The Habit Mechanic - Unlock your Human-AI Edge

Dr. Jon Finn reveals stress as a brain-state problem shaped by habits. He shares insights on how traditional approaches often overlook how the brain truly functions. Through self-coaching, he describes how to effectively manage stress by harnessing focused reflection. The metaphor of the 'lighthouse brain' emphasizes our subconscious scanning for threats, and he highlights how modern transitions heighten stress levels. Finn offers practical writing techniques like WABBA to help reprocess worries, showing that just one new habit can dramatically improve stress and performance.

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...Get 📘"Train Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn this episode, Dr. Jon Finn shares a powerful story about a senior coder who became unexpectedly angry — because a simple Brain State insight transformed his performance overnight.This real-world example reveals:why your Brain States determine how you think, feel, and performhow one small daily habit can shift you into a high-charge Brain Statewhy the AI era makes Brain State management more essential than everhow Habit Mechanics adapt, learn faster, and thrive under pressurewhy building Brain State Habits is the foundation of lasting masteryIf you want to perform at your best in a world where AI is accelerating change, this episode will help you understand why you’re only ever one Brain State Habit away.Have questions? Send them in — and Dr. Jon will answer them in future episodes.

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...Get 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn this episode, Dr. Jon Finn takes you behind the scenes of one of the most important breakthroughs in Train Your Brain for the AI Revolution: Brain States — the hidden driver of everything you think, feel, and do.Jon shares the origin story of Brain States for the very first time, tracing the idea back nearly a decade to formative experiences teaching activation levels to schoolchildren, collaborating with Professor Jim McKenna, and realising that different tasks in life require completely different neurological settings.You’ll discover:Why Brain States are the foundation of all human performanceHow understanding them transforms everything — from reducing overwhelm to achieving deep focusThe surprising link between Brain States and the behaviour of modern AI systemsThe journey from early neuroscience insights to the clear, practical three-Brain-State model used in the Habit Mechanic® and AI-Era Performance systemsWhy knowledge alone isn’t enough — and why Brain State habits are the key to lasting changeHow helping others with their habits dramatically accelerates your own growth (and why this is built into the Certified Habit Mechanic Coach® programme)Jon explains how the six Brain State Habits were created, why this time of year is pivotal for getting your Brain States right, and how one small Brain State breakthrough can meaningfully change the course of your health, happiness, and performance in 2026.Whether you’re already familiar with Brain State Intelligence® or hearing this story for the first time, this episode will deepen your understanding of how your brain really works — and why you’re only ever one Brain State habit away from being who you want to become.

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...🗓️ Book a FREE call with Andrew Foster (Tougher Minds, Head of Coaching) 👉here to see whether one-to-one coaching for AI-Era Success is a good fit for you.AI is advancing faster than people can adapt — and for many professionals, that feels scary. In this episode, Dr. Jon Finn returns after several weeks inside the AI frontline: panel events with NHS leaders, private dinners with business executives, and discussions with academics and technologists building the next generation of agentic and generative AI systems.What he found is clear: the technology is accelerating, the opportunity is enormous, and people are overwhelmed.This episode explains why — and what to do about it.Jon breaks down what’s really happening in the AI build-out (including trillion-dollar valuations and unprecedented chip demand), why “bubble” headlines miss the point, and why experts in medicine and business now trust AI to improve safety and accuracy in ways humans often can’t.But the heart of the episode is human:Why does AI feel threatening? Why is everyone anxious? And how do you stay confident, clear-headed, and high-performing while everything around you accelerates?Jon introduces the Six Habits of High-Performing AI-Era Professionals, the practical behaviour system built from 25 years of neuroscience and behavioural science:• Build a 30-day focus loop to ignite daily motivation• Recharge your cognitive battery with sleep, diet, exercise habits• Recode your stress response to stop overwhelm at its source• Engineer robust confidence that survives uncertainty• Prepare for pressure so you can deliver in High-Charge moments• Develop laser-sharp focus for your most leveraged workYou’ll hear how these habits underpin Brain State Intelligence™, why traditional change-management approaches fail in the AI era, and why businesses now urgently need experts who can help humans adopt new behaviours — not just new tools.Finally, Jon introduces a new way to get personalised support:One-to-One Coaching for AI-Era Success, led by Andrew Foster — Tougher Minds’ Head of Coaching and one of the world’s leading practitioners in habit formation for the AI era.This is for coaches, leaders, forward-thinking professionals, and even parents who want to understand the new world of work their children are growing into.If you want to thrive — not just cope — in the AI era, this episode shows you what to focus on and how to get started.

