The OptimalWork Podcast

#9: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss the Golden Hour, the central method behind OptimalWork. A Golden Hour is like exercise for your work, when you deliberately practice working at your best by preparing for your work with three steps: reframing, mindfulness, and challenge. The Golden Hour can be practiced at www.optimalwork.com!  Some of the questions we discussed are: What is a Golden Hour and how do you do one? Why did we develop the idea of the Golden Hour? What's its origin and purpose? Will the Golden Hour help me find meaning and purpose in my work? (Hint: yes!)

#8: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif Younes discuss the Inventory, one of the primary tools of OptimalWork. The Inventory is a 24-item questionnaire, a unique measure of how much you're embracing challenge and growing right now. Some of the questions we discussed in this video are: What's wrong with the idea of temperament and personality tests? What is the Inventory and what's unique about it? How does it differ from other personality tests? How did the Inventory develop? What does my Inventory score mean? What's the best way to use the Inventory?

#7: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to "materialize your ideals," that is, how to bring them to life: into reality, into your actions. The key to this is the practice of order, intensity, and constancy: three ideals that you can perfect in each hour of work, and that ultimately shape your practice of any other ideal.  An example we discuss in the video is kindness. How can you bring kindness to life? First order: think about how you're going to practice it, what situations; get a good picture of what it will look like. Then intensity: apply yourself in a particular situation with your whole attention. Then constancy: challenge yourself over the course of, say, a conversation to look for more opportunities to practice kindness.  This is key to understanding a saying we like to repeat: the way you work is the way you live.

#6: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to get traction from distraction. Kevin explains our unique theory of distractions, and draws out the practical conclusions: how to prevent them, and, if they do come, how to find the opportunity for shaping yourself and practicing ideals.  Some other topics that came up:  What to do if you wake up before your alarm goes off.  Good use of technology/phones

#5: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to gain victory over tiredness - in the context of afternoon tiredness, naps, and missed sleep.  The discussion was mainly inspired by the following questions: If every time I feel tired I jump on the treadmill will that amplify the feeling of tiredness because I am acting on it?  Can you address the advisability of the short afternoon nap? How do we get back on track of our sleeping schedule, once we had left it?

Dr. Kevin Majeres, co-founder of OptimalWork, gives 11 reasons to jump out of bed right away. Learn about the positive impact on your day, shifting perception, embracing challenges, setting clear deadlines, benefits of jumping out of bed, and discovering the power of challenging yourself in the morning.

#4: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss the "illusion of simultaneity" and how to get effective sleep.  The discussion was mainly inspired by the following comment: One question that I have for you, is how can I begin to regulate and improve sleep hygiene? In this time of quarantine, because there aren't specific deadlines at my job, I have the luxury (if you can call it that) to sleep in and fall asleep late.

#3: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss what to do when you feel overwhelmed, how to make a schedule, and how to prioritize. The discussion was mainly inspired by the following question: The question I have is about decision paralysis/decision fatigue. I have been overwhelmed by all the projects I could do, and in the choosing, I usually fatigue out and then proceed to watch Netflix. How can I overcome decision paralysis?

#2: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to aim for ideals in difficult relationships, and how to respond to negative emotions.  The discussion was mainly inspired by the following comment: I am on quarantine. Three of the people I live with are insufferable characters. They hijack conversations, aggressively contradict people who are just sharing information (not even opinions) and needlessly complain. I'm not anxious of getting covid-19. That virus cannot hold a candle to the virulence of my housemates.

#1: Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif, OptimalWork co-founders, discuss how to develop resilience in this new work environment.  Here are the questions we answered: How can I ensure that I will persevere in good work habits for weeks or even months? How should we maintain a distinction between work and family life? (E.g., thinking about work during family time; getting distracted with family when I should be working.) How do I choose what to do to stay productive, given that I have few serious responsibilities?