Dopamine Discipline: How to Do Better Work by Doing Less with Emily Heird

I talked with cognitive performance strategist Emily Heird about how professionals can avoid burnout and perform at their best by understanding how our brains respond to stress and distraction. We dug into how busyness has become a toxic badge of honor, why rest and recovery are essential for real productivity, and how chasing dopamine through devices or overwork is quietly wrecking our focus and mental well-being. Emily shared a practical system for building healthier habits so we can get more done with less strain.

Some of my biggest takeaways:

• Cognitive performance is about applying mental skills with intention. You don’t have to be in someone’s profession to help them do that well.
• Burnout isn't just a personal issue. For lawyers and others who use their brains as their main tool, failing to take care of yourself can lead to serious mistakes and ethical problems.
• The constant pull of email, social media, and "just one more thing" creates dopamine spikes that lead to anxiety, irritability, and distraction. Then we reach for another hit. It’s a loop that drains us.
• Emily teaches four pillars she calls dopamine discipline: regulate your inputs, get real rest, build recovery rituals, and grow resilience by building identity outside of work.
• Real productivity is about efficiency, not how many hours you grind. When you give your brain space to recover and focus, you do better work in less time.

To connect with Emily, visit vantageviewcoaching.com, find her on LinkedIn under Emily Heird, or subscribe to her newsletter through her website.



Charles Alexander has been a full-time Business Coach since 2007. He has coached over 2,000 entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and helped over 250 people start businesses. Then he decided to practice what he preached. After years of seeing the need for video marketing, he started creating Explainer Videos for Busy Professionals in 2015. That part-time business is now a full-time business with proven systems and a team.

Using those real-world experiences, I have created a boatload (well not a real boat, but you get the picture) of resources for you below, so you can start doing more by doing less!

Website - https://www.yourcharlesalexander.com/
Time Freedom Community - https://www.yourcharlesalexander.com/