“Your brain isn’t your enemy—it’s your greatest ally. When you learn to listen to it, care for it, and train it with intention, it will take you farther than you ever thought possible.”
— George Haymaker
In a world where physical health often dominates the conversation around wellness, mental performance and brain health are still widely overlooked. But for George Haymaker—a former entrepreneur turned brain optimization coach—this oversight is exactly what inspired his mission. After battling addiction and burnout, George discovered that real transformation begins in the brain. Through deep exploration of neuroscience and personal healing, he realized that the brain isn’t just an organ—it’s a trainable partner that can be rewired for clarity, focus, and resilience.
In this insightful and empowering interview, George sits down with Stacey Chillemi to unpack what it truly means to optimize your brain. From understanding how burnout really happens to learning why your morning scroll habit is draining your mental fuel, George shares science-backed strategies and practical tools for taking control of your cognitive energy. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a high-performer, or simply someone who wants to feel better and think clearer, this conversation will help you shift the way you relate to your most powerful asset—your brain.
Thank you so much for joining us, George! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?
Thank you, Stacey. It’s great to be here. I spent most of my career building businesses as an entrepreneur. Outwardly, things seemed to be going well. But internally, I was silently struggling. Addiction became a serious part of my life, and eventually, I hit what I call a hard bottom. That experience forced me to reevaluate not just my life—but my mind. I dove headfirst into the world of neuroscience and brain performance, trying to understand why I was stuck in self-destructive cycles. What I discovered changed everything: our brains aren’t static or fixed. They’re trainable, adaptive, and incredibly forgiving. That revelation was my turning point. Today, I help others gain that same understanding so they can live, lead, and think more powerfully.
Can you explain what brain optimization really means and why it matters?
Brain optimization is about working with your brain—not against it. It’s about tuning into what it needs so it can perform at its highest level. We often optimize our diets, exercise routines, and schedules, but neglect our brains. Yet the brain controls everything—our emotions, our decisions, our focus, and our relationships. When we understand what fuels it, what drains it, and how to recover and train it, we unlock new levels of energy, clarity, and resilience.
What inspired you to view the brain as a “partner” in life?
That perspective came from necessity. I used to view my brain like a faulty machine—something I had to suffer through. But as I began healing, I started seeing my brain more like a teammate. It wasn’t trying to sabotage me—it just needed support, structure, and understanding. Now I treat it with the same care and communication I would give a loved one. I check in, listen to its signals, and take responsibility for the way I treat it. That relationship has been transformational.
How do insights or “aha” moments actually shift the brain’s functioning?
Those moments are like lightning bolts. They illuminate new ways of thinking and break us out of old mental ruts. Neurologically, they create new connections between neurons—literally rewiring the brain. It might be a phrase someone says or a new way of viewing something, and suddenly your perspective changes. That shift is powerful because it opens doors that felt closed for years. It’s not just a feeling—it’s neuroplasticity in action.
Why do we randomly remember things hours after forgetting them?
That’s your brain’s sensory tagging at work. When we form memories, they’re not stored in one neat file. They’re connected to smells, sounds, visuals, emotions. So sometimes, a totally unrelated sensory experience—like hearing a song or tasting a food—can re-trigger that memory. It’s like a little backdoor opens, and suddenly, the memory returns. It’s one of the ways your brain is constantly connecting dots behind the scenes.
You describe the brain as a “resource tank.” What does that mean?
Your brain runs on energy—glucose, oxygen, neurotransmitters. It uses about 25% of your body’s energy every day. I call it a “resource tank” because it’s like a gas tank that fuels all of your mental activity. Every decision, every emotion, every task you complete depletes some of that fuel. If you’re not actively refilling it—with sleep, nutrition, hydration, and recovery—you’ll burn out. The better you manage that tank, the more focused, productive, and emotionally balanced you become.
How do we unintentionally drain our mental resources?
It happens all the time. Constant multitasking, jumping between apps, emotional stress, doom scrolling on social media—these all pull from the tank. Even worrying or doubting yourself is mentally expensive. We often don’t notice because it’s become normalized. But once you realize how much energy you’re spending on things that don’t serve you, you can start making smarter choices with your mental fuel.
Can we train our brains not to reach for distractions, like our phones?
Absolutely. That’s the beauty of neuroplasticity. If you catch yourself mindlessly reaching for your phone, pause. Talk to your brain. Explain that you’re creating a new habit because the old one isn’t helping you. It sounds silly, but it works. With repetition, your brain will adapt. In a few weeks, you’ll find yourself reaching less and focusing more. It’s about intentional rewiring—training your brain just like you’d train a muscle.
