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Returning to productivity after a break—such as the holiday season—requires addressing motivation from biological, psychological, and environmental angles. Foundational habits like consistent sleep, morning sunlight exposure, and stable blood sugar are critical, as poor sleep and ultra-processed foods create cycles of fatigue and demotivation. High-protein, savory breakfasts and meal pre-planning help sustain energy, while removing junk food from the environment reduces reliance on willpower.

Motivation is strongly influenced by social pressure. Public goals, accountability systems, and friendly competition can be powerful drivers, as seen in examples ranging from academic deadlines to shared fitness challenges. Cognitive strategies also matter: reframing tasks positively, focusing on areas within one’s control, and reducing exposure to demotivating news help prevent overwhelm and catastrophizing.

Small psychological “hacks” can restart momentum. Setting extremely low entry goals (e.g., one minute of work), using rewards through temptation bundling, and pairing dull tasks with personal interests can overcome resistance. Planning backwards from long-term goals into daily actions helps clarify priorities, while filtering down to only a few high-impact tasks reduces cognitive load.

Distraction—especially from phones and social media—was identified as a major threat to sustained motivation and attention, particularly for younger generations. Strategies include intentional media consumption, replacing news with educational or skill-building content, and deliberately creating environments that encourage focus and long-form engagement.

Biologically, creatine was discussed as a potential cognitive and motivational aid due to its role in ATP production, with evidence supporting benefits to working memory and processing speed; however, effects are dose-dependent and require caution due to possible kidney risks.

Overall, rebuilding productivity is less about brute discipline and more about designing systems—habits, environments, incentives, and information diets—that make motivation easier to sustain.

The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.

Rob McMullan LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan
Trevor McKee LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee
High Octane Friends website
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The main topic of the podcast was the importance and value of living abroad in an increasingly insular society, which led to a discussion of Adrienne Nemeth's move from Hungary to Paris due to the fall of communism, Trevor McKee's formative experiences in South Africa before immigrating to the US, and Rob McMullan's move from Canada to Japan to gain perspective. The participants concluded that living abroad, or even experiencing different perspectives through internal divides like the urban-rural split, is essential for fostering empathy, open-mindedness, and constructive dialogue, while also connecting these issues to the rise of corporate power and differences in economic systems, such as the collectivist nature of East Asia compared to the individualism in Western societies.

The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.

Rob McMullan LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan
Trevor McKee LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee
High Octane Friends website
highoctanefriends.com

Send us a text

Rob McMullan, Trevor McKee, and Patrick de Kruyff discussed the episode topic, "Your couch potato investment style has pre-diabetes." Patrick de Kruyff, an executive for Owens McFaden Group, critiqued the passive investing "couch potato" style, highlighting the concentration risk in ETFs and the need for personalized financial planning integrated with tax considerations, arguing that the gamification of investing preys on emotions. The participants also discussed the necessity of financial education in schools, institutional barriers leading to a Canadian tech brain drain, and the need for increased competition in Canadian finance to force innovation and improve services.

The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.

Rob McMullan LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan
Trevor McKee LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee
High Octane Friends website
highoctanefriends.com