Most people think recovery happens only after big efforts — holidays, weekends, or the yearly break we convince ourselves will “reset everything.”
But the truth is far simpler: your performance is shaped by the micro-recoveries you build into your day.

In this episode of The Cognitive Athlete Podcast, Clint breaks down the science and strategy behind micro-recovery, the small, deliberate resets that protect your energy, sharpen your focus, and prevent burnout long before it hits.

Drawing from neuroscience, real workplace examples, and lessons from high-performance environments, Clint explains why professionals are running on fumes — and how just a few intentional minutes can completely change the way your brain functions throughout the day.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why micro-recovery matters more than long holidays
✅ What happens in your brain when you don’t take breaks (decision fatigue, stress accumulation, emotional reactivity)
✅ How elite performers build recovery into training and how to translate that into knowledge work
✅ The easiest daily resets you can implement in under 60 seconds
✅ How micro-recovery restores creativity, clarity, and calm

Whether you’re a leader, a busy professional, or someone stuck in back-to-back meetings all day, this episode will help you reclaim your cognitive performance through small actions that compound into massive gains.

Small breaks create big gains.

Start adding 1–2 micro-recoveries into your day a short walk, a moment of stillness, a breath reset, or simply stepping away from the screen. You’ll think clearer, work smarter, and have more energy for what matters.

Visit thecognitiveathlete.com.au for free tools and resources to help you improve your energy, focus, and performance.

📘 Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete — in stores 29 December 2025 👉 https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ

Do you ever feel like your brain never switches off?

You’re not alone.

In this episode, Clint unpacks the science and psychology of cognitive overload — and why being constantly “on” quietly erodes your focus, creativity, and wellbeing.

Drawing on research from neuroscience and Microsoft’s Human Factors Lab, plus stories from high-stakes environments like the RAF, Clint reveals what really happens when we push our brains without rest: decision fatigue, emotional reactivity, and creativity collapse.

You’ll learn:

• Why multitasking is a myth that kills deep focus
• What your brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) does when you rest — and why it’s vital for problem-solving and innovation
• The early warning signs of mental burnout
• Simple recovery habits that protect clarity and energy — from micro-breaks to cognitive resets

Takeaway:
Protect your focus like an athlete protects recovery days. Even short mental breaks restore clarity, reduce stress, and make you more effective.

Key idea: Sustainable performance isn’t about squeezing more hours from your day — it’s about designing rhythms that keep your brain sharp and resilient.

New episodes every Monday — helping you train your brain for sustainable peak performance.

Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete book — in stores 29 December 2025👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZ⁠

Take the free Cognitive Athlete Self-Assessment at thecognitiveathlete.com.au

Most professionals try to “go hard all year” — and wonder why they crash. In this episode, Clint shares why that mindset fails and what you can do instead.

Drawing parallels between athletic season planning and corporate life, Clint explores how rhythm and recovery drive sustained high performance. From his days in the RAF to coaching modern leaders, he’s seen firsthand that the people who thrive are the ones who work with their biology, not against it.

You’ll learn:

• Why sprinting endlessly through your work year leads to exhaustion
• How elite performers use periodisation — training, tapering, and recovery — to stay sharp
• How to map your own performance highs and lows over the past 12 months
• Why recovery isn’t a reward, it’s a strategy

Takeaway:
Draw a simple graph of your past year — mark your energy highs and lows. Patterns will emerge. Your best performance happens in rhythm, not constant output.

Coming up next: how to recover with purpose and rebuild momentum.

Pre-order The Cognitive Athlete book — in stores 29th December 2025 👉 ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4fVUHwZLearn more and take the free Cognitive Athlete Self-Assessment at thecognitiveathlete.com.au