Amruta Kaustubh’s book Wildhood Awakened is an enchanting tale of a city boy who moves to live around a forest. The book takes you on an adventure in the wild. It evokes intrigue and a sense of wonder and curiosity.

The experience of reading the book was no less than watching a movie. It evoked the innocence, charm and nostalgia of R.K Laxman’s Malgudi days.

Amruta’s writing is impressive and incredibly vivid. Without being pedantic it teaches you the importance of connecting with nature.

The message that “It gets lonely when we become disconnected from nature”, was insightful and stayed with me.

The characters are well-crafted and perfectly detailed. Each character falls effortlessly into the role they need to play to take the story forward.

The need to advocate for climate change and nurture the environment has never been more urgent than it is today.

This book beautifully imparts the message that every being on the planet is important and has a role to play, even insects. It shows how the smallest beings ensure the good quality of the soil that is key to life on earth. The book inculcates a love towards wild animals and encourages a relationship and connection with them.

Wildhood Awakened is a fascinating book written for young adults. And adults will love it too. It’s a quick read and has an intriguing storyline that will keep you hooked.

Look forward to the next book in this series.

Would love to read about the adventures the little boy has in the wild in the time ahead. Does the medicine man share indigenous wisdom? Does the boy meet the jackal again? Does he connect with wild animals and stay with them like Mowgli did in The Jungle Book? Would love to read.

Enjoy the book “Wildhood — Awakened: Stories of a Childhood near Chilika Lake” available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press.

Avail a flat 40% coupon discount exclusively on Notion Press.

Links:

Wildhood — Awakened: Stories of a Childhood near Chilika Lake https://amzn.eu/d/bP6wwwp

https://notionpress.com/read/wildhood-awakened/paperback

Do share it with your family and friends. Happy reading!

The conversation around workplace burnout is gathering momentum.

Self-care, resting and not allowing your productivity to define your worth is taking centre stage.

Social media is full of anti-hustle and grind work culture messages. You’re encouraged to rest and relax.

This is well-meaning advice and offered in good spirit.

But how does one not participate in the grind and yet manage to pay the bills? This is an often unaddressed question.

You may think, ‘I too wish I could rest, but I don’t have a choice.’

In fact, messages encouraging you to do less may irk you. You may feel misunderstood or under-represented.

‘Don’t they get it, I have bills to pay — how can I rest?’

Taking time off to rest may seem like advice for the privileged, not you.

Seems like participating in the hustle is the only way to earn a livelihood, even at the cost of our well-being.

Everyone seems to be grinding. Putting in long hours, with no breaks and working weekends. All this while managing deadlines, people and familial responsibilities.

This is the dominant way to work as modelled to us. We saw our parents work hard and long hours until retirement. We’re following suit.

All are in the grind — from intern to CEO, from the blue-collared worker to the white-collared one. No one seems to escape the grind.

It’s common knowledge that we show up better when we’re well-rested. We’re enthusiastic, get fresh ideas and make fewer mistakes.

We need no convincing that our health and well-being need to be our first priority.

But home loans, school fees and other financial responsibilities become exit barriers to opting out of the drudgery.

The last few years of the pandemic have only amplified the pressure and made it more challenging for most of us.

Given this reality, a social media post encouraging us to rest can trigger annoyance.

You’ve put your foot down a few times and declined to work late nights or weekends. Only to be questioned about your commitment to work in the next appraisal.

Chances are you’re the sole breadwinner for your family. You need to provide the best for your kids, save up for retirement and lead a good life. But, if you’re hustling and grinding at the cost of your health and happiness, it could be detrimental.

Here’s what you can do if you find yourself caught in a dilemma between hustling and resting.

UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE

Our modern world is built on capitalism. While it seems we’ve progressed as a race, capitalism is an exploitative system that puts profit over people and the planet. It has its origins in medieval times and works to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few people.

“Rest pushes back and disrupts a system that views human bodies as a tool for production and labor. It is a counter-narrative. We know that we are not machines. We are divine.” ~ Tricia Hersey, Founder — The Nap Ministry & Author of Rest is Resistance

It’s important to understand that the hustle-and-grind culture is a systemic issue coming from a capitalist work culture. This understanding helps you be kind to yourself. It allows you to see the bigger picture. It gives you the confidence to take small steps on your way to dismantling grind culture.

ACCEPTANCE & TAKING MICRO STEPS

There are periods in our lives when we need to work long hours. Especially to fulfill financial responsibilities. Doesn’t seem like there’s any other way to earn and pay our bills.

While you accept that you need to grind to fulfill financial responsibilities, you could disrupt and imagine new ways of working. You could find micro ways to rest, indulge in some fun and play.

You can do your best to navigate a deeply oppressive work culture. This means sometimes hustling and sometimes resting, relaxing and dreaming.

DEFINE WHAT REST, RELAXATION & FUN MEAN TO YOU

Rest, relaxation or fun don’t always need a ton of time and money.

You may need to re-look at your definition of rest, relaxation and fun.

Maybe you can’t afford a fancy holiday, but a replenishing weekend at a nearby getaway is a possibility.

