← Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

One Hundred Episodes On - What I’ve Learned From Podcasting with Dr Rangan Chatterjee #100

Mar 4, 2020 1h 19m 56 insights
Spinach or kale? Jeans or tracksuit bottoms? Running or swimming? They’re not the usual questions my podcast guests have to ponder. But this week’s episode is a special (and occasionally silly) one – it’s our centenary so it’s me in the hot seat. I thought I’d take a break from interviewing and invite my good friend Dr Ayan Panja back on the show to ask the questions and have some fun. Of course, it’s not all banter. Among the many topics we cover, Ayan and I talk about the milestone of reaching 100 episodes and how the podcast has evolved in that time. We discuss what I get out of the podcasting process as host – it has taught me mindfulness, trust, self-belief and expanded the role of ‘doctor’ in ways I never expected. We also discuss our favourite episodes and what it is that makes some conversations just flow. And Ayan asks me that all-important question: what’s next? Whether you’re new to this podcast or you’ve been with me from the start, I’d like to say a huge thank you for being part of the Feel Better Live More community. If you have any ideas for how you’d like to see it develop, I’m all ears.  Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/100 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Just Start, Avoid Paralysis

Don’t wait for ideal conditions or perfection before beginning a new endeavor or making life changes, as waiting often leads to inaction; instead, start and adapt as you go.

2. Prioritize Consistent Small Changes

Achieve results in any area of life, especially health, by making small, easy-to-do changes (like five-minute interventions) and consistently applying them daily.

3. Choose Enjoyable Activities for Longevity

For any long-term endeavor, especially lifestyle changes, select activities that you genuinely enjoy, as this increases the likelihood of sustained engagement and success.

4. Define Success by Internal Happiness

Re-evaluate your definition of success, focusing on whether your actions bring you internal happiness and if you would pursue them even without external recognition or audience.

5. Prioritize Undistracted Family Time

Consciously allocate and protect dedicated, distraction-free time each week for your family and friends, recognizing that these relationships are a core measure of personal success.

6. Act on Life’s Important Signals

Continuously observe and respond to life’s reminders of what’s important, making conscious changes in your behavior and priorities based on these signals.

7. Self-Awareness for Balance

Understand that perfect work-life balance is an illusion; instead, cultivate self-awareness to recognize your body’s needs during busy times and proactively plan lighter periods to restore equilibrium.

8. Understand Emotional Programming

Recognize that emotions, thoughts, and childhood programming significantly influence adult feelings and health, and actively work on these areas for profound personal improvement.

9. Address Childhood Programming

Examine your childhood experiences and learned behaviors, identifying those that no longer serve you as an adult, and actively work to change them for personal growth.

10. Detached Reflection for Calm

Practice reviewing past experiences, including childhood, with emotional detachment to understand their impact, fostering calmness and self-security by working to change unhelpful patterns.

11. Control Digital Borders

Take active control of your online environment by blocking or unfollowing toxic social media accounts that negatively impact your mental state, as no one else will manage your digital exposure for you.

12. Curate Positive Social Media

Actively manage your social media feed to prioritize positive information and follow individuals who present differing views respectfully, avoiding negativity to protect your mental well-being.

13. Avoid Online Toxicity

When faced with rude or trolling comments online, choose to disengage and instead focus your energy on creating or consuming positive and meaningful content.

14. Practice Respectful Disagreement

When encountering differing opinions, especially online, strive to engage in discussions with respect and politeness, avoiding rudeness or trolling.

15. Practice Mindful Conversations

Engage in long-form, face-to-face conversations without distractions like phones, maintaining eye contact and full presence to improve mindfulness, focus, and presence in other life areas.

16. Trust Your Conversational Instincts

When engaging in conversations, especially when unprepared, trust your ability to be present, listen carefully, and respond authentically, rather than getting stressed or canceling.

17. Cultivate Self-Trust in Dialogue

Develop confidence in your capacity to engage in spontaneous conversations, even without prior preparation, trusting that you will find the right words and direction.

18. Simplify Your Health Approach

Recognize that improving your health doesn’t have to be complicated; seek out simplified methods and information to make it more accessible and achievable.

19. Implement Simple Health Tips Immediately

Actively seek out and apply straightforward advice and strategies that can be put into practice right away to positively change how you feel.

20. Convert Inspiration to Action

Don’t let inspiration remain passive; actively translate motivating ideas and insights into tangible steps and changes in your daily life.

21. Utilize Lifestyle as Treatment

Understand that lifestyle modifications can serve as a powerful form of treatment for various health conditions, often proving sufficient or significantly beneficial.

22. Experiment with Practical Health Tips

Actively seek out and be willing to experiment with practical health advice from various sources to discover what positive changes they might bring to your well-being.

23. Implement “Feel Better in 5”

Adopt the “Feel Better in 5” philosophy, dedicating five minutes daily to your mind, five minutes to your body, and five minutes to your heart to improve overall well-being.

24. Consistent “Feel Better in 5” Practice

Even during busy periods, consistently dedicate at least five minutes daily to your mind, body, and heart as a foundational practice to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health.

