268. Understanding Depression II: Good and Bad Tired

The OptimalWork Podcast

#268: Kevin and Sharif unpack why “good tired” and “bad tired” aren’t just degrees of fatigue but two distinct brain states tied to adenosine pathways—and how dopamine (and even caffeine) changes the experience. They translate cutting-edge neuroscience into practical steps you can test today: work from motives of love and service (to protect motivation), structure your day in focused sprints with real breaks (up to ~90 min work / ~15 min reset), and practice mindful unit-tasking to avoid the energy drain of context switching. They also cover what to do if you’re already in “bad tired,” plus break tactics that actually restore you—light, movement, hydration, and brief parasympathetic resets (prayer, mindfulness, a quick call). If marathons and multitasking leave you feeling futile or spent, this conversation shows how to finish the day “good tired” with strong sleep pressure and renewed momentum—and tees up next week’s deep dive on burnout and depression.

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