Essentials: Tools for Setting & Achieving Goals | Dr. Emily Balcetis episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 19, 2026 · 36 MIN

Essentials: Tools for Setting & Achieving Goals | Dr. Emily Balcetis

from Huberman Lab · host Scicomm Media

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. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Emily Balcetis (00:00:21) Adjusting Vision to Meet Goals, Exercise, Tool: Narrow Visual Target (00:07:39) Sponsor: Eight Sleep (00:08:57) Goal Setting, Do Vision Boards Work? (00:12:34) Tool: Effectively Plan Goals, Plan for Obstacles (00:17:58) Sponsor: AG1 (00:19:23) How Fitness Shapes the Way People See the World (00:24:46) Visual Spotlight, Exercise & Physical Fitness Level (00:25:45) Stimulants & Motivation (00:27:06) Sponsor: BetterHelp (00:28:20) Cognitive Goals, Tools: Overcoming Bad Memories; Deadlines (00:35:31) Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Emily Balcetis (00:00:21) Adjusting Vision to Meet Goals, Exercise, Tool: Narrow Visual Target (00:07:39) Sponsor: Eight Sleep (00:08:57) Goal Setting, Do Vision Boards Work? (00:12:34) Tool: Effectively Plan Goals, Plan for Obstacles (00:17:58) Sponsor: AG1 (00:19:23) How Fitness Shapes the Way People See the World (00:24:46) Visual Spotlight, Exercise & Physical Fitness Level (00:25:45) Stimulants & Motivation (00:27:06) Sponsor: BetterHelp (00:28:20) Cognitive Goals, Tools: Overcoming Bad Memories; Deadlines (00:35:31) Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Essentials: Tools for Setting & Achieving Goals | Dr. Emily Balcetis

0:00 36:13

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Destination Cosmo Travel Podcast HD: Rick Steves Europe like Video Podcast, We Bring You to Beautiful Places in HD! Jason Diaz: Filmmaker, Traveler, Foodie, Podcast Host Destination Cosmo Travel Podcast is a Rick Steves Europe like Video Podcast. We bring you to Beautiful Places in HD! We cover Food like we're part of Food Network! Our podcast brings Serial, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, Radio Lab like production to Travel Video Podcast! Whether you are a Pro Traveler, an Amateur Traveler, or even a Disney Podcast Radio Show Lover, we think we can show you a thing or two! So join Jason and Michelle and you may experience National Geographic Type Wanderlust! Dont forget to leave us a review! It will really help us out! Rania Awaad Muslim Central Dr. Rania Awaad M.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University’s Affiliate Chaplain. In the community, she serves as the Executive Director of Maristan.org, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. In addition, she is faculty of Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College and The Islamic Seminary of America.She is also a Senior Fellow for Yaqeen Institute and the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Women in Business Impact Lab (WBIL) Podcast Women in Business Impact Lab Maximize your leadership potential and professional advancement and be inspired by the Women in Business Impact Lab Podcast! We’re your source for personal, professional, and #OrganizationalGrowth and development from a women-in-business perspective. We share our own original #Research, explore #IndustryTrends and #WorkforceTrends, and interview female executives, allies and thought leaders from across the globe. Join us for practitioner-oriented content around all things #WomeninBusiness, #LeadershipChallenges, #TalentManagement, #OrganizationalDevelopment, #ChangeManagement, and #Diversity Malantau la Stono GreatOwl 2025 EP. Escape the lab: enter the forest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Huberman Lab?

This episode is 36 minutes long.

When was this Huberman Lab episode published?

This episode was published on March 19, 2026.

What is this episode about?

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...

Can I download this Huberman Lab episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!