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...Get 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn this episode, we practically unpack how Human-AI Performance Psychology™ gives professionals and teams a real competitive edge in the AI era. You’ll learn why mastering your Brain States—not learning more tools—is the true multiplier for performance, creativity, and resilience. We introduce The Six Habits of High-Performing AI-Era Professionals, a practical blueprint for activating your best work, recovering effectively, and extracting real value from generative AI without burning out.Here’s what we cover:• Why your brain—not the tool—is the ultimate AI force multiplier• The Activation Dial and how to engineer optimal Brain States• The 30-day focus loop for clarity, momentum, and output• Recharge protocols for sleep, nutrition, movement, and relationships• Stress recoding to stop energy leaks before they derail performance• Confidence engineering through fast, constructive feedback• Preparing to perform under pressure (and why this matters more with AI)• Building laser-sharp focus for deep, high-value work• Real-world results, training options, and certification pathways• How these Six Habits future-proof your role, your value, and your teamWant to go deeper?• Explore the Six Habits training on the Tougher Minds® website• Learn about the Certified Habit Mechanic Coach programme• We can coach you directly or train your entire team — if you can’t find what you need on the site, just let us know here

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...Get 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereToday’s job market feels like a jobless boom — productivity is rising, yet opportunities feel more fragile than ever. In this episode, Dr. Jon Finn explains why that’s happening and reveals how two very different species of AI are reshaping work.Discover how agentic AI automates routine, low-value tasks — while generative AI acts as a powerful force multiplierfor human expertise. We unpack the snowmobile metaphor to show how professionals can accelerate performance by mastering the six habits that create genuine Human + AI advantage.You’ll learn:How agentic AI automates low-value workWhy generative AI amplifies expert impactThe snowmobile metaphor for human-AI capabilityWhy Brain State and habits determine ROIHow top firms move beyond licences to resultsThe Six Habits of High-Performing AI-Era Professionals

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...👀 Watch the video ▶️ hereGet 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn Day 4 – Automate | Build Super Habits: How to Coach Yourself and Thrive in the AI Era, we move from knowing what to do to making it automatic — using the Nine Action Factors and a simple habit-building plan anchored by a daily Willpower Story.You’ll learn how to coach yourself, use AI to cut busywork, and design smart routines that target Recharge, Medium-Charge, and High-Charge Brain States for sustained performance.You’ll explore:• How routines work as linked chains of Super Habits• Why knowledge fails without automation• Using the Willpower Story at a set time and place• The Nine Action Factors and ten practical prompts• Mapping habits to Recharge, Medium-Charge, and High-Charge tasks• The personal research loop — observe, adjust, repeat• Coaching yourself with lessons from elite sport analysis• Using AI to reduce Medium-Charge work and enhance deep focus• The path to certification and structured three-month training🎓 Note: We’re currently offering 75%-funded training grants for people who want to become Certified Human–AI Performance Psychology Coaches.If you’re not seeing our messages about this, just reach out — we’ll confirm if any grants remain and whether it’s a good fit for you.

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...👀 Watch the video ▶️ hereGet 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn Day 3 – Optimise | Design Your Day: Strengthen Focus, Willpower & Brain State Control, we show how to lead AI by managing your own brain state, building a practical 30-day performance plan, and using the Day Designer to script a focused, energised 24 hours.The goal is simple: protect deep work, automate recovery, and use AI to accelerate routine “ice-cube” tasks so you can sculpt meaningful results with full attention.You’ll explore:• Why the AI Revolution is a once-in-a-lifetime leverage window• How to measure Brain States and match task difficulty for flow• The danger of Medium-Charge work and its impact on quality• Applying the AI Success Cycle across a 30-day rhythm• The Day Designer timeline — from wake to sleep• Scheduling deep work, breaks, exercise, and shutdown rituals• Super Habits for sleep, diet, exercise, and stress control• Taking ownership for accuracy and accountability when using AI• Building momentum — and coaching others to use the same system

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...👀 Watch the video ▶️ hereGet 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereIn Day 2 – Plan | Build Your Long-Term Focus: How to Lead Your Own Life in the AI Era, we connect your long-term ambitions to your daily actions using the science of Human–AI Performance Psychology.You’ll learn how to turn your future vision into focused action, and how AI can free up time for high-impact workby eliminating low-value tasks. We unpack Brain State Intelligence®, explore the Ice Cubes vs Ice Sculptures approach to planning, and explain why goals are powerful stress-management tools — not wish lists.You’ll discover:• A quick recap of Brain State measurement — and why it matters• How to map long-term goals back to today’s priorities• Values prompts that reveal your real strengths• The Ice Cubes vs Ice Sculptures method for better task planning• How to use agentic and generative AI to speed up meaningful work• How to estimate effort realistically and cut overwhelm• Why goals focus attention and regulate stress• How to run a monthly review and teach others to lock new habits• A preview of tomorrow’s session — the Day Designer and Willpower Story

Text us a question and we'll answer it on the podcast...👀 Watch the video ▶️ hereGet 📘"Training Your Brain for the AI Revolution" for just $1 👉 hereWe’re launching the 4-Day Audio Challenge — your free introduction to Human–AI Performance Psychology, the science of thriving in the AI era by mastering your Brain States.In Day 1, you’ll measure where your energy really goes, learn to cut Medium-Charge busywork, and discover how to use AI to free brainpower for deep work, recovery, and new super habits.You’ll explore:• How AI is automating cognitive labour — and what that means for your career• Why Human–AI teams outperform solo effort when you lead with clarity• How Medium-Charge work drains focus and slows progress• How to use AI to protect sleep, reduce stress, and strengthen leadership habits• The Human–AI Readiness Brain State Assessment and scoring profiles• What your pattern — Cross to Bear, Jagged Jewel, or Arrowhead — reveals about your habits• The 4-Day Plan: Measure → Strategise → Design → Engineer• How to become your own Habit Coach — and help others do the same• Simple next steps to set a 30-day focus and protect willpower