The Habit Coach with Ashdin Doctor

Did you know that there is no known record for some of the oldest languages, or even a record of where they were created? We have about 7000 languages that are currently being used in the world. However, every now and then, a language becomes extinct! On this episode, Ashdin talks about how our own body is also always trying to talk to us. He talks about how it is important to explore and learn a...

Did you know that the neurotransmitter, dopamine, might have something to do with our levels of motivation as well? Motivation is a terrible way to achieve your goals. Yes, Ashdin said it! On this episode, Ashdin talks about how we can stop thinking of the short term and relying on motivation. Tune in to find out how. You can follow Ashdin Doctor on Instagram @ashdindoc ( https://www.instagram.com...

Did you know that silence can be an effective tool used to reduce anxiety? This is because silence has a very strong calming effect on the brain. Over the last few weeks, a lot of us have been feeling overwhelmed, what with all the news coming in, all the meetings over video, all the work from home and household chores, all of it can be quite overwhelming. On this episode, Ashdin talks about the p...

Did you know that there is a direct relationship between happiness and the immune system? On this episode, Ashdin talks about how we can boost our happiness with some passive habits - habits where a simple change in your environment can bring about a chance in your habits. Tune in to find out how to do so. You can follow Ashdin Doctor on Instagram @ashdindoc ( https://www.instagram.com/ashdindoc/?...

The word 'if' lends itself to an excuse very easily. On this episode, Ashdin talks about one of biggest killers of forming habits - excuses. It's because it's so easy to make an excuse, but harder to do what we commited to. What can we do to overcome this? Tune in to to find out. You can follow Ashdin Doctor on Instagram @ashdindoc ( https://www.instagram.com/ashdindoc/?hl=en ) Check out Ashdin's...

Did you know that there are over 75 different memes for sugar? With rising awareness of the harmful effects of sugar in consumers, companies have to keep finding new ways of hiding it in their products. On this episode, Ashdin talks about the two aspects of giving up sugar - the will to give up sugar, and the knowledge of how many foods that we eat have sugar in them. He also talks about his '100...

Did you know that flirting has been outlawed in certain cities? Back in 1902, flirting was outlawed in New York State! Over the years, flirting has had all kinds of meanings and connotations. Some people think flirting is evil, or that it's the same as having loose morals, or that it's always sexual in nature. On this episode, Ashdin talks about some misconceptions about flirting, what it actually...

Did you know that Steve Jobs restricted his kids from using the iPad or other technology? There is a need to know how to use technology without it taking over our lives. The use of the internet has increased exponentially in the last few weeks. That has also led to a lot more anxiety among people because of the news and social media. All of this may excite the mind, but it definitely destroys one'...

Did you know that the black volcanic rock called 'obsidian' was used as a mirror. Evidence for these kinds of mirrors were found in Turkey, dating back to 6000 years ago. Mirrors are amazing tools that we completely take for granted. In our modern world, we have them everywhere, but they were owned only by the wealthy back in the day. They were precious artefacts because they gave you a point-of-v...

Did you know that in traditional archer, there is no structure to aiming. Unlike say, guns, or even more modern bows in modern archery, or crossbows, the most basic traditional bows have no mechanism to aim properly, One has to rely on their bodily instincts to hit the target. On this episode, Ashdin talks about the importance of setting targets and goals to develop habits, especially during this...

Did you know that a key characteristic for a settlement to be called a 'civilisation', is the ability to write and keep written records. Up until that point, all other records had to be left to memory. Memory experts were used to keep track of the learnings of the past. Imagine the numbers of stories that have been lost or misrepresented because of this. On this episode, Ashdin talks about some le...

Did you know that the origin of the word 'positive' comes from the old French word 'positif', which was a legal word and it meant 'formally laid down' or (in Latin) 'settled by agreement'. The word 'negative' on the other hand, comes from a word that meant 'to deny'. Isn't it fascinating that two words with such different origins are now used together so often. Today, 'positive' and 'negative' can...

