skill mastery

The pressure. The expectations. The anxiety. If there’s one thing that many of us have in common, it’s the stress that can come from performing in front of others. In this week’s episode, we revisit our 2021 conversation with cognitive scientist Sian Beilock about why so many of us crumble under pressure — and what we can do about it. 

Don't forget to check out the other episodes in our You 2.0 series, including last week's show about how we can harness our sight to achieve our goals. Also, if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. Thanks! 

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


CORE IDEA: Don’t Follow Your Passion   [3:07]

- Dividing time between multiple pursuits. [17:38]
- Implementing ideas from A World Without Email in small businesses. [22:17]
- Estimating the tie required to complete tasks. [27:42]
- Organizing household space for productivity. [34:12]
- Tips for passing a highly competitive exam. [43:01]


Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.