From Distracted to In Control: Building a High-Performance Life with Jason Henkel | #25

If you feel like your mind is loud, your focus is scattered, and you’re always “busy” but not actually moving forward… this episode will hit home. In this conversation, Jason Henkel — Chief Balance Engineer, creator of Spacious Productivity, and the “Productivity Whisperer” — breaks down why most people are not struggling with time… they’re struggling with self-management. We go deep into what keeps you distracted, why burnout sneaks up on high performers, and how to take back control of your mind, your energy, and your life. Jason shares the frameworks he used to rebuild himself after corporate burnout and teaches how to access flow, clarity, and balanced thriving without sacrificing your wellbeing. This episode is for anyone who wants the courage to act, the resilience to keep going, and the discipline to keep showing up when motivation fades.

What You’ll Learn

• Why you can’t focus (and how to fix it)

• How to escape the “trance of busyness”

• Self-management vs time management — the truth

• The neuroscience of clarity, focus, and flow

• How to slow down to go faster

• How to rest deeply and recharge your nervous system

• Why awareness is the foundation of high performance

• How to redesign your inner operating system

• Sustainable frameworks to avoid burnout

• How to create a high-performance life that actually feels good

Chapters:

00:00 Why this conversation matters

01:10 Jason’s burnout story and awakening

05:40 The lie of “just work harder”

08:22 How the trance of busyness hijacks your brain

11:55 Self-management vs time management

17:03 The role of rest, stillness, and nervous system recovery

20:42 Identity, ego, and the inner operating system

25:30 Why you can’t focus (Jason breaks it down)

29:50 Spacious Productivity explained

33:08 Flow states and “slow down to go faster”

37:56 Blind spots, awareness, and internal honesty

42:10 Balanced thriving and a new approach to high performance

48:55 The courage to shift your life

53:30 What holds people back

58:40 Jason’s daily practices for clarity

1:01:45 Final lessons + who Jason helps