Resting could mean a one-hour nap on a Sunday afternoon. You could make that a non-negotiable practice for your well-being.

Relaxation could mean 15–20 min of me-time in the morning while having tea. Or a quiet walk in the nearby garden.

Or doodling, writing or painting may fill your creative well and rejuvenate you.

Or reading a good book from the library or playing with your neighbour’s dog could replenish you.

A monthly catch-up with friends at a local cafe could be a fun thing for you.

You don’t always need to dine at the fanciest restaurant to feel connected. Chatting up with a friend or neighbour could make you feel socially connected.

MAKE TIME & SPACE

You may think you have no time to even take an hour’s nap or meet up with friends. A few small steps can make your day spacious.

Here’s a simple technique to make some space.

Do an audit of your jobs and responsibilities. Ask the following 4 questions.

1. Are there any jobs that you can prune — i.e completely do away with?

Many of us are habituated to filling our lives with a lot of activities and tasks. It’s yet another consequence of capitalist programming. One that equates our productivity to our worth.

Go through your list. Keep activities that are aligned with your goals and drop the rest.

1. Are there jobs that you can defer i.e do later?

Not everything needs to be done today or tomorrow. Some tasks can be moved to the next week or even next month. See what you can move ahead and make some space.

1. Can you ask for help on some jobs or delegate them to someone else?

Perhaps you can’t afford paid help. But you can ask your partner or kids to help clear the kitchen after dinner or help with other household chores.

Or

At the office, you could ask a teammate for help with a few jobs. You could do the same for them another day.

1. Can you automate some tasks?

Can you automate repetitive tasks such as ordering food and groceries every week?

START WORKING YOUR WAY OUT OF THE HUSTLE

In our dominant capitalist work culture, it can take several years to work yourself out of the hustle.

You can start with small steps today. Fill your week with a few slots for rest & rejuvenation. Slow down for a while. Let your hair down and have some fun. You’ll go back to work replenished.

As you slowly work yourself out of the hustle, you need to understand how the capitalist business world works. How it thrives on us hustling and grinding often at the cost of our well-being. By design, it’s a system that flourishes by putting profit over people and the planet.

You will then be able to build ways to work yourself out of the hustle. And build nourishing ways to work for yourself and others.

Even if you can’t do away with the hustle and grind work culture soon, you can commit to some micro-steps to ensure your well-being and joy.

Here’s a list of Resources that can help you work your way out of the hustle over time.

Understanding the systemic roots of the modern-day toxic world culture and its origins in capitalism is key. It can go a long way in redesigning your work to make it replenishing.

You will find several resources, books and courses on anti-capitalism online. Here are some resources I’ve found helpful:

Disclaimer: Sharing resources that I’ve loved. No commissions for spreading this goodness.

A. Sowing Post Capitalist Seeds (SPCS): This is a 14-week course I took in 2021. The course concentrates on answering the question: “How can we thrive in our lives, work, relationships, and communities as we integrate the praxis of anti-capitalism?”

The course is hosted by Anuradha Kowtha and Moriah Helms. I found it incredibly enriching and eye-opening. The course helped me get a fine understanding of how capitalism is at the root of toxic modern work culture.

The hosts generously shared a ton of resources — books, articles, white papers, podcasts, and videos. They taught the nuances of capitalism and its impact on various aspects of our lives and work.

B. The Spell of Capitalism: While I haven’t taken this course facilitated by Toi Smith and Jen Lemen, their Instagram content and the daily email notes have added finer dimensions to my understanding of capitalism and its impact on modern-day work culture.

C. The Nap Ministry: Over the years their social media content helped me understand the nuances of capitalism and the grind work culture.

Tricia Hersey, Founder of The Nap Ministry has recently published her book Rest is Resistance. It’s a landmark book in which she champions rest as a political and social movement not focused on productivity. It’s one of the most incredible books I’ve read in recent times. It’s inspired me to dream up ways to make a tiny dent in the grind culture by resting and resisting.

D. Regenerative Business by Kate Northrup, Founder — The Origin Company

In 2022, I took the Regenerative Business Course offered by Kate Northrup.

Regenerative Business has shown me a way to run my business outside of capitalism. It’s something I was seeking for a long time. It’s shown me a way that allows me to replenish myself and not extract and exploit myself while working. It’s taught me to be in sync with and respect nature, that includes myself and the people I work with. It’s a way that encourages me to operate with the intelligence of intuition and listen to guidance from my body. It may be counterintuitive to ways in the mainstream work culture, but it’s precisely the need of the hour.

Enrollment for this course is currently closed. But you can sign up below to be informed the next time the doors open.

https://theorigincompany.co/regenerative-business/

Do follow Kate Northrup’s work on Instagram to get inspiration to work in nourishing ways.

Would love to hear from you. How do you balance hustling to pay bills with resting? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

_______________________________________________________________

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do Sign Up for The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

It’s a sharp and poignant commentary on capitalism. Love how he takes an anti-capitalist stance without actually taking it — protest poetry at its best!

My interpretation is that he’s asking us to see through the trickery of capitalist culture that paints an illusion of moving to the top and having a house on the hill, for all. If you fall for that deception then you stay a working class hero upon whose work the ruling class makes a fine life — the one they’d actually promised you.

