) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Side Plank
(00:53:13) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Bird Dog; Back Pain
(01:04:10) Sponsor: Plunge
(01:05:37) Tool: Back Pain & Oreo Analogy, Bar Hang
(01:10:34) Time & Back Pain; Tool: Reversing Disc Herniation, Cobra Push-Ups 
(01:21:28) Sciatica, Referred Pain, Herniated Disc
(01:24:21) Tool: Improve Spine Stability, Strengthen Neck
(01:29:23) Tools: Strengthen Feet, Toe Spreading
(01:34:35) Tools: Belly Breathing; Stagger Stance
(01:42:03) Tools: Relieve Low Back Pain, Medial Glute Activation; Rolled Towel
(01:50:59) Tool: Psoas Stretching
(01:57:00) Tool: Back Awareness; Strengthen & Pain-Proof Back
(02:05:49) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

Protocols to Strengthen & Pain Proof Your Back

This is episode 4 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the best-selling book "Why We Sleep." In this episode, we discuss the relationship between sleep, learning and creativity. 
We explain why and how sleep before and after a learning bout can improve memory and performance for both cognitive tasks and physical skills. We also discuss how to use time learning and sleep, how to use naps, non-sleep deep rest states, and caffeine to optimize learning, and the mechanisms for sleep and memory consolidation. 
We also explain the critical role that sleep plays in creativity and one's ability to discover novel solutions to challenges and problems. 
This episode is filled with actionable information on using sleep to enhance skill learning and improve memory and creativity. 
The next episode in this guest series explains how sleep benefits emotional regulation and mental health. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman 
WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/huberman 
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman 
InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman 
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Sleep & Learning
(00:00:59) Sponsors: Helix Sleep, Whoop & Waking Up
(00:05:48) Learning, Memory & Sleep
(00:09:32) Memory & Sleep, “All-Nighters”, Hippocampus
(00:13:46) Naps & Learning Capacity
(00:16:59) Early School Start Times, Performance & Accidents
(00:26:38) Medical Residency & Sleep Deprivation
(00:29:35) Sponsor: AG1
(00:30:49) Tool: Sleep Before Learning; Cramming Effect
(00:35:09) Tools: Caffeine; Timing Peak Learning; “Second Wind”
(00:44:25) Memory Consolidation in Sleep
(00:55:07) Sleepwalking & Talking; REM-Sleep Behavioral Disorder
(01:00:16) REM Sleep Paralysis, Alcohol, Stress
(01:07:41) Sponsor: InsideTracker
(01:08:46) Skills, Motor Learning & Sleep
(01:17:03) Tool: Timing Sleep & Learning, Skill Enhancement
(01:20:00) Naps; Specificity & Memory Consolidation, Sleep Spindles
(01:27:21) Sleep, Motor Learning & Athletes; Automaticity
(01:34:10) Can Learning Improve Sleep?
(01:39:13) Tool: Exercise to Improve Sleep; Performance, Injury & Motivation
(01:44:38) Pillars of Health; Dieting & Sleep Deprivation
(01:49:35) Performance & Poor Sleep, Belief Effects, “Orthosomnia”
(01:57:03) “Overnight Alchemy”, Sleep & Novel Memory Linking
(02:05:58) Sleep & Creativity
(02:11:09) Tools: Waking & Technology; Naps; “Sleep on a Problem”
(02:20:51) Creative Insight & Sleep
(02:26:18) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

GUEST SERIES | Dr. Matt Walker: Using Sleep to Improve Learning, Creativity & Memory

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, FSAHM. She is a professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine and a developmental psychologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Halpern-Felsher is a world expert in adolescent decision-making and risk-taking behaviors.
She explains the huge increase in vaping (e-cigarettes) by young people. She explains why vaping nicotine and cannabis is particularly dangerous to the developing brain. We discuss the rise in vaping addiction, the unique social pressures and social media influences faced by youth that make quitting challenging, and interventions to aid them in quitting or reducing use.
We also discuss the role of technology and social media. And, the use of alcohol, nicotine pouches, fentanyl, and other risky behaviors that adolescents face now.
This episode should interest parents, teachers, coaches, teens, and families. It covers the current youth substance use landscape and also covers resources and ways to quit these addictive behaviors. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman 
Mateina: https://drinkmateina.com/huberman 
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman 
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher
(00:01:40) Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Mateina & LMNT 
(00:05:38) Adolescence
(00:09:19) Household Conflict, Parents; Smart Phones
(00:12:35) Smart Phones & Social Media
(00:18:25) Vaping, E-Cigarettes, Nicotine & Cannabis
(00:23:46) Adolescent Nicotine Use: Marketing, Flavors
(00:30:41) Sponsor: AG1
(00:32:13) Nicotine Initiation, Freebase vs. Salt-Based Nicotine, Concentration
(00:41:35) Addiction & Withdrawal; E-Cigarette Access
(00:48:48) Vaping Health Hazards, Aldehydes, Flavors
(00:56:32) Sponsor: Waking Up
(00:57:48) “Just Say No”, Adolescent Defiance
(01:04:21) Cannabis & Potency, Blunts, E-Cigarette Combinations
(01:10:30) Psychosis, THC & Adolescence
(01:14:11) Quitting Nicotine & Cannabis; Physical & Social Withdrawal Symptoms
(01:23:05) Social Pressures, Quitting Vaping, Environment Concerns
(01:30:08) Teen Activities, Social Media, Autonomy
(01:36:28) Risky Behaviors, Alcohol, Driving, Sexual Behavior
(01:43:27) International E-Cigarette Use, Regulation
(01:46:10) Nicotine Pouches, Health Risks; Tolerance
(01:53:25) Tools: Vaping Interventions, Decision Making, Harm Reduction
(02:02:37) Fentanyl, Drug Testing, Recreational Drug Use
(02:13:45) Tool: Organic Conversations & Risky Behavior
(02:17:20) Long-Term Goals & Teens; Vaping, Pornography & Teens
(02:24:08) Mental Health Crisis & Substance Use
(02:29:11) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher: Vaping, Alcohol Use & Other Risky Youth Behaviors

