Break free from your habits and transform yourself! The current coronavirus pandemic has brought along itself challenging times for all of us. It is a necessity for us to transform our lives to adapt to the new ways of living. If you’re still clinging to your old habits, you’re harming yourself to a large extent, unknowingly. Let me ask you a question, ‘What are habits according to you? What are good as well as bad habits?’ I am sure that you consider waking up early, sleeping on time, following a good diet etc as good habits, and smoking, heavy drinking, working without taking rest, as bad habits. Let me tell you that good as well as bad habits are not limited to these. How? Let us know more about it.

Habit is nothing but a repeated behaviour. You do not have to make conscious effort while doing these actions. These actions form a part of your comfort zone and you often refuse to come out of that zone. It is quite possible that you follow a good and busy routine each and every day, i.e. getting up on time, eating the same breakfast, driving the same car, doing the same work, and reaching home, and cooking similar food,  and sleeping on the same time every day. However, I would suggest you ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I feel happy and satisfied at the end of the day?
• Am I stuck in this routine?
• Is this routine my comfort zone?
• Do I fear coming out of this comfort zone?

If the answers to the above questions are  ‘Yes’ for you, this is the time you need to work upon yourself and transform yourself into a person who is free and genuinely happy. Self-dependence is the key to success. You must have noticed that when you try adopting a good habit or when you take on a task towards a better self, for example, losing weight, or following a healthy diet, it takes a lot of effort and time for you to follow the same. As kids, we were always taught that “tiny drops lead to an ocean”, or “ little efforts are necessary for a bigger goal”, or “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, i.e. it always takes ample time to build something great. However, we attract negativity faster and in a big way. The more you’re stuck in habits, the more difficult it gets to transform yourself. Let me tell you a story to explain the same.

A young boy had various habits which he was unwilling to give up. An old hermit wanted to teach him the importance of transformation. One day, while taking a walk in the park with him, he told the young boy to pick a flower off the ground. The young boy did that in a second. In a few minutes, the man told him to pluck a small bush off the ground. The young man plucked it and gave it to the old man. The old man smiled and talked, and after a few minutes, he told the young boy to pluck a tree off the ground, the young boy looked at the old man in doubt and said, “How can I pluck the tree? it is impossible!” The old man said, “Why do you say so? You plucked the bush, why can’t you pluck the tree? The flower you picked earlier fell off the same tree.” The young lad thought for a while and answered, “Because the roots of the tree are strong. I could pluck the flower with no roots, the bush, because it roots were not strong. But the tree has been here for years, and because of its strong roots, I cannot pluck it!” The old man gave out a big smile and said, “Exactly! If you do not decide to give up your habits and transform yourself quickly, these habits grow stronger and hence are extremely difficult to be changed later on!”

Living in comfort zones is like leaving water stagnant for a long time! Stagnant water is the breeding ground of impurity and infection.  It is extremely important to be independent and free to lead a life towards success.

How to become self-reliant and come out of your comfort zones?

1. Make realistic goals, instead of burdening yourself!: Social media has become a source of stress for most of us, instead of being merely a source of entertainment and connectivity. One must take inspiration from people trying to change themselves in these times, and not instead stress yourself out and set huge goals. Being focussed, witty and dedicated is the key to transform yourself.  
2. Look at your life from a third party perspective! Do you think your life is what you have always wished it to be like? When you judge it from a third party perspective, do you feel certain things need to be changed? If yes, take on the challenge today!
3. Take risks! Anything new demands stepping out of the comfort zone, that may be as simple as stepping out of your bean bag to get moving to lose weight, or as huge as waking up an hour earlier than usual to meditate and focus on a new venture you’d been wishing to work upon. Fear is the foremost factor keeping you from success. Do not let fear infect your mind. Taking a route different from the usual might seem a risky attempt, however, you won't get to know any new or easier routes if you don’t make that decision.

The current situation, where most of us are at home living a completely different life, is a chance for you to become self-dependent, take your life in your own hands, and lead a better life towards success!

