Let’s be honest—most of us are out here trying to do 47 things at once, with a brain that sometimes feels like it’s powered by decaf. Hyperefficient by Mithu Storoni is basically a manual for getting your brain to stop acting like a tired hamster on a wheel and start performing more like a Formula 1 engine. (Well... a very well-rested Formula 1 engine.)

Storoni, who’s both a neuroscientist and a physician—which feels a bit like cheating at life—introduces this idea that your brain has different “gears.” Instead of grinding away in the wrong one all day (hi, burnout), you learn how to switch gears intentionally depending on the task. It’s kind of like learning to drive stick, but without stalling out in front of everyone at the intersection of “Too Much To Do” and “Can’t Focus.”

One of the best parts? She makes a strong case for taking breaks—and not the “check Instagram for 12 seconds and feel guilty” kind. Real, structured rest that actually helps your brain recharge. Who knew science would give us permission to take a breather?

What makes the book fun (yes, a neuroscience book can be fun) is how Storoni blends legit science with easy-to-follow advice. It doesn’t feel like homework; it feels like someone smart finally explaining how your brain works in a way that actually makes sense. And you don’t have to change your whole life to start applying it—small tweaks go a long way.

Bottom line: Hyperefficient is like a brain upgrade you didn’t know you needed. If you're tired of trying to be productive by sheer force of will (or caffeine), this book’s got your back. Plus, now you can say you’re “optimizing your cognitive gear-shifting,” which sounds fancy and might impress people at parties. Highly recommend.

Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC!

On the one hand, this is good information for those who are in high-powered jobs with long to do lists and lots of control flexibility to choose what to do and when. On the other hand, there's also the unfortunate truth that so many workers have no control over their schedule, so all these tips about how to structure your workday to do tasks when you're best suited for them are useless.

Hyperefficient" by Dr. Mithu Storoni challenges traditional workplace productivity models. The author argues that our current approach, rooted in industrial-era thinking, is ill-suited for today's knowledge-based work. Instead of trying to force our brains to conform to rigid work schedules, Dr. Storoni suggests aligning our work patterns with our natural cognitive rhythms.
This book seems to offer a fresh perspective on productivity, focusing on tasks that require creativity, problem-solving, and learning. By advocating for a brain-centric approach to work, it promises to help readers optimize their performance in ways that traditional time management strategies can't address.

This book was great for me as I am starting my career and finding different ways to stay focused & efficient were great.

I recently had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Hyperefficient by Mithu Storoni (Little, Brown and Company), and it’s going straight to my must-read list for 2024. As someone who entered the workforce when mailroom staff physically circulated memos, I’ve witnessed the workplace pace accelerate dramatically over the years. Despite that, I often feel we’re less efficient, not more. Mithu Storoni’s Hyperefficient sheds light on how we can better manage our brains to keep up with today’s demands and the quality of our work without sacrificing mental well-being.

If you’re juggling priorities, trying to stay productive, and feeling overwhelmed by distractions, this book is for you. Implementing just a few of Storoni’s strategies will change how you approach your work.

First, Storoni emphasizes the importance of recovery—something we often overlook. Instead of plowing through the workday, she highlights the value of micro-breaks, task-switching, and environments supporting divergent and convergent thinking. It made me reconsider how we design our workspaces, which are often tech-heavy but creativity-light.

Another critical insight is how we estimate tasks based on old production models despite knowing much more about cognitive load. Storoni urges us to rethink how we approach planning and deadlines, especially when creative thinking needs room to breathe.

And then there’s decision fatigue—something many of us experience daily. Storoni suggests automating routine decisions to conserve mental energy for what matters.

Hyperefficient offers a fresh take for those familiar with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow. While Flow is about achieving a joyful, immersive state, Hyperefficient is focused on maintaining high performance by managing cognitive resources. Storoni’s use of the "gears" metaphor is particularly effective in helping readers understand how to optimize their work output based on the task at hand.

I highly recommend Hyperefficient for anyone looking to excel without burning out. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on September 17th.

#LeadershipDevelopment #Productivity #Hyperefficient #CognitivePerformance #WorkplaceEfficiency