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Are you plagued by the “middle problem” when you try to reach your goals? How could “chunking” help? What if you could leverage circadian rhythms?
Dr. Andrew Huberman’s “goals toolkit” will help you learn how to set and achieve goals. On an episode of his podcast Huberman Lab, he discussed goal setting, practical strategies for successful goal pursuit, and the role of motivation in goal achievement.
Continue reading to learn Huberman’s insights and advice on setting and reaching goals.
Andrew Huberman on Goals
According to Dr. Huberman, goals are easier to set and achieve when you understand how the brain approaches them. On his podcast, he touched on various aspects of neuroscience and provided practical advice for motivation and focus.
How Your Brain Approaches Setting and Meeting Goals
Dr. Huberman noted that, compared to typing, handwriting your goals and plans activates deeper parts of your neural circuits related to motivation. The act of writing by hand literally imprints your aspirations more firmly into the wiring of your nervous system. This provides an advantage for cementing your intentions and carrying them through.
Dr. Huberman made a distinction between concrete, quantifiable goals such as improving athletic ability and more abstract goals such as learning a new language. For these less tangible aims, you can get the structure you need by breaking down the overall goal into interim milestones with clear timelines.
Push Through Barriers to Build Neural Resilience
Unlocking your goals starts with embracing the uncomfortable. As Dr. Huberman explained, achieving your ambitions requires you to dive into complexity, facing situations that make you feel uncertain or even awkward. These very challenges spark crucial changes in your brain, building the neural strength needed for eventual success.
Think of the brain’s emotional processing center, the orbital frontal cortex, as your personal growth coach. It helps you see setbacks and confusion, not as failures, but as essential stepping stones. Through the discomfort of problem-solving, your neural connections reorganize, paving the way for positive behavioral changes. Over time, with perseverance and rest, your mind gains the remarkable ability to adapt and overcome any obstacle.
Keep Your Goals Private
Dr. Huberman championed a surprisingly simple strategy for boosting your chances of success: keep your goals private. His “Don’t Tell the World” rule might sound counterintuitive, but hear him out.
Sharing your goals widely can trigger a premature feeling of accomplishment, subtly eroding your drive and perseverance. Imagine celebrating a race before crossing the finish line; the anticipation itself can lull you into complacency. Keeping your sights focused internally fuels intrinsic motivation, pushing you further toward the real victory.
So, instead of broadcasting your ambitions, consider Dr. Huberman’s approach. Let your actions, not your announcements, speak volumes about your dedication. You might be surprised how much power lies in quietly pursuing your dreams.
Chunk Your Way to Success
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by a massive mountain of work? Dr. Huberman offered a simple yet powerful antidote: chunking. Imagine scaling that mountain, not in one daunting swoop, but one manageable step at a time.
Take a typical four-day study schedule. Chunks transform it from a dreaded marathon into achievable sprints. No more “Wednesday slump.” Each conquerable step fuels your energy and motivation, keeping you engaged until you reach the summit.
Of course, this method works for more than just studying. Write a book chapter by chapter, build a website page by page, or run a marathon one mile at a time. Each small victory fuels your progress, propelling you toward your ultimate goal.
Sync Up with Life’s Rhythms
Dr. Huberman shared a powerful hack to break free from rigidity in the pursuit of your goals: break down the goals into manageable bursts, aligned with the ebb and flow of life. These bursts can seamlessly dovetail with holidays, work cycles, and even our own circadian rhythms.
Dr. Huberman explained that our motivation peaks three times a day, syncing with our body’s natural rhythms. Harnessing these peaks with focused sprints can significantly boost productivity and goal achievement.
Use Visual Techniques to Unleash Motivation
Feeling the motivation wane on your goals? Dr. Huberman offered a range of personalized visualization practices to keep you fired up.
Start your day with a one- to three-minute visualization. See yourself achieving your goals, basking in the glow of success. This mental power-up primes your brain for a positive, goal-oriented mindset.
You can boost your motivation instantly by engaging in “visual target training.” Fixate on a symbol that represents your goal, even for just a few seconds. This simple act unlocks neurochemicals that sharpen your focus, giving your motivation a shot in the arm and making the effort feel lighter.