Take that first move! Stay Happy, Healthy and  Stress-free!

“It’s Monday again! Why did the weekend end so soon?”

“Time’s running away! God only knows when I shall be able to focus on my well-being!”

Inability to complete personal targets concerns most of us. Shortage of time and energy form the foundation of this concern. Effective time and energy management, leadership skills and success - they all go hand in hand! You manage one well and the other falls in line.

A) Why is eating optimally important?

Good control on the body reciprocates with good control on the mind. Constant energy flow is a mandatory requirement for enhanced focus. Since times immemorial, our elders have tried to remind us of the importance of consistent nutrition and a balanced diet! A heavy meal draws out most of your energy for the process of digestion.

Food is a source of energy, use it wisely. Do not let food reduce your efficiency!

B) Why are naps important?

Sleep is directly connected with the energy levels of your body. Naps refer to short sleep breaks which tend to multiply your energy levels and refreshes your memory. The next time you feel over-worked in the middle of the day, try going for a 20 minute nap before you resume working, and see the wonders for yourself!

However, balance is crucial!

Make 20 minute a target! If you over-sleep, this extended nap can make you drowsy for the rest of the day.

C) How to maintain a balance? In fact, what is balance?

Let me explain this with the help of the ‘body clock’ concept. The way we set reminders in order to wake up, or do an important task, our body and brain collectively function on natural reminders. The body clock is a well-established concept, covering all necessary functions of your mind and the body. Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young were awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, “for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm”, i.e. the internal clock in the body which dictates and tells us how and when we feel the need to rest, eat and carry out other body functions.

The Nobel Prize committee agreed upon the importance of following the body clock and understanding the implications of ignoring the same. Our bodies tend to adapt perfectly to a routine, and in case of any mismatch, the clock inside warns you to get back into the routine. As a consequence, the body gets affected at hormonal levels.

D) Why is it important to spend time with nature?

Our bodies function better in natural circumstances. In the modern day, we spend most of our time in digital environments, i.e. exposed to screens.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up? It won’t be too hard to remember that you check your phone! Little do you realize the dangers of digital devices! Apart from the digital necessity for our jobs, we waste majority of our time looking at phone screens. The electromagnetic rays from the gadgets directly affect our brain and heart. Over-exposure to digital gadgets can potentially reduce our mental capacity, further reducing the work efficiency of our brain. Take a break from your phone and computers! Take a walk in the natural light, let the sunlight touch your skin, breathe in fresh air, and give your eyes the gift of greenery!

E) Do you often wish you had more time?

Robin attempts 45 out of 50 questions in a one-hour exam, however, Joshua manages to attempt only 30. Joshua gets through the exam, while Robin doesn’t. Why? Here comes the role of organization in your life, and its importance for effective management of time.

It is extremely important to de-clutter your brain before you start working on something important. Complicated minds tend to act fast but end up giving inaccurate responses. You should be able to simplify your thoughts and organize your thoughts anytime. This is where meditation plays its role.

F) Organize and rejuvenate your life through meditation!

Your subconscious mind is your best friend. Maintaining a healthy relationship with your subconscious can act as a boon for you. Sit silently at a place, away from all the external noises, and make decisions with your subconscious.

While you crib wishing for more time and relying on artificial energy drinks which provide a temporary rush of energy, meditation remains the universal key for both your concerns. It enhances your qi (inner strength) and begins the process of spiritual healing. Stress kills both time and energy. The stress hormone ‘Cortisol’ is said to have reduced in subjects practicing meditation.

Feedback loop with yourself: Talk to yourself when the day starts, and when it ends!

Discuss with your subconscious your schedule for the upcoming day. You are the best manager of your time and energy. Pat yourself on the back when you succeed in your eyes through the day!

If you want to understand how and where to start, let’s have a conversation.

All the best! Go ahead and be the great manager of your life! You will stay healthy and stress-free!