The OptimalWork Podcast
OptimalWork
Hosted by Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes, co-founders of OptimalWork, The OptimalWork Podcast will help you learn to challenge yourself in each hour of work according to your highest ideals. We discuss all aspects of Dr. Majeres's approach to work, which he developed in his private practice and teaches at Harvard Medical School, and show how it applies to everyday situations like professional work, study, sleep, and relationships.
For personalized plans to help you put the ideas into practice, visit www.OptimalWork.com.
Please send questions for discussion to team@optimalwork.com.
For personalized plans to help you put the ideas into practice, visit www.OptimalWork.com.
Please send questions for discussion to team@optimalwork.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 3, 2023 • 31min
[Rebroadcast] An Unconventional Way to Stop Wasting Time
#150: If you think you waste too much time—for example, on social media, internet, and entertainment—there is likely some part of you that is urging you to do better. In this rebroadcast, we show how to redirect the energy of these different “parts” of you—the one seeking entertainment, and the one criticizing your time wasting—in order to integrate them and achieve inner harmony.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Jun 26, 2023 • 28min
[Rebroadcast] How to Dehypnotize Yourself
#149: Are you hypnotized right now? It might surprise you to learn that, in a technical sense, you very well may be. Understanding how trances work, the topic of today’s rebroadcast, will allow you to free your attention from the things that capture it.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Jun 19, 2023 • 27min
148. Why Leisure is More than Just Rest
#148: We work in order to produce something of value for others. In order to work better, rest is important to restore ourselves and maintain energy. But activities of leisure carry us beyond rest to contemplation, and are done for their own sake. In this episode, Dr. Majeres and Sharif discuss the relationship between rest, work, and leisure.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Jun 12, 2023 • 26min
147. Why Growth Goals Are Better than Outcome Goals
#147: Sometimes it may seem like the outcome is the most important thing you need to obtain: the perfect grade, the well-deserved promotion, or the necessary money. In this episode, Dr. Majeres and Sharif discuss the superiority of growth goals and why you should never aim for outcomes as ends in themselves.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Jun 5, 2023 • 27min
146. The Problem of Toxic Positivity
#146: Toxic positivity means invalidating the negative emotions of others. In this episode, Dr. Majeres and Sharif discuss how to engage negative emotions — in ourselves and others — in a constructive way, by being understanding and encouraging, rather than positively toxic.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
May 29, 2023 • 31min
145. The Best Way to Do OptimalWork
In this podcast, the hosts discuss the concept of optimal work and how intelligence plays a role in work. They explore the benefits of using an inventory in a mentoring program, and delve into the origins of the idea of work. The power of the Masterclass is emphasized, as it has been successful in transforming habits and even helping clients overcome panic attacks. The effectiveness of the online program OptimalWork is also discussed, including the value of one-on-one work and the benefits of working with teams and finding a group for personal growth.
May 22, 2023 • 30min
[Rebroadcast] A Summer to Remember
#144: Do you think you have a bad memory? Do you think summer goes by too fast? It turns out, there’s one solution for both problems. In this rebroadcast, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss strategies that can both improve your memory and enrich your experiences, which can apply to making your summer more fruitful and making it seem longer.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
11 snips
May 15, 2023 • 27min
143. Why People Pleasing is a Trap
#143: Working with a spirit of service lies at the core of working at your best. But the spirit of service has a doppelgänger: aiming to please people. This often arises from motives of fear (fear of conflict, etc.), whereas service is rooted in love. In this episode, we compare these two motivations, and discuss how to escape the trap of seeking to please others.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
May 8, 2023 • 25min
142. Making the Most of Challenge
#142: Is it possible to sustain a high level of challenge throughout the day? At first, it may seem daunting. But embracing challenge brings growth and with it an increase in energy. The key is to embrace challenges in order to serve, so that challenges are not about improving yourself in isolation, but deepening the bonds with those around you.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
May 1, 2023 • 27min
141. The Inward Living of Ideals
#141: When focusing on self-improvement, it is natural to look first at your behaviors and strive for behavior change. In this episode, Dr. Majeres and Sharif explore what change on the inside looks like: how you relate to the inner friction produced by “parts” of you, like an inner critic or a harsh taskmaster. They show that behavior change is best built on a foundation of interior transformation.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