Are we all just working class heroes? Or are you working for our dreams?

Listen to Working Class Hero this weekend.

Pay careful attention to the lyrics.

Would love to know how you interpret this spectacular piece of poetry. Feel free to share it in the comments below.

Here’s a link to the song on Spotify. Do listen.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check the blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

Cheryl Richardson’s weekly emails are something I’ve looked forward to for decades now. Her book The Art of Extreme Self-Care is as cosy, comforting and warm as her Monday morning emails.

It brings you back to the importance of nurturing and taking care of ourselves, in a culture that demands we are productive all the time.

This book was first published in 2009 and then revised in 2019. Yet it is relevant especially today as we’re moving through a global pandemic.

In a culture where self-care is seen as being selfish, she gently shatters that myth and presents compelling reasons to pursue it.

In a society that glorifies you for being independent, she inspires you to seek and accept help from others.

Her best chapters are on saying no, maintaining boundaries and listening to the body. All of which is incredibly challenging to practice in a culture that does not encourage alternative viewpoints. She shares perspectives and techniques that make it motivating to practice these.

Let me disappoint you was one of the most fantastic chapters in the book. It teaches you to say no when required with grace, ease and respect. If you tend to be a people pleaser you’re going to love this chapter.

Love that she encourages us to create soul-nourishing spaces. She dives into the details on how we can protect our sensitive souls so we can share our gifts with the world.

She presents a balanced view on managing anger. She emphasises on not swallowing it and expressing it sensibly.

Love her insistence on making space for things that you’re passionate about. So you can fill your creative well without translating it into a wage-paying career.

She inspires you to live a simple life with self-care at the center — making space for a fulfilling life.

At the end of the book, she inspires you to make your own extreme self-care kit to support your well-being. So fantastic!

If you’re already on the self-care path or just getting started, this is a great book.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check the blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

Since 2021 the business world has been rife with conversations around The Great Resignation. With a record number of people moving out of their jobs, the discussion around toxic work cultures gained centre stage.

I recently chanced upon an article about Chinese youth in a bid to stand up against the ‘always-on’ work culture who made a lifestyle choice to opt out of it. They lowered their professional and financial ambitions while prioritising their well-being while also financially managing their own essential needs funded by odd jobs and lean savings. This ‘Lie flat’ movement is a defiant rebellion against a culture of being overworked and underpaid.

Whether such movements including The Great Resignation are short-lived or a turning point in history, we’re being forced to wake up and repair a damaged work culture.

Modern work culture has been toxic even before the pandemic began. The pandemic has amplified and brought to light a broken system.

Our present-day work culture is marked by long hours including weekends and holidays, employers’ inflexibility about working from home during a pandemic, competition, sales pressure, long commutes and no commensurate remuneration.

So you may be wondering why our work culture is so broken? The answer is Capitalism.

Capitalism is a system that puts profit over people. Commodifies people. It measures your worth based on your productivity and fails to see you as human. So achieving sales targets are above an employee’s well-being.

Growth at any cost is the mantra.

Not to say there aren’t companies that don’t care for the well-being of their employees, however, the dominant definition of success prioritises profit over well being of employees.

At an individual level, capitalism seduces us into a definition of success that keeps us tied to working in a toxic culture. We’re made to believe that success means owning bigger homes, fancier cars, trendier clothes and gadgets. Aspirations for designations and sending kids to beyond means expensive schools, have become markers of success.

Several successful business leaders model such a lifestyle to us. So we believe ‘indeed this must be the way to success’. Sadly a toxic style of work marked by long hours without breaks, grinding to achieve sales targets or funding, is normalised as the standard way of working. It seems like it’s the only way one can achieve the definition of success that we’ve bought into.

It’s good to honour what we deeply desire and work towards achieving it.

But, if we’re doing it at the cost of our health, well-being and relationships, it’s time to stop and re-think.

Likewise in the entrepreneurship world, there’s an unsaid pressure to grow fast. A large customer base, a company with 100s of employees, a fancy office and VC funding are seen as symbols of success. Venture capitalists invested in the business are keen to see profit sooner so they feel reassured about their investments. Hence hustling, grinding, growth hacking and fast customer acquisition are considered virtues. These often come at the cost of employee well-being and customer relationships.

Paul Jarvis in his book A Company of One illustrates the dangers of an obsessive growth mentality while citing examples of companies that have grown too fast and paid the price. Paul insists that growth should be intentional and not ‘growth for the sake of growth’. He emphasises building a sustainable business that supports the lifestyle you want to live. It’s a much-needed conversation, especially in a business world that’s dominated by the ‘growth at any cost’ narrative.

Sadly, there aren’t many companies that model an alternative way of working. So you may wonder where does one begin to make a change?

The issue with toxic work cultures is systemic. It’s not limited to a particular country, industry or company or even leader, though its intensity may vary in different situations.

While the issue may be systemic, any systemic change starts at an individual level.

Ideally, large companies should lead the change to repair toxic work cultures, however, progressive small businesses given their flexibility and openness to change could lead the transition to make nourishing workplaces the norm.

