Leading a wholesome life
Identifying the best way to pass your time depends on a combination of self-awareness, goals, and available resources. We could do the following to figure this out: This is all in our control so we need to plan it well. For among all other things, is making our life as we want it to be not the most important thing in life? This is something we need to take very seriously and do the following.
Self-Reflection:
Interests and Hobbies: Consider what you genuinely enjoy doing. In my case, most of my time has been i read books, journals and comics. The same thing was done by my father too. This is definitely in the genes as both my children love doing this also which is why a library is the best place for all of us,
Strengths and Skills: Identify your strengths and skills. Activities that leverage your natural abilities can be particularly satisfying. This is not all that difficult as long as we are honest to ourselves and open to receiving both praise and criticism.
Values and Priorities: Reflect on what’s important to you. Is it family, career, health, creativity, learning, or something else? This is something that defines who you are so it is very important to take it very seriously.
Goal Setting:
Some goals are short term. This could be anything from reading a certain number of books to learning a new skill.
Certain others are surely of a longer period, maybe the primary goal of your life. Reflect on your aspirations.. How can your free time contribute to these aspirations?
Exploration and Experimentation:
Work-Life Balance: Ensure you’re balancing work, rest, and play. Too much of any one thing can lead to burnout or boredom. There is s famous Tamil proverb which brings this out in the context of cooking and nutrition and is used as a mantra by all chefs till today, Life too is a kind of recipe so we need to get it right in the same manner.
Balance is indeed the key for a wholesome life sso this does need to be done well as excess of anything is bad while too little is of no use.
Combine. Many activities need to come together to keep things interesting. Mix intellectual, physical, social, and creative pursuits. This is done by most good teachers by combining fun and games even in academics. This is why this is definitely worth taking up as a regular practice.
Mindfulness and Presence:
Stay Present: Engage fully in whatever you’re doing. Being mindful can enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. This shall make your life itself much better and clear.
Quality Over Quantity: Focus on the quality of your activities rather than just filling time.
Seek Feedback:
Ask Others: Sometimes friends, family, or mentors can offer valuable insights into activities that might suit you.
Reflect Regularly: Periodically reassess how you’re spending your time and make adjustments as needed.
By combining these strategies, you can find meaningful and fulfilling ways to pass your time.
By Jamuna Rangachari
