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
May 9, 2022 • 26min
104. The Mindfulness Paradox
#104: Does mindfulness present a paradox between self-referential thoughts and the ability to focus intensely on our work? Does mindfulness lead us to be overly focused on ourselves or lead us to forget ourselves? Can it help us to deal with a frenetic workplace? The answer to this seeming paradox and these questions gives a clear insight into OptimalWork’s theory and measure of growth.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
May 2, 2022 • 27min
103. Making Wise Use of Small Blocks of Time
#103: Do you ever find that you don’t have enough time to accomplish all the things you’d like to? Small blocks of time may seem inconsequential, but they add up. Making wise use of these blocks can increase your productivity by 20% — the difference between getting ahead and falling behind. How to do it? That’s the topic of today’s episode.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Apr 25, 2022 • 32min
102. How to Process Negative Feedback
#102: Negative feedback is a part of life. It’s also essential in helping us identify our biggest opportunities for growth. In this episode, we discuss how to give and receive negative feedback and the role it plays in the social dimension of growth.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Apr 18, 2022 • 29min
101. Can Complaining Be a Good Thing?
#101: Reframing means seeing the opportunity in any challenge. But is that always a good thing? Is it possible that reframing could make us more likely to put up with bad situations? In this episode we’ll address this possible objection to reframing.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Apr 11, 2022 • 39min
100. How to Master Your Memory
#100: You may think that memory is a fixed trait: sure, some people may have a great memory, but yours is not so good. Well, the great masters of learning didn’t rely on natural talent — they all used strategies and techniques to memorize important texts, ideas, and arguments. In this episode, we discuss how they did it, so that you can learn to as well.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Apr 4, 2022 • 29min
99. The Hidden Power of Study
#99: We often put off big challenges — a large project, a different career path, a new hobby, etc. — because we don’t know how precisely to get started. Well, there’s a virtue for that! Study: the keen application of your mind to its proper object. In this episode, we discuss how to fruitfully engage challenges — new and old — with study.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Mar 28, 2022 • 26min
98. How Competition Can Bring Out Your Best
#98: Is competition a good motivating force? Why are some people more competitive than others? Is being competitive a virtue or a vice, and can it be compatible with living a life of high ideals? These questions and more in today’s episode.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Mar 21, 2022 • 30min
97. How Conflict Can Strengthen Bonds
#97: When facing a conflict with someone close to us, our instinctive reaction can be one of rigidity, a desire to achieve a particular outcome, or even to fight. When this happens, our approach will harm the bond. In this episode, we show how to approach conflict with creativity, flexibility, and understanding, so that the source of the conflict can be an occasion for deepening the bond.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Mar 14, 2022 • 25min
96. How to Face Imposter Syndrome
#96: More and more people report experiencing “imposter syndrome,” often in new and challenging social or professional situations. They are unable to internalize their own success, attributing it instead to external factors like chance or luck; as a result, they often see themselves as “frauds.” In this episode, we introduce a solution to imposter syndrome that gives us independence from the validation and judgements of others.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
Mar 7, 2022 • 31min
95. How to Love Frustration
#95: If you’re often frustrated, you may think you need more of the opposite: more satisfaction. In this episode, we discuss how frustration is actually related to failed strategies. Each experience of frustration then points out an opportunity to employ better strategies and pursue more meaningful goals.
Find more at https://www.OptimalWork.com.