Here are some thoughts on how organisations can begin to move towards creating nourishing work cultures:

1. Commit to learning and knowledge

Understanding the systemic roots of the modern-day toxic world culture and its origins in capitalism can go a long way in redesigning organisations with replenishing, happy and nourishing work cultures.

You will find several resources, books and courses on anti-capitalism online. Here are some resources I’ve found helpful:

Disclaimer: Sharing resources that I’ve loved. No commissions for spreading this goodness.

A. Sowing Post Capitalist Seeds (SPCS): This is a 14-week course I took in 2021. While the course is not singularly focused on creating nourishing workspaces, it concentrates on answering the question: “How can we thrive in our lives, work, relationships, and communities as we integrate the praxis of anti-capitalism?”

The course is hosted by Anuradha Kowtha and Moriah Helms. I found it incredibly enriching and eye-opening. The course helped me get a fine understanding of how capitalism is at the root of toxic modern work culture and some ideas on how I could make my work regenerative.

The hosts generously shared a ton of resources — books, articles, white papers, podcasts, videos, talks by guest speakers and more as they taught the nuances of capitalism and its impact on various aspects of our lives and work.

B. The Spell of Capitalism: While I haven’t taken this course facilitated by Toi Smith and Jen Lemen, their Instagram content and the daily email notes have added finer dimensions to my understanding of capitalism and its impact on the modern-day work culture.

C. The Nap Ministry: Over the years their content on Facebook and Instagram has been instrumental in helping me understand the nuances of capitalism and the hustle & grind work culture.

2. Redefine what success means to you individually and to your organisation

Are you committed to a definition of success that puts profit over people and the planet? If so, can you begin to make small changes to shift?

3. Listen to your People — deeply, intently frequently and without judgement

If you can listen to your employees, partners and clients frequently and with empathy you are likely to come up with solutions that have a better chance of working.

4. Co-opt with others who share your mission to create nourishing workplaces.

This journey is about creating systemic change, charting new ways and treading unknown paths. Taking this journey with others who have an aligned mission can be incredibly supportive. Work with other organisations within and even outside your industry, who are keen, committed and invested in creating nourishing workplaces.

Take small steps — you’ll set an example and inspire others to follow. Give them courage and show them a pathway.

Embarking on a journey that’s about creating systemic change can be a long and challenging one especially as you may not see the change you wish to create, in your lifetime. It could take generations of work to bring that change. But now is the time to begin making that change, albeit a small one.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check my blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

Indistractable makes a fascinating, insightful and helpful read.

Nir Eyal’s deep and detailed understanding of why we’re distracted makes it easy to address distraction. It helps normalise it as a human tendency v/s a flaw that we need to work on.

He explains with patience, dexterity and research how distraction is not a technology issue rather how we’re wired as human beings.

Nir generously offers simple, practical and effective tools to manage distractions. These tools helped me create spaciousness and improve my productivity. The solutions he offers are sustainable.

I’ve been able to break unhealthy habits and develop more nourishing ones. That has helped me prioritise what matters to me in life and work.

It’s helped reduce the sense of guilt, self-blame and failure that comes with distraction.

The piece on kids’ overuse of technology is fantastic. The best part is that most of it applies to adults too.

Through the book, he shares powerful, convincing and actionable methods to cope with distraction in the modern world. That makes this book delightfully practical to apply and experience shifts.

Like that he’s sincere and amazingly earnest with the knowledge he shares. His knowledge comes from deep and wide research, not only his lived experience.

Most of what he shares in this book was fresh and new to me.

If you’re keen on reducing distractions and focusing on your dreams, this one is a great pick!

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check my blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

As a preschooler, I was a quiet and shy kid. I enjoyed being by myself.

I loved to sit in a corner and make shapes with play dough. Or stare out of the window and watch the world go by.

I found group activities uninspiring. Daydreaming was my default resting place.

My teachers observed this and raised the alarm with my parents.

They discussed how problematic it was as I didn’t speak much in class. Neither was I enthusiastic about participating in group work nor making friends.

They expressed concern about how I was ‘inclined to be reserved’. My quiet nature seemed like a defect that needed correction.

As a young impressionable kindergartener, I took it to heart.

I carried immense shame, a feeling of inadequacy and not being as good as others.

Being outgoing, gregarious and extroverted was the norm.

I didn’t fit into the norm. I felt separate and disconnected.

So I decided to take charge and change this.

I began behaving like an outgoing person. I spoke with everyone in class, especially those who were new in school and felt lost.

I went overboard. I spoke with strangers only to prove that I was good enough too. I was an introvert who acted like an extrovert, remarkably well. I later learned that this is a coping mechanism called masking.

At school and home, everyone grew fond of how smartly I spoke and mingled with everyone. I received applause and praise for it.

I began scoring an A grade on social adaptability by the time I was 5 years old.

I got rewarded for being who I was not.

From then on, I hid my introverted nature — not only from the world but also from myself.

At age 5, I had no doubt that I was now extroverted and hence normal. No more a weirdo. After all, I’d overcome the ‘dysfunction of being the quiet one’.

