How I Work

Latest Episodes:

Quick Win: How to spend less time worrying May 26, 2025

Show notes

Worrying can take up so much of our time, especially when most of what we worry about never actually happens.

This worrying uses up time that could be better spent on the things that truly count, but how can we reduce this and actually free up that time?

Oliver Burkeman is a New York Times bestselling author of books such as ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’ and ‘Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts’. Oliver is also a regular columnist for The Guardian.

Oliver shares:

🧬 The evolutionary reason we worry and why it doesn’t serve us effectively in a modern world
🤔 Why understanding why we worry is the first step to minimising the amount of time it takes up
🛠️ Some key strategies we can all use to reduce our time spent worrying

Listen to the full interview with Oliver here: https://amantha.com/podcasts/want-to-make-time-for-the-things-that-count/

Connect with Oliver via his website, or get his latest book, Meditations for Mortals, here

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The productivity myth I had to unlearn May 21, 2025

Show notes

If your to-do list is full but your energy is gone, this episode is for you.

In this special crossover episode from the This Is Work podcast, I sat down with Shelley Johnson to talk about energy, deep work, and why true productivity has more to do with cold water and Kindles than hustle and hacks.

I also share what’s working (and what’s not) as I write my fifth book on burnout and depletion, including the habits I’ve doubled down on, and the ones I’ve thrown out.

In this episode Shelley and I talk about:

The counterintuitive productivity hack I use daily

How I re-work book concepts while walking and talking to ChatGPT

The “hall pass” rule that makes new habits actually stick

Why minimum effort often leads to maximum energy

Key Quotes:

“So much advice out there is completely unattainable. I’m interested in what gives us energy that’s actually doable for real people.”

“It’s not about doing more. It’s about being smart with the time and energy we do have.”

“If we don’t track where our time is going, we’ll keep spending our energy on the wrong things.”

“Just splashing cold water on your face can be enough to reset. You don’t need to jump into an ice bath.”

Connect with Shelley via LinkedIn, or through Boldside’s Instagram and website. For more conversations on meaningful work, sustainable success, and showing up as your best self – check out Shelley’s podcast this is work.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quick Win: How break out of the email cycle trap May 19, 2025

Show notes

Do you find yourself set up for a productive day, only to be derailed by your emails?

Checking and replying to emails can eat up so much time - and what’s worse is that the false sense of productivity checking email provides can be very addictive.

The problem of spending way too much time in my inbox has been bugging me for some time, so I was very excited to find out that Michael Bungay Stanier has had similar problems and has been working on solutions.

Michael is a renowned speaker, teacher and author whose books have sold over 1.5 million copies. In fact, his best known book, The Coaching Habit, topped the Wall Street Journal bestseller list with Brenè Brown calling it “a classic”. He was named #1 Thought Leader in Coaching by Thinkers50, and has been featured in top publications like Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company.

Michael is clearly very busy and can’t afford to waste time on emails, yet he still finds himself procrastinating with them.

But he has a lot of strategies and tricks that we might be able to use.

Michael shares:

Why we get stuck in the cycle of emails even when we know we shouldn’t
The techniques and programs we can use to reduce email use
Why you might need to use incentives and consequences to enforce your email reduction strategies.

Listen to the full interview here.

Connect with Michael via his website,Instagram, LinkedIn, or buy the Do Something That Matters Journal.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlock your phone's hidden superpowers: Eight game-changing features you're not using May 14, 2025

Show notes

Your phone isn't just a device – it's a Swiss Army knife of untapped potential sitting in your pocket. In this episode, we dive deep into the secret capabilities your smartphone has been hiding from you, transforming how you'll use technology forever.

From instantly identifying any plant on your daily walk to scheduling texts that make you look professionally put-together (even when you're not), these features aren't just clever tricks – they're life-changing hacks the tech companies never bothered to tell you about.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to create custom keyboard shortcuts that will save you hours of typing each month
The hidden camera feature that can identify any plant, animal or object with a single tap
Why your expensive white noise machine is now redundant – and how to access soothing sounds for free
The game-changing way to schedule texts to send at appropriate times (perfect for midnight inspiration)
How greyscale mode can dramatically reduce your screen addiction without willpower
The built-in optical character recognition that instantly digitises any text you point your camera at
A native call recording solution that doesn't require dodgy third-party apps
The automatic transcription tool that converts voice to text with surprising accuracy

Whether you're a productivity obsessive or just want to squeeze more value from your expensive device, these tips will revolutionise your relationship with the technology you use every day.

***

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quick Win: Lisa Leong reveals why doing a ‘pre-mortem’ could revolutionise how you set and achieve your goals May 12, 2025

Show notes

Do you find yourself setting the same goals year after year, only to leave them unaccomplished?
If so, it might be time to try a new strategy for planning your goals.

In this quick win I’m joined by ABC broadcaster and Host of ‘This Working Life’, Lisa Leong to talk about why a pre mortem could be the strategy you need to set achievable goals for the year.

Lisa shares:

What a ‘pre-mortem’ is and how it can help you set achievable goals for the next year
How to make sure a ‘pre-mortem’ works if you are doing it for a team
Why a ‘pre-victorum’ is essential to do as well if you are setting personal goals

Listen to the full interview with Lisa here.