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in Sydney, Australia. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question and answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event at the Sydney Opera House.
Sign up to get notified about future events: https://www.hubermanlab.com/events
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:15) Live Event Recap: The Brain Body Contract
(00:00:36) Sponsor: AG1 & Eight Sleep
(00:02:50) The Power of Mindset on Stress
(00:05:23) David Goggins: A Case Study in Resilience
(00:09:59) Exploring Time Perception & Frame Rate
(00:18:20) Jet Lag Protocol: Adjusting to New Time Zones
(00:26:44) The Science of Neuroplasticity
(00:26:49) The Transformative Power of Psychedelics
(00:29:26) Exploring Psilocybin & MDMA: Personal Experiences & Insights
(00:36:12) The Science of Sleep: How Temperature Affects It
(00:39:38) Understanding Stress Response & Habituation
(00:41:20) Personal Anecdotes
(00:47:00) Finding Your Passion: Advice for the Youth
(00:51:20) Closing Thoughts & Gratitude
Disclaimer

LIVE EVENT Q&A: Dr. Andrew Huberman at the Sydney Opera House

This is episode 3 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and leading public educator about the role of sleep in health, disease and performance. 
We explain how our sleep architecture changes as we age. We also cover how childhood development and aging affect sleep biology and needs. We also discuss whether polyphasic sleep (multiple short sleep periods) is beneficial. 
Then, we discuss naps, including their positive benefits, individual variability, those who should not nap, and alternative rest states like non-sleep deep rest. Dr. Walker shares protocols to optimize nap duration, timing and effectiveness.
We also explore the effects of caffeine on sleep and other health aspects, as well as the optimal timing for caffeine intake.
This episode describes many actionable science-based tools for optimizing sleep, naps and caffeine use for better health and performance.
The next episode in this special series explores the relationship between sleep, memory, and creativity.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Sleep Structure
(00:01:29) Sponsors: BetterHelp, LMNT & Waking Up
(00:05:42) Sleep Phases & Lifespan
(00:11:58) Sleep Stages & Lifespan, Sleep Paralysis & Animals
(00:20:19) Adults & Biphasic Sleep, Modern Society
(00:25:14) Chronotype, Circadian Rhythms & Biological Flexibility
(00:29:07) Genetics & Chronotype
(00:31:42) Sponsor: AG1
(00:32:55) Biphasic Sleep, Adults; Body Position & Sleepiness
(00:40:09) Naps, Positive Benefits, Nighttime Insomnia
(00:49:38) Tool: Optimal Nap: Duration & Timing; Grogginess
(00:58:15) Nap Capacity, “Liminal” States & NSDR
(01:07:37) NASA Nap Culture, Power Naps
(01:11:49) Sponsor: Eight Sleep
(01:12:50) Tools: Nap Timing, “Fragile” Nighttime Sleep; On-Off-On Protocol
(01:18:57) Avoiding Naps: Insomnia, Aging & Sleep Quality Decline
(01:28:20) Caffeine, “Nappuccino”; Hot Drinks
(01:38:28) Adenosine Clearance, Sleep 
(01:43:10) Tool: Delaying Caffeine, Afternoon Crash, Sleep Quality
(01:49:06) Caffeine, Health, Antioxidants; Caffeine Tolerance & Alcohol
(01:56:54) Tool: Nap “Enhancements”, Caffeine, Light & Face Washing
(02:04:33) Polyphasic Sleep, Adverse Effects
(02:12:43) Sleep Deprivation & Car Crashes; Polyphasic Sleep
(02:16:49) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, & Creativity

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