My assumed extraverted behaviour continued through school, college and years of work.

I was enthusiastic, passionate and engaged in my corporate jobs. I loved the interactions I had with people. I thrived on the chaos and buzz.

At the same time, I felt drained and exhausted.

I often felt pressured to be like others. To like what they liked.

Heading to a noisy, crowded bar on a Friday evening with office folks seemed like everyone’s idea of fun. It energised them.

For me, it was less fun and more punishment.

I felt completely worn out. I needed the entire weekend to recover.

It felt like an obligation and a necessary rite of passage at the workplace.

I felt singled out if I didn’t pretend it was fun too. The pressure to be someone I was not, weighed on me.

I preferred bonding with colleagues over lunch at the office or an arty new restaurant in town.

I enjoyed connecting while working on a project or brainstorming new ideas.

A long weekend spent daydreaming or reading a good book was perfect to replenish me. Solitude was nourishing. That was my idea of fun.

As I quit my corporate career to start my own business, I joined a few online business communities.

I got the chance to interact with amazing entrepreneurs from across the world.

I came across conversations in these groups led by introverted business owners. These included celebrated authors, artists, coaches and creative entrepreneurs.

I listened intently.

They shared how they ran successful businesses showing up as introverts.

They talked about the challenges they experienced in a world designed for extroverts. From the pressure to socialise, make small talk to being visible all the time.

Yet they carved their own ways to run thriving businesses. Embracing their introverted qualities, quirks included.

They celebrated these qualities. From being great listeners to bringing depth into their work. From being reflective & self-aware to being fantastic problem solvers.

I could see how creative and purpose-led each one of them was. I could see how they were quietly changing the world. And, they were fun people too.

They were unapologetic and vocal about being introverts. They even raised a toast to their low need to socialise!

They’d experienced the power and beauty of being introverts and carried it with pride. Even though the world labeled their introversion as ‘weird’.

I found that inspiring.

I learnt that introverts lose energy from being around people or in noisy places for a long time. They tend to recharge by spending time alone, especially in nature.

While extroverts, get energised by being social and may feel drained spending too much time alone. Unlike introverts, I learnt that extroverts need others to stimulate thoughts and conversations.

I could now see how being an introvert was not necessarily about being a shy person. I was far from that myself.

Conversations in these business communities resonated with me. I felt at home.

This was introvert land, where being introverted was the norm. And it didn’t feel odd. They shared ‘my weird’.

It restored a sense of connection and belonging.

Being a part of these groups opened a whole new understanding of myself.

I could see how I was living life as an extrovert when I was actually an introvert!

Up until now, I was familiar with negative connotations associated with introverts. They were seen as shy, loners who lacked social skills and wallflowers who didn’t matter much.

Damn! No one spoke about the gifts of being an introvert.

I wondered why popular culture didn’t tell us that several accomplished scientists, artists, musicians, writers, actors, inventors and business owners are introverts.

Why was that never a mainstream conversation? I wondered.

Later I took the Myers-Briggs personality test. Not surprisingly I tested to be an INFJ — i.e an introvert. Also, the rarest of rare personality types make up only 1–3% of the population.

Ah, that’s why I often felt like I’d landed on a planet that was designed for people unlike me.

It explained why I felt weird.

I now realised our work culture was not designed for someone like me.

It gave me the clarity, confidence and power to show up in life and business, as who I truly was. Without bending myself like a pretzel to fit into a world that only seemed to make space for extroverts or those who behaved like one.

I was able to wean myself off the exhausting ways of the hustle and grind culture. That was huge for me. It’s something I struggled with for the longest time.

The more I was able to tune into my introverted self, the mental and physical exhaustion I carried for years began to melt away.

I must admit it’s taken several years to make these changes and stick with them. I’m still learning.

Many of the ways I now work are counterculture, hence can be challenging to sustain.

Old ways creep up. But as I keep experiencing how efficient, energising and productive the new way is — I’m less tempted to go back to the hustle and grind way of working.

Here’s how my work has transformed to become introvert-friendly.

• Rest, self-care, fun and play are a part of my daily work schedule. Result = better productivity, excellent work with less effort.
• So no guilt about taking a midday nap or listening to soulful music to refuel me.
• Journaling, eating nourishing food and exercising (still a growth edge) are now a necessary and non-negotiable part of the business.
• A walk in nature = fresh and fantastic new blog post ideas.
• Walking delivers out-of-the-box solutions to challenges and sticky situations. Don’t get these sitting at my desk. The health benefits are a bonus.
• No pressure to be visible on social media to a point of exhaustion. I’ve given myself the permission to create and post content based on how I feel v/s being held to ransom by social media algorithms that never seemed to be satisfied. (Yes, I know it can be challenging!).
• Content created from a well-rested and relaxed place tends to have better engagement. This develops stronger relationships with my audience, positively impacting sales and business. No uncomfortable sales strategies are required.
• No obligation to meet for business at a noisy bar or a stiff & formal networking event that feels inauthentic. Showing up fully wherever I do is what matters. Creative morning sessions, art & music shows and community events at co-working spaces, are my favourite.
• I’ve developed some of the best business relationships online.
• My most precious place was a small business mastermind group with 2 business buddies, from Australia and Mauritius. We’d meet online regularly. We’d support and encourage each other on our business journeys and growth. We’d share insights & knowledge and hold each other accountable.
• I choose energising workspaces with like-minded folks, to work from. Aesthetically pleasing co-working spaces are ideal. Especially those with high ceilings, pastel walls, spacious halls, natural light and plants. I’ve made my home office equally lovely.