When you believe your motivation level is particularly low, Dr. Huberman recommended that you try a strategic dose of fear as a wake-up call: Briefly visualize the negative consequences of failing. That jolt can jumpstart your motivation and get you moving.
Sharpen Your Focus
Achieving your goals requires you to stay on task. To stay laser-focused, Dr. Huberman advised that you switch off your phone or put it in airplane mode.
Even focused time requires some form of rest. When you need help to push through periods of intense focus, take retina rest breaks. Relax your gaze by focusing on distant objects such as the horizon or the corners of the room. This panoramic vision refresh re-energizes your mind and keeps fatigue at bay.
Reward Yourself Unpredictably
Struggling to stay motivated? Dr. Huberman offered a unique twist: inconsistent rewards. Forget predictable pats on the back. Instead, sprinkle in random surprises when you hit milestones—from a delicious treat to a moment of self-respect. These unpredictable boosts activate powerful neurochemicals that keep your motivation burning bright.
When it comes to the timing of these unpredictable motivators, Dr. Huberman had a fun solution: flip a coin. Heads? Treat yourself! Tails? Keep pushing. This gamified approach adds a layer of excitement and helps you maintain intrinsic motivation, which Dr. Huberman highlighted as key to better mental and physical health, improved performance, and stronger relationships.
Dr. Huberman cautioned that moderation is key. Avoid overdoing it with rewards; it can actually dull their impact. Embrace the power of surprise.
Conquer “the Middle Problem”
Ever hit a wall halfway through a goal? Dr. Huberman called this motivation dip “the middle problem” and shared a clever strategy to combat it.
First, acknowledge the slump. Recognizing it’s a normal hurdle helps you stay calm and focused. Remember that “the middle” is just a stage, not a dead end.
Next, break it down. Divide this middle stage into smaller, more manageable chunks. Suddenly, that daunting mountain turns into conquerable hills. You’ll find your motivation naturally rekindled as you tick off each accomplishment.
Dr. Huberman’s Personal Example
Ever wondered what fuels Dr. Huberman’s incredible achievements? He shared his secret: unwavering commitment.
Take his running goals, for instance. Pushing himself toward longer distances isn’t just about physical accomplishment; it’s about the dopamine rush of task completion. The sense of self-respect and positive emotions fuel him further, proving that commitment leads to more than just ticked boxes.
And, it’s not just about exercise. Dr. Huberman swears by a phone-free workday to stay laser-focused and maximize productivity. Commitment to this personal rule ensures peak performance.
But, what about unexpected hurdles? When a packed schedule threatened his usual run, Dr. Huberman adjusted. A late-night 90-minute jog (a break from his routine) didn’t disrupt his sleep—it energized him. This reinforces his point: commitment thrives on flexibility, illustrating that even adjustments can lead to positive outcomes.
So, remember that true achievement isn’t about rigid plans. Dr. Huberman’s commitment code shows us that unwavering dedication, coupled with some adaptability, can unlock your full potential and transform any goal into a rewarding journey.
Wrapping Up
Dr. Huberman wrapped up the podcast episode with powerful takeaways for optimal learning and achieving your goals. It’s not just about working hard; physical and mental well-being are equally crucial. He cited a Stanford study showing how our perception of yesterday and anticipation of tomorrow impact our energy and focus. You must listen to your body and mind.
Want to dive deeper? Dr. Huberman invited listeners to engage with the podcast, explore their partnered wellness resources, and subscribe to their free monthly newsletters for tips on boosting neuroplasticity, sleep, fitness, and mental health.
And, don’t miss his regular scientific insights and tools on social media; follow him to stay ahead of the curve.
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In 2002, professors Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham published a summary of their 25 years of research on goal-setting, which could have been the final word in how to create goals.
Author Brian Tracy has traveled around the world to give thousands of seminars and talks about achieving goals—and he’s living proof that his principles work. His compelling rags-to-riches story shows just how much you can accomplish when you have a strategy for going after what you want. In Goals!, Tracy outlines the goal-setting method that worked for him, which consists of changing your mindset, being clear about what you want, using the power of visualization, and keeping track of your progress.
Our guide to the book explores Tracy’s method and how to apply it to your career, finances, relationships, and health. It also expands on his ideas with commentary exploring supplementary or alternative goal-setting strategies, as well as research on the science and psychology of goal-setting.
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