How to Stop Overthinking & Start Living a More Meaningful Life with Oliver Burkeman #580

Today’s guest asks an important question: What if finding joy lies in life’s simple moments?  Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today's clip is from episode 476 of the podcast with Buddhist monk and author Haemin Sunim. In our rush to achieve and reach our goals, we can often miss the beauty and richness of our current experiences. In this clip we discuss the importance of slowing down and being present, and, with that in mind, Haemin shares some practical tips for mindfulness that can help us reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. Thanks to our sponsor https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/476 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

10 Apr 21min

Is your ‘healthy’ breakfast actually dessert in disguise? Why is it that so many of us are struggling these days with our metabolic health? What is the relationship between our food and mood? And, what is the real deal with detox?   My guest today is someone, who for many years, has been leading a global health revolution, one revolved around using food as medicine, to support longevity, energy, mood and happiness.   Dr Mark Hyman has been a practising medical doctor for several decades and an internationally recognised leader, speaker and educator in the field of Functional Medicine. He is co-founder and the chief medical officer of Function Health, founder of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and the author of an incredible fifteen New York Times best-selling books.   This is Mark’s 4th appearance on my podcast and in today’s conversation we cover a variety of fascinating topics, including: The science of metabolic health How to break your reliance on sugar The connection between food and mood The multiple benefits of starting your day with protein The 10-Day food plan that can transform your energy, mood and digestion The problem that many people face with modern wheat and dairy The truth about food addiction The simple but effective method that can enhance the way you eliminate environmental toxins. Throughout our conversation, Mark's passion for empowering people to take charge of their health shines through. His accessible, evidence-based approach offers practical steps anyone can take. As he reminds us, small daily improvements in diet, movement and stress management compound over time – and it's never too late to start.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://drinkag1.com/livemore https://calm.com/livemore https://thriva.co   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/545   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

8 Apr 1h 44min

CAUTION: This podcast discusses fasting, and its advice may not be suitable for anyone with an eating disorder. If you have an existing health condition or are taking medication, always consult your healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating. “If you change the way you eat, you may feel completely different” - Dr Mindy Pelz Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today's clip is from episode 474 of the podcast with nutrition expert and best-selling author of ‘Fast Like a Girl’ and ‘Eat Like a Girl: 100+ Delicious Recipes to Balance Hormones, Boost Energy, and Burn Fat.’, Dr Mindy Pelz.  In this clip, Mindy shares how food can be a powerful tool to support your health and wellbeing, and we explore her ‘foundational five’ health principles, which include actionable strategies that anyone can implement. Thanks to our sponsor https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/474 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

3 Apr 24min

Have you ever wondered why the same traumatic experience affects different people in completely different ways? Or why finding pleasure in life is so fundamental to our mental wellbeing? To answer these questions and a whole host more, I'm joined this week by Dr Camilla Nord. Camilla leads the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab at the University of Cambridge and is author of the best-selling book, The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health. In this fascinating conversation, we explore: How everything that impacts our mental health ultimately works through the brain, and why we often artificially separate 'mind' from 'brain' and 'mental' from 'physical' health Why pleasure is so fundamental to mental wellbeing that a loss of it is a core symptom of depression, and how activities like social laughter can boost mood by releasing natural opioids The fascinating overlap between chronic pain and depression circuits in the brain – revealing why experiencing one increases your risk of developing the other How motivation varies throughout the day based on our individual body clocks, and why morning people and night owls have different energy patterns Interoception – our internal body awareness – and how practices like meditation, yoga and body scanning can enhance this crucial sense Why the placebo effect is so powerful and how a doctor's communication style can significantly impact treatment outcomes Throughout the conversation, Camilla emphasises that there is no one size fits all approach and that it’s the small, consistent actions that ultimately end up transforming our lives.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://drinkag1.com/livemore https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/543   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