Adopting an introvert-friendly lifestyle has not only made my work nourishing and sustainable but it’s also enriched the quality of my work. Something I couldn’t achieve by putting in more hours or applying the best strategies devised by an extroverted work culture.

Maybe you’re an introvert working at a job and don’t have much flexibility to schedule your work day. But you can start with a few small steps that make your work introvert-friendly. The reality for many of us is that we need to hustle to pay the bills. But we can make at least a little space that suits our introverted identity. You may even choose your next job that’s introvert-friendly. Small steps can go a long way. So start with your small steps now.

Are you an introvert too? Would love to hear about your experiences. Do share them in the comments below.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Seeking to make your workplace replenishing? Check my blog post below.

The Great Resignation: Time to Make Our Workplaces Nourishing

Most likely you’ve heard of journaling.

Maybe a few friends practice it. Or your colleague in the office loves journaling.

Chances are you’ve tried your hand at it, but never stuck to it.

You’ve wondered whether journaling even works.

So while you’re tempted to try it, you’re not sure how it will benefit you.

I’ve engaged in journaling since my teenage years.

I was never a shy kid. I made friends with ease. I spoke to strangers without effort.

Yet I loved being in my own space.

A space where I could be in solitude and my world.

I loved to take out my diary and write everything going on in my head. I wrote about what I loved, things that bothered me about the world and the kind of life I would’ve loved to create.

Over time journaling become a regular practice. It was something I enjoyed.

I used my journal to pen ideas, thoughts, emotions and feelings that I could not convey to others. I was unsure whether people would get what I wanted to say. I feared being reprimanded or ridiculed.

My journal was a safe place where I could write down how I felt without being judged or misunderstood.

As I continued to journal, I realised its benefits went beyond helping me express my feelings.

A single episode of an Oprah show on journaling influenced me to strengthen my practice.

Oprah spoke about her own experience with journaling as a teenager. She raved about the therapeutic benefits of journaling. It felt like she’d experienced certain magic with journaling. And I was longing to experience that magic myself.

Over the years journaling became my go-to bouncing board, a shoulder to cry on and my canvas to create new things.

Journaling, a practice I started by chance has become significant in helping me shape my life.

When I graduated from business school I started working in advertising. My journaling practice became more robust, regular and deep.

Journaling allows me to access wisdom and intelligence that I can’t access otherwise.

It brings insights and guidance far richer than strategies the best minds can conceive.

The benefits of journaling were extraordinary and the process soon became effortless.

And I’d say in the last decade, journaling has become magical.

I’m delighted to share some of that magic with you. And here are my top 3 reasons to journal.

1. Brings Incredible Clarity & Perspective

I follow a simple free writing style of journaling.

As I begin my day, I find a comfortable place where I’m undisturbed. A place where I can be in solitude.

I don’t enjoy writing on my computer or any digital device. I prefer writing pen to paper (or even pencil to paper).

That way I’m able to connect better. I’m also able to access my intuition and pick up messages or guidance with ease.

Being a typical INFJ personality who lives in her head, I do have a lot to write in my journal every single day.

The first phase of journaling works as a fantastic brain dump. I pour in all my worries, thoughts, ideas and emotions. I allow myself to express myself fully.

I write as much as I want to and for as long as I want to — after all no one’s watching! It’s all freewheeling, so no censoring.

There’s no specific plan about what to write. I write exactly what comes to me at the moment.

I could write about things that have happen the previous day. I may write about something that’s bothering me like a disagreement with my sister. Or a sticky situation with a co-worker.

I may write about how happy I felt about completing an assignment. Or the gratitude I experience for the grace in my life. Or pen my plans for my next holiday.

Or I could journal about topics for my next blog post and how to create fabulous new content.

“In the journal, I do not just express myself more openly than I could to any person; I create myself. ~ Susan Sontag

As I keep writing, the pen takes over. After some time into the writing, the content begins to flow without much thought. That’s when I begin to get the biggest breakthroughs and clarity.

The journal is a place that allows me to be incredibly honest. It’s just me and my journal. No one’s judging or evaluating me.

Journaling allows me to candidly express how I am feeling. Journaling takes away the sting of situations charged with emotions. It helps me see situations from a calm and balanced place.

With journaling, I get a better perspective. I’m able to see how I may have overlooked something or over-reacted.

I’m able to see with clarity if I was short-changed in a situation or if I failed to draw healthy boundaries. So, I’m able to take responsibility for my part in a situation.

Journaling allows me to make decisions from a peaceful and objective place. And I’m less likely to regret those decisions.

That way, journaling provides outstanding and even out-of-the-box solutions to problems. These solutions rarely match the ones I’ve got by talking to a good friend or even an expert.