What are some key elements the brain needs to function optimally?
Nutrition is huge—slow-digesting carbs for steady glucose, proteins for neurotransmitters, and healthy fats. Hydration and oxygen through regular movement are also critical. But beyond that, your brain needs emotional safety and a calm environment. If you live or work in chaos, your brain is constantly in defense mode, leaking energy. Decluttering your space, creating routine, and managing your relationships help your brain feel safe enough to focus and perform.
Why does sugar make people anxious?
Because it floods your brain with glucose all at once, triggering a spike—and then a crash. That instability affects your neurotransmitters, which regulate mood. For many, it creates a jittery, anxious feeling. Over time, those fluctuations can lead to inflammation in the brain, which impacts your overall mental function. Stable, whole-food-based nutrition is one of the best ways to prevent those spikes and maintain emotional balance.
Is it possible to actually expand the brain’s resource tank over time?
Yes, and that’s the exciting part. By consistently prioritizing sleep, nutrition, movement, and mindfulness, you can build resilience. Your brain becomes more efficient and less reactive. You can also expand your focus and attention span with practice. It’s like upgrading from a compact car to a luxury vehicle—you still need to fuel it, but you’ve got more capacity and horsepower to work with.
How does burnout really happen?
Burnout is what happens when you consistently spend more than you deposit. You start the day with 30 gallons of brain fuel, and by 3 p.m., you’re on empty—but you keep pushing. That’s when focus drops, emotions become harder to regulate, and motivation disappears. Burnout isn’t always about overwork—it’s about inefficient energy management. The key is knowing what burns the most fuel and learning how to pace and recover throughout your day.
What’s one practical way to prevent burnout day-to-day?
Start your morning with calm—no screens, no emails, just quiet. Even five minutes of deep breathing can down-regulate your nervous system and prime your brain for focused work. Then structure your work into 90-minute blocks, followed by a short reset. Get up, stretch, take a walk, close your eyes. These micro-breaks keep your brain from spiraling into fatigue. It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing it with more intention.
What’s your take on working long hours when we’re in “flow” or under deadline?
Sometimes you need to lean in and go hard—that’s okay. But what matters is how you recover afterward. If you pull a 16-hour day, listen to what your brain says the next morning. If you’re foggy or unmotivated, it’s not weakness—it’s feedback. Use it to recalibrate your pace. Create systems that support long-term output, not just short-term hustle. Flow is beautiful, but it requires recovery to be sustainable.
What role does environment play in brain performance?
A massive one. Your surroundings are always feeding your brain signals. If your environment is cluttered, chaotic, or full of tension, your brain stays on high alert. That drains energy. A clean, organized, and emotionally safe space tells your brain it’s okay to relax, focus, and create. Whether it’s your home, office, or relationships, cultivating calm on the outside supports clarity on the inside.
How can someone start managing their brain performance today?
Start small. Choose one habit—maybe it’s not checking your phone first thing. Or adding five minutes of stillness to your morning. Or drinking more water. Pick something manageable and commit to it for a week. As you build trust with your brain, you’ll gain momentum. Over time, those small shifts compound, and you’ll begin to feel stronger, sharper, and more emotionally balanced.
What do you find most rewarding about your coaching work?
When someone says, “I thought I was broken, but now I get it.” That moment is everything. People often think their mind is the problem, but really, it’s just never been taught how to thrive. Watching someone move from confusion to confidence—when they realize their brain is an asset, not a limitation—is the best part of my job.
If you could leave our readers with one thought, what would it be?
Your brain is your greatest ally. It wants to support you, guide you, and help you thrive—but only if you care for it the way it cares for you. Don’t ignore its signals. Don’t treat it like a machine. Learn to listen, train it with love, and you’ll unlock levels of performance and peace you never knew were possible.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can visit me at georgehaymaker.com. I offer a free newsletter, downloadable brain hacks, and a link to schedule a discovery call. Whether you’re dealing with burnout, decision fatigue, or just want to improve your performance, brain coaching can help. My mission is to teach people how their brains actually work—so they can finally work with it, not against it.
George, thank you so much for this incredibly eye-opening conversation. Your insights were not only practical, but truly transformative. I know our readers will walk away feeling more empowered about how they manage their energy, habits, and mental performance.
Thank you, Stacey. It’s been a real pleasure. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share this message and I hope it sparks some “aha” moments for your readers. Let’s keep the conversation going!