Connect with Lisa via Instagram, or check out ‘This Working Life.”

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask Me Anything with Dr. Amantha Imber: My productivity systems, daily habits & overrated advice May 07, 2025

Show notes

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes and answering your questions about how I structure my day, manage distractions, and design habits that truly stick.

From my early-morning writing sessions to the psychological hacks I use to stay focused (especially on “off” days), I’m sharing what’s genuinely worked for me - and what hasn’t.

In this episode, I share:

The exact planning process I use every week and month

Why I don’t believe in only checking email twice a day

How I structure my day around my chronotype

The strategy I use when I’m feeling totally unfocused

How I’ve hacked my environment for better behaviour change

My go-to productivity tools and latest tech obsessions

Whether you’re deep in the productivity rabbit hole or just want to improve your focus and energy, there’s something here for you.

Amantha recommends:

Snipd: A genius podcast player for saving and sharing your favourite podcast moments. Grab a free month of Premium here

Whisper Flow: The effortless voice dictation tool that’s changed how I get my thoughts on the screen. Download it here

Have a question you want me to answer in the next AMA episode? Reach out via email (amantha@inventium.com.au) or socials – I’d love to hear from you!

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you running on empty? I have a solution. May 05, 2025

Show notes

I’m taking a different approach to writing my next book and I want you to join me.

My free eight-week experiment starts Monday, 12 May.

Receive 3-5 evidence-based energy-boosting strategies each Monday.

Complete the application form using the link below (takes less than 1 minute):

https://inventium.typeform.com/to/ZZ56wn6u

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 5-minute brain workout Muse co-founder Ariel Garten swears by for better focus Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

You’re not lazy. You’re just out of capacity — and no amount of to-do lists can fix that.

So what do you do when your brain is fried, your calendar is full, and you're still trying to show up for the people (and priorities) that matter most?

Neuroscientist Ariel Garten has been there. As the co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing headband used by over 500,000 people and backed by 200+ clinical studies, she’s learned how to work with her brain, not against it — using real-time feedback, five-minute resets, and a deeply human understanding of what it means to do less, better.

In this episode, Ariel and I talk about:

How she uses Muse to train her brain across focus, emotion regulation, and sleep

The five-minute session she does daily to “work out” her prefrontal cortex

What happens after meditation that makes the biggest difference

Her go-to system for catching herself when she’s stressed, triggered, or procrastinating

If you’ve been trying to push through the overwhelm, this conversation is a powerful reminder that focus, calm, and clarity aren’t things you force - they’re things you can train.

Key Quotes:

“What you have to do is recognise that it’s ok to have limitation and it's ok to only do so much in a day.”

“Forcing yourself to do something that you're not good at, trains you to just do it better each and every time.”

“My bad habits became my triggers for better habits — but only once I noticed them.”

Connect with Ariel via LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (Twitter). Learn more about brain training and mindfulness with Muse and listen to her podcast Untangle.

Save 15% on the Muse headband when you shop here and use the code HOWIWORK at checkout.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quick Win: How to take a self-compassion break Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Did you know that just like a coffee break, or a toilet break, you can take a self-compassion break?

And did you know using regular self-compassion can transform how you respond to setbacks?

Professor Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the study of self-compassion with multiple best-selling books on the topic, and she believes a self-compassion break can make all the difference to your wellbeing.

Kristin shares:

🎧 A special, full walkthrough experience of how to take a self-compassion break. This is something you can come back and listen to every time you’d like to experience one.

Listen to the full interview with Kristin here.

Connect Kristin via X, Linkedin, or on her website.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEST OF: How to have a meeting that isn't a complete waste of time with Prof Steven Rogelberg Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

BEST OF

Are the meetings you lead not actually getting enough done? Are you worried that participants are leaving them feeling annoyed? If so, then this episode is for you.

Professor Steven Rogelberg is an organisational psychologist, an award-winning author and the world’s leading expert on workplace meetings. He is an award-winning teacher with over 200 publications and has been cited well-over 12,000 times in the academic literature. Steven’s keynotes on meetings span the globe and occur at the world’s leading organisations such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pfizer, Cisco, Bank of America, PayPal, The United Nations, and many more.

His book, The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performancehas been on over 25 “best of” lists including being recognized by the Washington Post as the #1 leadership book to watch for. To top it off, Adam Grant has called Steven the “world’s leading expert on how to fix meetings”.

In this episode Steven shares:

How to figure out if something should actually be a meeting and who needs to be invited to it
The common traits that make an effective meeting leader and the mistakes we make that can derail a meeting
Some unusual and unique techniques you can use to liven up your meetings
The role of AI in meetings and what you should and shouldn’t use it for
What you need to do before and after a meeting to ensure maximum success

Key Quotes:

“One of the best predictors of the mood of a meeting is the mood of the leader coming into the meeting.”

“We act with intentionality all the time when we're meeting with important stakeholders, but we don’t act with intentionality when it comes to meeting with our peers.”

“The characteristic of really good meeting leaders is they understand that meetings need an ending.”

Connect with Steven via his website and linkedin.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:

Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.