A personal journal is an ideal environment in which to “become”. It is a perfect place for you to think, feel, discover, expand, remember, and dream. ~ Brad Wilcox

When I complete journaling, an extraordinary sense of calm and quiet confidence emerges.

I feel clear, energised and positive to take on the day.

2. Terrific Time Management & Goal Setting Tool

Each time I feel overwhelmed with my schedule, I first reach out to my journal.

I write down how I’m feeling due to the flood of tasks at hand, the deadlines and overwhelm.

I make a list of every single task at hand — absolutely every task.

I then look at the list and ask myself which of those tasks can be eliminated. There are always a few unimportant tasks that creep into my list.

With the reduced task list, I then figure out which of the tasks need to be done now i.e today or this week. Often there are at least a few tasks I can do later in the month.

With the remaining tasks, I figure out which ones I can do myself. And the one’s I can do with some help, delegate or automate.

This simple process takes not more than 10–15 min. It brings incredible peace, purpose and productivity.

Not only for overwhelming situations, but I also use journaling to plan my schedule. I journal my schedule for the year, month, week and day.

I use freewriting to plan long term goals and dreams.

I write down my deeply cherished dreams and goals, in much detail.

Some of my major goals such as buying a house and creating my business have come from years of journaling.

I even journal before I sit down to create a vision board. It allows me to access my deepest dreams and adds a certain richness to designing the vision board.

“Journal writing gives us insights into who we are, who we were, and who we can become.” ― Sandra Marinella

3. Fantastic Idea Generator

I love journaling out my content creation process.

Content ideas generated through journaling are unique, immensely engaging and authentic.

There’s an extraordinary flow of rich ideas and thoughts when I put pen to paper. I can never match the quality of ideas that come from journaling, with any other process.

Often I have a whole bunch of ideas for blog posts, running in my head.

I write down all these ideas in my journal. I write how I’m feeling about each idea.

The idea that I’m feeling most charged about is the first one I blog about. In this way, I’m able to choose a powerful new topic for blogging.

I then begin outlining the blog post in my journal and give it shape.

When I practice pen-to-paper journaling to flesh out a blog post, I’m more likely to get insightful content. This rarely happens when I’m typing a blog post on my computer.

Not only blog posts, but I’ve also found journaling useful to generate ideas for social media content. And even for creating my content calendar.

Goes without saying that ideas for designing coaching programmes, website & email copy — all get created with journaling.

Isn’t journaling terrific?

Wondering how you could taste the magic of journaling? Here’s a simple process to get you started.

HOW YOU CAN BEGIN JOURNALING TODAY

To get started, all you need is a pen (or pencil) and paper.

Choose a time of the day you can journal every day.

While there’s no ideal time to journal, I’ve found that setting aside 15–20 min every morning ensures that I land up journaling before the day takes over.

Journaling at the start of the day preps me up for the day ahead. I start my day with confidence, clarity and enthusiasm.

Choose a time of the day that works for you. Mark it out in your calendar.

You can choose to journal with a few prompts. Here’s Your 30 Awesome Journaling Prompts Cheatsheet. It’s free to access.

Or you can pen down your thoughts, emotions and happenings from the previous day. You can write about what you’re grateful for, what you’d like to achieve today or anything else that comes up for you.

You may feel like writing about a situation that’s bothering you or something that’s inspired you or made you happy. Allow the writing to flow.

I prefer to free write and then allow the pen to take over the writing.

You don’t need to be a professional writer to practice journaling. You don’t need to be a skilful communicator — all you need to do is write.

Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or even logical coherency.

The process is more important than the written product.

After completing the writing for the day tear or burn your journal pages, so you can let go of the emotions in your writing. That way you’re also assured that your writing is confidential and private. Don’t skip this.

Knowing that your writing is for your eyes only, gives you the courage to be bold and candid in your journaling. That makes your journaling more effective.

Are you all set to experience the magic of journaling?

Go right ahead. Grab your journal and pen. Get started with the powerful practice of journaling, today.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check my blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

No doubt, I’ve accomplished much in work and life, but I’ve also battled with productivity.

I’ve felt disheartened about not being able to do as much as I aspired.

Over the years, I’ve read a ton of books and articles on time management.

Most of these approaches encouraged me to fit more into my time to improve my productivity. This kept me running a race against time that I never seemed to win.

Bringing me back to the same place — i.e struggling with managing my time. It left me feeling utterly defeated and unproductive.

In 2018, I was delighted to come across Kate Northrup’s Do Less philosophy.

It’s a revolutionary, fresh and feminine approach to managing your time (well, actually your energy).

Kate in her book Do Less, shares gems of her nourishing and empowering approach to time.

Do Less is a book with a high healing quotient, just as most of Kate’s work. In this book, Kate shares some never heard before wisdom on time management. It’s deep yet delivered in a breezy style. It’s easy to comprehend and apply.

Her concepts are insightful, sustainable and yield high results. I’m most thankful to Kate for helping me (and some friends who’ve read the book) to start making shifts in how we manage time and hold our power in the world (yes, there’s a connection here).

