Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

In this ⁠Huberman Lab Essentials⁠ episode, my guest is ⁠Dr. Emily Balcetis, PhD⁠, a professor of psychology at New York University who studies how visual perception influences motivation and goal pursuit. She explains how to better visualize and overcome challenges to achieve physical or cognitive goals. We also explore the science of setting goals, measuring progress effectively and research showing how fitness level and energy state can shape how difficult the world appears.

Show notes: go.hubermanlab.com/IoZCSSi

Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S&si=a1_sA7rUT-fE0OM5

*Huberman Lab*
Instagram: instagram.com/hubermanlab
Threads: threads.net/@hubermanlab
X: https://x.com/hubermanlab
Facebook: facebook.com/hubermanlab
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hubermanlab
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman
Website: hubermanlab.com
Newsletter: hubermanlab.com/newsletter

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Emily Balcetis
00:00:21 Adjusting Vision to Meet Goals, Exercise, Tool: Narrow Visual Target
00:07:39 Goal Setting, Do Vision Boards Work?
00:11:16 Tool: Effectively Plan Goals, Plan for Obstacles
00:16:40 How Fitness Shapes the Way People See the World
00:22:03 Visual Spotlight, Exercise & Physical Fitness Level
00:23:02 Stimulants & Motivation
00:24:24 Cognitive Goals, Tools: Overcoming Bad Memories; Deadlines
00:31:34 Acknowledgements

#HubermanLab #Science

Disclaimer & Disclosures: hubermanlab.com/disclaimer