25. Seek Free, Time-Efficient Well-being

When looking for well-being practices, prioritize those that require minimal time (e.g., five minutes) and are free, making them highly accessible and sustainable.

26. Plan Downtime After Busy Periods

Recognize and anticipate periods of high busyness, then proactively schedule and commit to compensatory downtime, rest, and reduced travel in subsequent periods to restore balance.

27. Teach Children Early Self-Care

Focus on educating children about the importance of self-care and well-being from a young age, as this foundational knowledge can prevent the need to unlearn unhealthy habits later in life.

28. Define an Impactful Mission

Articulate a clear and ambitious mission for your work that guides your decisions and focuses your efforts on making a significant positive impact.

29. Mission-Driven Decision Making

Let your overarching mission serve as a filter for career and project opportunities, making decisions easier by choosing only those that align with and significantly contribute to your stated goals.

30. Focus on Purpose, Not Medium

Understand that the medium (e.g., TV, podcast) is a tool to achieve your purpose, not the purpose itself; prioritize your core mission over external recognition or specific platforms.

31. Self-Empowerment in Health

Actively seek knowledge and implement lifestyle changes to improve your health, potentially reducing the need for frequent doctor visits and easing strain on healthcare systems.

32. Acknowledge Project Workload

Be aware of the significant time and effort required for ambitious projects; if feeling overwhelmed, assess the structural demands and consider making changes to manage the workload effectively.

33. Start with Passion, Learn as You Go

Don’t delay starting a project until every detail is perfect; instead, begin with passion and commitment, and be prepared to learn and adapt as you progress.

34. Incorporate More Planning

Dedicate more time to planning for future projects and activities to ensure better organization and execution.

35. Seek Diverse Perspectives

Actively engage with a wide range of voices and topics to expand your understanding and challenge preconceived notions, particularly about broad concepts like health.

36. Learn and Teach Through Stories

Recognize the power of narrative; seek to understand information through personal stories and experiences, and use storytelling to convey messages effectively to others.

37. Simplify for Greater Impact

When communicating, prioritize making complex information simple and easily understandable, ensuring that your audience can readily digest it and put it into practice.

38. Choose Topics of Genuine Interest

When selecting subjects or individuals for discussion, prioritize those that genuinely pique your curiosity, as your authentic interest will translate to a more engaging experience for others.

39. Prioritize Face-to-Face Conversations

Whenever possible, choose to have conversations in person, as direct eye contact and observing facial expressions enhance the quality and connection of the interaction.

40. Be Present for Family in Need

Be willing to cancel other commitments and dedicate time to support family members during difficult times, as being present for them is a top priority.

41. Dedicate Unhurried Time to Loved Ones

Instead of rushing through tasks when visiting loved ones, consciously choose to sit, relax, and engage in unhurried conversation for quality connection.

42. Continuously Adapt Self-Care

Maintain a continuous learning mindset about how to best care for yourself, adapting strategies to balance professional impact with personal time and well-being.

43. Diverse Health Information Sources

Adopt an open mindset to receiving health information from a wide range of individuals, not exclusively from qualified healthcare professionals, as everyone has something to share.

44. Join Supportive Online Groups

Consider joining online communities, such as Dr. Chatterjee’s Four Pillar Tribe on Facebook, to connect with like-minded individuals, seek advice, and offer support.

45. Engage in Real-Life Meetups

Actively look for and join local community groups or events related to your interests to foster human connection and meet like-minded individuals.

46. Participate in Local Health Meetups

Find or start local meetups, like the “Feel Better Live More” groups, to connect with others who share an interest in health, go for walks, and discuss well-being themes.

47. Utilize Minimalist Footwear for Pain

Explore wearing minimalist shoes, such as Vivo Barefoot, as they may be beneficial for alleviating back, hip, and knee pain, and enhancing general mobility.

48. Utilize Minimalist Shoe Trial

If considering minimalist shoes, use Vivo Barefoot’s 100-day trial for new customers to test them out, knowing you can return them for a full refund if unsatisfied.

49. Daily Whole-Food Supplement

If you struggle to meet daily nutritional needs from food alone, consider taking a comprehensive whole-food supplement like Athletic Greens as an insurance policy.

50. Access Athletic Greens Offer

Get a free travel pack of Athletic Greens (20 servings) with your first order by visiting athleticgreens.com/livemore.

51. Provide Podcast Feedback

Share your ideas and suggestions for future podcast development, including guest recommendations or topics, to help shape its direction.

52. Share Feedback with Hashtag

Provide feedback on the podcast and suggest future guests or topics on social media, using the hashtag #FBLM for easy identification.

53. Support Podcast on YouTube

Visit the podcast’s YouTube channel (drchatterjee.com/youtube), subscribe, and like videos to increase visibility and help share health conversations with a wider audience.

54. Use YouTube for Episode Recaps

Subscribe to the podcast’s YouTube channel to access short clips and highlights from each episode, allowing you to easily revisit favorite moments without listening to the full conversation.

55. Support Podcast with Reviews & Shares

Show support for the podcast by leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform and sharing episodes with friends and family.

56. Read Author’s Health Books

To gain a deeper understanding of the author’s health philosophy and ideas, consider reading his books, available in various formats.