I most loved her emphasis on energy management v/s time management — it’s been a winner for me.

I’m now an ardent practitioner of Kate’s ‘body first, business second’ mantra.

Grateful to Kate for normalising rest and replenishment in a culture that glorifies overworking. A culture that fills you with guilt for taking time out.

She brings forth the lies of toxic capitalism and the lie that your body doesn’t matter. Gently, she helps you disrupt the myth of overwork and pushing your body to work. She helps you delink your worth from your productivity.

She invites you to tend to your body first and experience how you show up more fully, present and effective. You’re likely to make better decisions and fewer mistakes.

Her techniques to tune into your body, intuition and truth are exceptional.

Do Less is packed with convincing and fresh approaches to productivity that work! I loved how it has helped me unwire and heal productivity challenges. Especially those that came from beliefs of a masculine work world dominated by the patriarchy we live in. It’s such a relief to get permission and the tools to manage time in a feminine way — a way that’s more aligned. And one that makes more sense!

Do Less is a must-read for women — (whether you’re a) mom or not. I deeply wish for more women to experience the magic of Do Less!

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Struggling in the hustle and grind culture? Make a start to end this struggle by redefining what success means to you. Check the blog post below.

It's time to rewrite our definition of success

We live in a culture that believes if we put in more hours of work, we’ll get more done.

So we hustle, grind and work without breaks. We sacrifice our lunch or night’s sleep to meet an important deadline.

We clock 10 hours+ workdays, even when our body is screaming and asking us to stop or take a break.

We caffeinate ourselves through fatigue and exhaustion. Silencing the voice that’s nudging us to go slow.

We work weekends, late nights and even through holidays.

Because we accept working longer hours will lead us to success.

Several successful business leaders model such a lifestyle to us. So we believe ‘indeed this must be the way to success’.

Growth at any cost is the mantra we’ve bought into, unwittingly so.

In our world, the dominant definition of success is profit in business. It’s often considered as the only metric of success.

We indulge in excessive consumption mistaking it as a badge of success.

Owning bigger homes, fancier cars, trendier clothes and gadgets have become markers of success. As have aspirations for designations and sending kids to beyond means expensive schools.

It’s good to honour what we deeply desire and work towards achieving it.

But, if we’re doing it at the cost of our health, well-being and relationships, it’s time to stop and re-think.

If endless hours in a stressful job, are crushing your soul and giving you lifestyle diseases, it’s time to reconsider your definition of success.

Does that definition of success align with what you truly want?

Or have you resigned to the idea that success comes by trading your happiness and welfare? If so, it’s time to revisit what success means to you.

The current narrative of success comes from a capitalist, colonial mindset. It’s a mindset rooted in scarcity.

In many years of work as a coach, I’ve asked clients what they’d love in their lives if nothing was a limitation. Here’s what I’ve heard over and over again.

“I want to do work that’s creative, fulfilling and meaningful that allows me to earn well. I want to spend time with my family and travel the world. I want to be able to work from anywhere and at my time. I want to work from the mountains/beaches — and not be rushed.”

On a rare occasion has someone said they want to own a palace, fancy gadgets or run a billion-dollar company.

Clearly, there’s a gap between what we want and what we’re pursuing.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” ~ Herman Cain

If you were to reframe your definition of success outside a narrative that only cares for profit, what would it be?

Ponder over this question as you go for a walk or your daily run. Or as you stretch and exercise.

Journal your thoughts or voice record them on the phone.

What do you want in life? What goals are enriching, nourishing and inspiring to you? What’s Your definition of success?

Would success mean pursuing a career in something you care for or are passionate about? Performing arts, animal welfare, writing, yoga, music, technology, helping women become financially independent?

Along with profit, your definition of success could include deeper work with clients, employees and partners.

Investing and nurturing deep relationships in business and life.

Or building a community of like-minded people who share the same values and struggles.

Championing a cause you care for — thereby empowering and inspiring others. While making space for fitness and good health.

Or moving to the countryside so that you can give your children a holistic upbringing. Teaching them to be sensitive to culture, environment and instilling good values.

Or making time to write that book or poetry, even if it’s for your eyes only. Daydream and read?

Or make space for connections, creativity, solitude and self-care. Each of these replenishes you and fills you up. They better equip you to achieve revenue goals in business.

Or living a simple life so you can work at your pace and not be rushed?

Of course, we have bills to pay, responsibilities to fulfil and deadlines to meet.

You don’t need to quit your job and go live on a farm right away.

But spare a moment and think about how can you begin to align your life to what makes you happy. You can stop living by the definition of success imposed by capitalist culture.

You can begin to carve your definition of success. A definition that’s nourishing, inspiring and energising.

Think about it.

Let me know what you come up with. Feeling stuck? Share in the comments below and we’ll get you some clarity.

Are you seeking to create happiness at work? Do sign up for your free copy of The Happy Work Guide: 8 Steps to Freedom from Toxic Work.

Sampada Chaudhari / The Happy Work Guide

Seeking to make your workplace replenishing? Check my blog post below.

The Great Resignation: Time to Make Our Workplaces Nourishing