It is September already and I cannot wait for October (you know why!) One mid-day, I was working from a coffee shop, and randomly wondered if there has/have been anything new that I have been enjoying lately. These may be tiny things, but they have quite an impact on me as they either bring joy (read smile) or peace (read calm) to me. So, I wanted to share my new favorite finds with my readers and hoping to make it a monthly thing (fingers crossed). Hope you find them useful too.
On – Purpose podcast by Jay Shetty
I have been following Jay Shetty’s work for some time now and watched a few of his YouTube motivational videos in the past. He recently started a podcast called “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” to make wisdom go viral. He releases episodes twice a week (Mondays and Fridays). In the solo episodes, he talks about the most straightforward topics in the most powerful way and also interviews influential people regarding their simple thoughts. I personally enjoy the solo episodes more than the interviews. The solo episodes are relatively short with content that makes you want to pause the episode to think and take down notes. I now have a folder on my phone with notes from the podcast. I highly recommend this podcast (even if this is your first one) and it may become your best past time for your car ride.
Pomodoro method
“My mind is like my internet browser. 19 tabs are open, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.” I read this quote recently, and I could totally relate to it. In between managing my work in the office, dance class schedules, household chores, blog content, studying, shopping (ok I am being honest) and many more, I have realized I have been terrible in managing my time effectively. I try to do multiple things at the same time and end up not completing anything in a reasonable time. That is when I came across the “Pomodoro” technique to effectively manage time. You set a timer for 25 minutes for every task and take a small break. Once you finish 4 tasks, you take a more extended break. This method has indeed been helpful to improve focus and make good use of my time. Here is the timer, I use when I work on my laptop.
Guided meditation (Sleep hypnosis)
I always wanted to take power naps when I am super tired during the day or when I have to switch from one activity to the other (between work and dance class). It always helped me clear my mind and start afresh. But I am a very light sleeper and take a lot of time to fall asleep. That is when I heard about guided meditation, also called sleep hypnosis. It is essentially a self-help tool to lead a person into relaxing mode. There are many Youtube videos or recordings available on apps. You can choose the one that suits the time you have and relax for a while. I only use the ones which are of 10 minutes to 30 minutes duration and I am awake at the end of the session with refreshed energy. I would certainly recommend you to talk to your health practitioner or do your own research if you have concerns or questions on this method.
#5SmartReads by Hitha Palepu
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon Hitha‘s Instagram profile, but I am glad I did. Following her for a few days, I discovered her #5SmartReads that she shares on her Instagram stories every weekday. These are some deep reads. She also sends all these 25 good reads in a newsletter every Saturday along with some other interesting stuff. You can sign up for it too. Now I don’t need to search the Internet to keep myself updated on what is happening around. In all honesty, I haven’t been reading the news much lately and relied on social media viral posts to know about the world. But thanks to Hitha, I am getting back to reading news from a more credible source. The newsletter covers a wide range of topics on products she loves, book recommendations and politics, etc. You can spend a few minutes of every day in a week to go through these informative articles.
If you found any of the above interesting, do let me know and share it with others. After all, sharing is caring! Have a great month ahead!
-Signing off
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