1 Apr 2h 20min

Today I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend, Helen Hall back to the podcast. Helen is a movement therapist, a running coach, a pain expert and one of the best coaches in any modality that I have ever come across. She has had a lifelong passion for analysing posture and movement, and her clients include elite athletes, whether they be runners, cyclists or premier league footballers, but also everyday folk who simply want to walk or run pain-free.   She combines objective clarity from the most advanced motion analysis technology in the world, with 46 years of visual experience and study in the field, to seek out the root causes of chronic pain and injury, that often seem resistant to standard treatment protocols.    In order to help more people than those able to visit her in person, Helen first shared her movement philosophy in her wonderful book ‘Even With Your Shoes On’. Since then, Helen has created a series of online courses for professionals as well as members of the public who want to move better without pain. Her flagship online course is ‘A Troubleshooting Checklist for Walkers and Runners’ and she has a brand new course ‘Stress Incontinence: An Alternative Approach’. Helen is offering 40% off for Feel Better, Live More listeners until the end of April 2025 – go to https://www.helen-hall.co.uk and use the code FBLM40.   Helen first came on my podcast on Episode 216 back in November 2021 and many of you got in touch to say how helpful the tools shared in that episode were.    In this conversation, we continue where we left off: We talk again about the vital importance of our head position – and how to become aware of how you’re holding your own head, if you’re struggling to know. We bust the myth that running is bad for your knees. We discuss walk-run strategies and how they can help all of us reduce injury, recover more quickly and run faster. We discuss why ‘foot wiping’ - a very simple practice that I do on most days - could help you move with more ease. We talk about the importance of spending time barefoot. We discuss minimalist shoes and why we are both big fans.   Since I began working with Helen she’s become a cherished friend, whose wisdom and insights cover much more than walking and running. Her message for this brilliant episode is straightforward and optimistic: think about your head, think about your feet – and don’t assume that you can no longer move without pain. She is an inspiring lady, this is an inspiring conversation, I hope you enjoy listening.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore.  For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://drinkag1.com/livemore https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/542   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

30 Mar 2h 44min

Today’s guest believes that small lifestyle changes can lead to big improvements in brain function.  Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 469 of the podcast with globally renowned brain coach Jim Kwik. In this clip, he explains a simple framework for making change in our lives, and shares his top habits to optimise brain health and get the best out of our minds. Jim is such a wonderful and caring human being and a quite brilliant communicator, who has lots of practical knowledge that he is super passionate about sharing. Thanks to our sponsor https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/469 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

28 Mar 18min

Did you know that we spend six entire years of our lives dreaming? According to this week's guest, these dreams carry vital messages from our deepest selves that most of us never hear. James Hollis, PhD was originally a Professor of Literature and Philosophy at various universities until mid-life when he retrained as a Psycho-Analyst at the Jung Institute in Zurich. He currently lives and teaches in Washington, D.C. and is the author of twenty books, including his latest: Living with Borrowed Dust: Reflections on Life, Love and Other Grievances.   In this conversation, James explains the important difference between purpose and meaning, and shares how his own midlife depression at the age of 35 was a pivotal moment that caused him to confront the harsh reality that despite "doing all the right things," he wasn't living true to himself.   We explore the purpose of dreams and what vital messages are contained within them, why so many of us end up living our lives by other people's rules - trying to please family, fit cultural norms, or climb career ladders - and James explains that, whilst this approach might help us get by at first, it often leads to burnout, depression, and, ill health.   James also introduces us to his thought provoking “second half of life” concept  - not a chronological age but a psychological shift, when we start questioning who it is that we really are.   At nearly 85 years old and still seeing clients three days a week, James is full of clarity, perspective and wisdom. And I’m sure this conversation will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to live a more authentic life.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/540   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

26 Mar 1h 25min

Why does family matter so much to us? As today’s guest, renowned psychotherapist Julia Samuel explains, every client she’s seen in 30 years of practice, mentions their family members. Like it or not, we all carry our upbringing into our adult lives. Our family is wired in us genetically and it shows in our responses to life, our beliefs, and the ‘fault lines’ that trigger us in daily life. Could finding out more about our families be the key to knowing more about ourselves? Julia’s new book, Every Family Has A Story: How We Inherit Love and Loss is a powerful exploration of what we inherit, what we can change, and how inter-family relationships inform all aspects of our lives. Often unknowingly, we are a product of how our older relatives have coped with their experiences. It even shows up in our genes! Julia and I explore this subject of trans-generational trauma – or how our present-day struggles probably didn’t start with us (but learning and forgiveness can). In order to protect our children and grandchildren, Julia says, we need to process our feelings so we don’t pass them on. This might mean uncovering the secrets and untold stories from generations above you. And if that sounds daunting to put into practice, she has some wonderful advice for facilitating difficult conversations. We also discuss generational conflicts over parenting techniques, setting boundaries, and how to be compassionate and respectful with family members while also recognising and protecting your own needs. Whatever your family situation – whether you’re close, estranged or somewhere in between – there’s something we can all take from Julia’s powerful, original approach. Caution: contains mild swearing. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore.  For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsor: https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/539   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

23 Mar 1h 37min