Is It This Hard for Everyone?

About Is It This Hard for Everyone?

Is It This Hard for Everyone? is a science-backed life optimization podcast for people who want to feel better, think clearer, and live more intentionally, without falling for gimmicks or toxic productivity culture. Each week, we break down research from psychology, behavioral science, & health, translating it into practical experiments you can run in your own life. From habit formation to emotional resilience, we explore what the data says and what actually works in real life. New episodes weekly. Join me to optimize your life intelligently and intentionally.

Publisher

Amanda

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Apr 2024

Latest episode

18 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

4 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Mar 2026

   Work Smarter, Not Harder: The 80/20 Rule That Will Change How You Approach Your To-Do List

   Ever feel like you're working non-stop but not getting anywhere? In this episode, I break down the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule) and show you exactly how to apply it to beat perfectionism, boost your productivity, and focus on what actually matters. I'll give you a simple exercise you can do TODAY to prioritize your tasks like a pro. If you're ready to get more done with less stress, this one's for you. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/blue-wednesday/lefty (https://uppbeat.io/t/blue-wednesday/lefty)License code: U8DSAQUPK8KOQOAO

2. 

   25 Feb 2026

   Why Your Life Feels Faster (And How to Slow It Down with the Novelty Rule)

   Why does childhood feel endless, but the last five years feel like they disappeared? In this episode, I break down something I call The Novelty Rule — the idea that intentionally introducing new experiences into your life can actually make your life feel longer. Your brain is a prediction machine. When experiences are repetitive, it compresses them. When something is new, it creates a prediction error, activates dopamine, and strengthens memory encoding in the hippocampus. Novel moments take up more “mental space” in hindsight, which is why routine makes time blur, and novelty stretches it. We’ll talk about: Why your brain compresses familiar experiences How dopamine signals importance (not just pleasure) Why childhood feels long and adulthood feels fast The connection between novelty, neuroplasticity, and cognitive health My simple framework: 1 small disruption daily, 1 new experience weekly, 1 new skill quarterly, and 1 big event annually If you’re tired of life feeling like it’s on autopilot, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to add years to your life to expand it. Try the Novelty Rule this week and see what happens. Study referenced:Rutledge, R. B., Skandali, N., Dayan, P., & Dolan, R. J. (2014). A computational and neural model of momentary subjective well-being. Psychological Science, 25(3), 780–790. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613504966 (https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613504966) Intro and outro music by Pecan Pie.

3. 

   18 Feb 2026

   Rewiring Your Brain: How I Made a Mind Movie (and Why It’s Working)

   I used to think affirmations were kind of… dumb. Standing in front of a mirror saying “I am beautiful, I am successful, I am happy” just didn’t feel constructive to me. But after learning about limiting beliefs, everything clicked. In order to change your actions, you must first change your beliefs. In this episode, I share how I created my first mind movie, a short, personalized visualization video combining affirmations, music, and imagery; and why it’s already shifting my thought patterns after just one week. We’ll talk about: How limiting beliefs are formed Why affirmations sometimes don’t stick The psychology behind repetition and visualization What a mind movie is and why it works How to create your own (step-by-step) If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or like your goals are “not for you,” this episode will show you how to start rewiring that narrative, just two minutes at a time.Intro and outro music by Pecan Pie.

4. 

   7 Apr 2024

   The Pareto Principle

   The woo wooing is just mother nature cheering you on.

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.