Should you get back into a routine?
Chris and Xand explore how daily routines shape our health, whether they actually benefit us, and why breaking the habit might sometimes be the best prescription.
Welcome to What's Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
In this episode, they turn to routines. With many families heading back to school and September still feeling like a reset for many of us, there's no shortage of advice on building the perfect routine, or optimising the one we've got. But are routines actually good for our health and wellbeing? And when, if ever, is breaking one a good thing?
To help cut through the noise, they鈥檙e joined by Bas Verplanken, Professor Emeritus of Social Psychology at the University of Bath.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
Guest: Professor Bas Verplanken
Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
Researcher: Dr Samara Linton
Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree
Visual Producer: Leon Gower
Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
Digital Lead: Richard Berry
Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
At the 麻豆社:
Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Loftus Media production for 麻豆社 Radio 4
On radio
Broadcast
- Tue 1 Sep 2026 16:30麻豆社 Radio 4
Podcast
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What's Up Docs?
Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.
