Tell me about Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker is a British neuroscientist, author, and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He has made significant contributions to the field of sleep research, focusing on the impact of sleep on physical and mental health, and he's involved in developing clinical methods for assessing and treating sleep disorders. As a public intellectual, he also shares insights on sleep science through his engagements and his own podcast.

One of the hardest parts of achieving goals, as mentioned by Andrew Huberman, involves balancing multiple goals and focusing on specific actions to reach your primary objectives. It can be challenging because humans have different kinds of goals (fitness, relationships, business, etc.) and pursuing many goals can be counterproductive, often causing some to fall by the wayside 1.

Furthermore, when goals are either too easy or too difficult, they can fail to properly engage the autonomic nervous system, and as a result, may not be pursued with the necessary determination 2. To overcome these obstacles, Huberman suggests limiting objectives to one or two major goals for the year to avoid cognitive and visual clutter, which can distract from goal pursuit 3. To enhance the likelihood of success, individuals should focus their attention on the goal and remove distractions 4.

Another aspect discussed on the Huberman Lab by social psychologist Emily Balcetis emphasizes the necessity to simultaneously consider the steps required to achieve the goal and anticipate the potential obstacles during the planning stage. This proactive approach can improve long-term motivation and readiness to handle any obstacles that arise, leading to increased success in achieving goals 5.