Did you know that employees who work from home feel that they're less distracted at home than at work? In a survey, it was revealed that a majority of workers believed that they could focus better at home because they weren't interrupted by colleagues. Also, a large majority felt less distracted at home as they weren't called into unnecessary meetings. But how do you do it right and not let househ...

Did you know that, before the industrial revolution, most jobs were in fact, 'Work From Home' jobs. Think about it - agriculture, craftsmanship, etc, are typically work-from-home kind of jobs. Today, when we are having to work from home, we are finding it difficult to cope. We do not have the skills required to work from home, as they are a very different set of skills. On this episode, Ashdin tal...

Did you know that the longest solitary confinement sentence was 44 years! Solitary confinement has been one of the worst ways to punish someone. This is because we are social animals, and we need social interaction to feel happy and to feel alive. As soon as that is taken away, we are left with our thoughts. Right now, the entire world is in some form of confinement. We've lost our abilities to be...

Did you know that 10,000 hours of practise is what is needed to master something? Malcolm Galdwell wrote about it in his book 'Outliers'. This idea sounds very appealing and simple, but we must remember, it's not just about the 10,000 hours, it's more about 'deliberate practise'. On this episode, Ashdin talks about how we should chase expertise, and not being experts. Why is the distinction so imp...

Did you know that the average adherence to a diet is about 40%? Numerous studies have been done on diets, and it was found that only 40-60% of people complete a diet. And almost everyone will cheat on a diet a couple of times at least. This is because following a diet is like a challenge, it's a sheer show of will. On this episode, Ashdin talks about what is the right way to deal with failing a di...

Did you know that time passes faster for your face than it does for your feet? With public places and gyms being shut all over the country (and even the world) due to the social quarantine, on this episode, Ashdin talks about home workouts, and how we should approach them, especially since we have no choice but to start working out at home. You can follow Ashdin Doctor on Instagram @ashdindoc ( ht...

200 Episodes, folks! That's about 200 habit tips for those quick and easy actionable habits. On this episode, Ashdin takes us down memory lane to talk about how the podcast got started, and how he felt when entering the IVM studio for a recording for the first time. It's been a wonderful journey so far, and may it never end. Thanks to all the listeners who have supported our show! Much love! You c...

Did you know that the origins of 'Casual Fridays' started in Hawaii? They started a trend called aloha Fridays. What's important to note is that the dress code actually made a difference in the productivity of employees. In some creative organisations, a casual dress code increased productivity. Although, in sales, a stricter dress code was what worked. The power of the mind is amazing. The enviro...

Did you know that the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster was printed in 1939. It was originally planned as a tool by the British Government to keep up the morale of the citizens. The world seems to be going through a panic. Many people are reaching a stage of fear paralysis with the COVID-19 Coronavirus. On this episode, Ashdin talks about three key learnings from the way the British in 1940 dealt wi...

Did you know that we have 7 billion atoms in our body? Not only that, we replace 97% of those atoms every year. Small things can have big impacts. On this episode, Ashdin Doctor talks about the beauty of micro workouts - these are small and short workouts that you can do throughout the day to build strength. The amazing thing about these workouts is that they train your muscles without getting you...

Did you know that most ancient cultures had no word to describe the word 'blue'? Nowhere in Greek mythology is the word to describe blue used. They talk about red, black and white. This led to the question. If we don't have a name for something, do we recognise that it is there? Turns out, no we don't. We have to constantly expand our consciousness to see more. Holi is a good reminder to add colou...

A day to celebrate women and accept how amazing they are! This week, Ashdin does an episode on women for both men and women. He covers some questions that were asked of him online, questions pertaining to periods, PCOD, PMS and emotions, the feeling of tiredness during periods, and mood swings, among others. Tune in for some tips and habits that you could incorporate in your daily life. You can fo...

Did you know that at the height of the Cold War, it was estimated that the United States had about 32,000 nuclear weapons and the Soviet Union had another 33,000 nuclear weapons? Today, having reduced the number of weapons, the US still spends about 50 billion dollars a year to maintain and service them. This is where we can draw parallels to our lives. Our lives are filled with things and belongi...