How did I go from a busily scheduled life to one with substantial unstructured time?

1/ More creating, less consuming

I stopped obsessive mindless scrolling and started creating. Instagram for artworks. Twitter for thoughts. Unsubscribed from other apps. Saved a LOT of time.

2/ More deep focus, less context switching

I loved to be involved in many projects, but didn’t take into account the cost of making the mind switch between works. I decided to choose one important project and pour all of me into it.

3/ “It’s either hell yeah, or no”

I dropped projects that didn’t make me feel all fervent. I ruthlessly purged the guilt and FOMO. It was hella scary and uncomfortable at first, but was liberating over time. Knowing your why is the key.

4/ More focus on health and people

I was generous with time when it was for my health and people. I exercised, did yoga, went on for walks, and slept whenever I wanted. Same way, I didn’t look at the clock when I was with people. I resolved to be there and only there.

5/ Less worrying about saying no

Well, this was perhaps the toughest one for me. I was so used to being involved in many projects, that retracting myself from them was almost impossible. It was SO painful. Yet, I trusted it would be a wise choice long term and bore the pain.

The Batteries of Life

Imagine each aspect of you — the life force, body, thoughts, emotions — has a battery. Knowing when they are charged, recharged, and discharged is the key in using them effectively.

A thread 🪡

1/ Which battery is low?

Are you hungry? Overworked? Stressed? Uncomfortable?

When there’s a lull, assess what causes it. More than one battery can be low at the same time.

2/ Why is the battery low?

Were you already tired or is what you’re doing now tiring you out?

Identify whether the battery was already low before the lull or if the current situation is discharging it quickly.

3/ What can recharge the battery?

Do you need coffee? Walk? People? Silence?

Having identified which battery is low and why, look for opportunities to recharge it. Also, avoid situations that discharge it quickly.

4/ Is the battery used meaningfully?

Are you tired because you exercised or because you stayed up late binge watching?

Use your battery to do what enhances your well-being. Otherwise, the battery’s health will be compromised over time.

The Batteries of Life - II

There are four aspects of you — life force, body, intellect, emotions. Each has a battery. How do we keep it energized all the time?

A thread 🪡

1/ Life force - Gratitude

When you’re grateful for the life you’ve, for the people and things you’ve, you will appreciate them and be compassionate to those who have less.

Be thankful. Always. For every little thing.

2/ Body - Sleep, nutrition, physical activity

Being sleep deprived and eating junk/exotic food foreign to one’s land has become fancy these days.

Please respect your temple and worship it - not through external makeup but through internal health.

3/ Intellect - Creation

Your intellect thrives not when it endlessly consumes but when it creates. Engage in solving problems and express yourself through arts.

Channelize your intellect’s power through focused work or it’ll cause trouble for you and others.

4/ Emotions - Friends and family

We aren’t isolated beings. We need people to share our time, love and affection. The “independence” modernity preaches is nonsense because it has only resulted in loneliness and depression.

“Nosy” people who care are much better than loneliness.