LIFE ..The art of disengaging
Untangling your life is the
key to success, happiness and looking radiant.Young CEOs, spiritual and
business gurus tell us how they keep their lives simple
One of the youngest CEOs,
Denise Restau ri at a Forbes Under 30 Summit, recently said, “I'm on a mission
to simplify my life.This doesn't mean I'm going to stop working.“ Her mantra
for happiness is: Simplifying life. In her book Simplify Your Life: 100 ways to
slow down and enjoy things that really matter, author Elaine St James writes
about making small choices “stay in a small house; drive a small car, drop
call-waiting, don't chat, don't always answer the phone, keep a simple phone,
take-off the plastic nails...“ But living simply doesn't mean living cheaply.
Adds James, “It's about reducing the scale, maintaining the comfort, and
eliminating the complexity.“
“MY MAILS ARE SHORT,
CRISP... VERBOSITY COMPLICATES THINGS“
Ankur Warikoo, CEO, Nearbuy
(Groupon India) I believe in simplifying my daily life to achieve maximum
output with optimal ef fort. I've never used anything besides my Google
calendar and email to manage all my to-dos; no fancy note apps, nothing. A
simple small diary with a fountainpen is good enough. An area where sim plicity
is the key, yet most dif ficult to achieve, is communi cation. I am not a fan
of diffi cult words or verbosity.
The simpler it is, the
better. All my emails and blogs are short and crisp. I never get too
idealistic.
Lastly, fancy expen sive
gadgets or wheels are not for me. Au tomobiles are only a way to go from point
A to B. My advice to anyone looking to simplify life is: purge gadgets they
are just making us lazy.
“MUCH OF LIFE'S COMPLEXITY
IS THAT NOISE IN THE HEAD“
Pooja Jain, managing
director, Luxor The busier you become, the more you want to reduce
distractions. I keep life simple by being in the moment and embracing what
comes my way. I deal with the situation at hand and move on to the next is sue.
Much of life's com plexity is the noise in the head. I keep my mind at a
distance, and don't overthink. I simply Do, and that al lows me to keep things
simple. I use technolo gy as an enabler a way to give quick in structions. I
don't depend on it.
“SIMPLICITY IS A DAILY
CHOICE YOU MAKE“
Vikrum Baidyanath, CEO,
Baidyanath Group I focus on the basics, mind my own business, stay focused in
the present. I don't drift between past and present. I keep my conversations
short, restrict use of technology to the need-based only, and at night, I switch
off my mobile phones and Wi-fi connection. I eat home-made fresh vegetarian
food, sleep and wake up on time and resist every urge to complicate life.
Simplicity is a daily choice you make.
“PLAYING GOLF OR RACING A
SPORTSCAR CLEARS MY MIND“
Zorawar Kalra, restaurateur
I don't let life's compli cations take over my days. I look at the macro as
pects of run ning the business. I keep some free time to spend with my family.
I find simple ways to be happy like spending free time either playing golf or
racing sports cars. This gives me a break from `busyness' of life, and also
helps me move closer to my goals.
“KEEP THE PHONE AWAY FROM
YOUR BED“
Sandeep Singh, CEO,
Freecultr I believe in being present in the moment. I realised that one of the
biggest distractions and complicators in my life was my ever-beeping phone.
Now, my phone is a l w a y s switched off for notifications, and I keep all
notifications to be on demand (i.e., when I choose to open the app, not when
someone else wants me to read the message). This has kept all distractions at
bay. Another interesting way to keep life simple is to pursue a passion in your
spare time whatever works for you. It fulfills the aspirations of the soul
and keeps thoughts simple.
“CREATE A `STOP-DOING'
LIST“
Azim Jamal, business coach
Challenge every activity and object occupy ing your life. Ask yourself, `why am
I doing this and what could be done to eliminate the need for it'. Fill up your
life with things you Love to do not things you Like to do. In fact, reward
people who bring up ideas for your `Stop Doing' list. It will help both you and
others to create valuable time.Measure the time you spend on an activity daily
and follow this activity for three days.It will tell you where you are
expending needless attention and energy.
“KEEP CONVERSATIONS SIMPLE“
Niret Alva, CEO, Miditech
PVT Ltd There are several ways to simplify your life.Take long walks. I
simplify my mind by putting the phone away too. Spending time with family keeps
the chaos away and meaningful conversations always keep the mind engaged and
happy.
“TAKE STOCK OF ACTIVITIES
THAT DON'T ENHANCE YOUR LIFE“
Mohit Burman, Director,
Dabur India Ltd When I plan my week, I make it a point to schedule time with my
family and friends, and engage in activities that help me recharge. I also take
stock of activities that don't enhance my work or personal life, and try to
minimise the time I spend on them.
“NOTHING IS SIMPLER THAN
PURE AWARENESS“
Deepak Chopra, spiritual
guru Simplifying the externals can go only so far. Once the closets are sorted
out and the daily schedule is pruned, the real issue persists: How does one
simplify the confusion, stress, conflict, and unresolved conditioning of the
mind.
Nothing is simpler than
pure awareness. Until a person gains direct experience of that truth, inner
complications will always return. All the external complications that people
complain about are of their own choosing, because we feel important, valued,
and distracted when life is complicated. Beyond the duties, de mands, and
drama, however, we are escaping a troubled inner world. This has always been
the human dilemma, and solving it remains life's most important challenge.
TL29MAY16
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