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Lifestyle is the way we lead our lives. The routine, the behavior and the habits determine our lifestyle. And our lifestyles have a huge impact on our health.
In this podcast, Dr. Suraj Gogoi discuss the impact lifestyle changes have on health and wellness. He further talks about how employers can help their employees build healthy lifestyles.
Key Takeaways
- Lifestyle runs on six pillars, not one. Suraj frames healthy living around sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, meaningful relationships, and purpose — and treats them as interlocking, not optional add-ons.
- Sleep is the unlock. Fix sleep first and the other pillars get easier — eating well, moving more, and staying focused all flow from seven to eight hours of real rest, not screen-lit late nights.
- Ideas are cheap; commitment is rare. He argues most people know what to do; what's missing is the proactive, affirmative action that turns self-awareness into a new daily routine.
- Workaholic culture is a lifestyle type — and a trap. When work is driven by external validation rather than internal purpose, it stops being a career and starts producing chronic stress.
- Employers shape lifestyle at scale. Flexible hours, real breaks, healthy snacks, gym access, wellness programs, team-building, and a genuine nudge to take holidays all move employees toward healthier defaults.
- Single-tasking beats multitasking. Focusing on one task at a time during the corporate day reduces the "I didn't do anything well" overwhelm that fuels burnout.
- Living is not the same as lifestyle. Lifestyle is the structure you choose; living is being present inside it — without which even a well-designed routine feels like a battle.
In Suraj's Words
On the foundations of a healthy lifestyle
Sleep is one of the cornerstones of good health. Once you get the sleep dialled in well, the rest seems somewhat easier — eating healthily becomes easier, getting physical activity becomes easier, because you're feeling well-rested and energised.
We are not short of ideas as a society. We have ideas galore. We know what to do and what is not serving us well. But those ideas don't come to fruition until we commit and take proactive, affirmative action.
Your lifestyle doesn't have to be set in one certain way. You have got the capacity to create something new if you think the current lifestyle is not the right one for you. It's not etched in stone.
On the workplace's role
Employers have a lot of potential to help their employees lead healthy lifestyles. Flexible working hours, encouragement to take breaks, free healthy snacks, access to water, recreational facilities — these are small approaches, but they can be quite impactful.
Try to focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking constantly, because multitasking can feel overwhelming and leave you with a sense of, "I've not done even one job well." That leads to a lot of stress and frustration.
Corporate life is also play, like life is. Don't forget to have fun and don't feel guilty about taking time away from work — that can be as important as working hard for a living.
On living versus lifestyle
Lifestyle is what we get to create as an individual to enjoy this experience called life. Living is being in the present — not caught up in the past or anxious about the future. If there's anything real about life itself, it's the present moment.
Life shouldn't feel like a battle. We weren't sent here to fight for every good experience — we've made it that way because we've forgotten our true essence.
About the Speaker
Lifestyle is what we create as a person to enjoy the experience called "life". - Dr. Suraj Gogoi
Suraj Gogoi is a transformational coach-mentor and holistic psychiatrist with over twenty years of experience. He helps his clients create a life they love to live, enabling them to fully express their unique gifts and talents in the world. He works with individuals who want to get unstuck and move forward in their lives with more joy, satisfaction, and meaning.
Being qualified as a medical doctor and psychiatrist, Dr. Suraj's approach blends the best of traditional psychiatry and psychology with Eastern holistic practices, such as mindfulness and meditation.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Show Notes
00:33 Tell us about your journey in the area of wellness.
01:40 What does a normal day look like to you?
05:54 What are six lifestyle behaviors?
08:01 Is an early riser healthier than a late riser?
12:30 What determines a person's lifestyle?
17:52 What is a negative lifestyle?
20:14 What are the various types of lifestyles?
22:42 How do you balance personal and professional life?
26:53 Can employers also play a part in boosting a healthy lifestyle amongst their employees?
30:22 Are the terms "living" and "lifestyle" correlated?
34:39 Would you like to share some more valuable suggestions with our listeners?
Suggested Article: 10 Effective Ways To Combat A Sedentary Lifestyle
