Anuradha Sridharan

 July has been a good month for me from a reading point of view. Wrapping it up with an insightful book on attention and focus.  Picking a book to read is always about what I want to improve or learn more about right now. As I started to reprioritize my focus and consciously manage the distractions from my life, it was an obvious choice to pick up this book from my home library. The first section on "Hyperfocus" mode was easy to relate to and I was glad that I've already been applying many of the principles - taming my distractions, picking up tasks that require hyperfocus, and being mindful of my attention space. When there is a 2*2 matrix, I know I'm gonna love the chapter🙂 The author talks about the different types of tasks we do in our daily lives based on their productive and attractive nature of them. The whole topic of attentional space and how we should manage this limited resource was fabulous. He then talks about the 4-step process to get into the hyperfocu...

  In the past 5 years, our consumption of entertainment through OTT platforms has increased multifold.  Ever since I succumbed to the "Good Wife" binge-watching episode back in 2017, I've become conscious of my time spent on OTT platforms. As I started observing my behavior, I noticed a pattern - I might switch on the TV to watch something interesting for 15-20 minutes when I'm taking a break. As I open any of the platforms, I invariably keep scrolling to figure out what to watch most of the time and end up feeling exhausted, before making a choice. These platforms pave way for infinite scroll behavior, similar to social media. A few steps taken so far: We have subscribed to Prime and Disney-Hotstar annual plans. For Netflix, we usually subscribe for a month, and then take a break for 3 months. This decision was mainly due to the higher monthly subscription charges. It also avoids the trap of pushing ourselves to watch something instantly, as soon as a new movie is re...

  The music of Roja was released on 27th Jul 1992, but I stumbled upon this album a few months later on the most fateful day of my life. My mom moved on to the next world, but on the very same day, the Universe introduced me to ARR's music, playing on the loudspeaker from a tea shop. Listening to "Kaadhal Rojavae, enge nee enge" brings me tears even to this date, reminding me of the flood of emotions I felt that day. Looking back, I have chosen to believe that the Universe meant to convey this message - "I understand you have lost someone precious today and it's an irreplaceable loss. But I'm bringing something to you that will fill this gap in myriad ways". His music in the past 30 years has been a constant, though my life has moved on from being a 10-year-old kid to a mother of a 10-year-old. The rush to buy his albums in the form of cassettes, CDs, and iTunes songs and then listening to them for hours at a stretch, immersing in the tune, orchestration...

 While reading Thibaut Meurisse's " Dopamine Detox ", I realized that he has written multiple books, many of which were available on kindle unlimited. " Master your Emotions " caught my attention, as I remembered seeing it as a recommendation by many bookstagrammers. Over the past week, I devoured this simple and powerful book in "active reading" mode - writing down notes and reflecting on my personal experiences. The author has dissected the topic of emotions in detail - the nature of our emotions, how they are formed, the elements that impact them, how emotions can be a great tool for personal growth. The initial context which establishes the link between our ego and our emotions was so fabulous to read. Emotions are transient, they come and go. And it is not the emotions per se that create suffering, but rather how we interpret those emotions. The formula showing the components involved in creating strong emotions was such an eye-opener. Beautifully...

 I bid goodbye to Facebook and Twitter 2 years ago. I continue to use Instagram and make sure I use the browser app from my laptop. I consciously try to stay away from infinite scroll enabling features like Explore / Reels. In the past 2-3 years, I have made sure that the number of people I follow is restricted to a max of 60. Every time I choose to follow a new person, I need to make the hard decision to unfollow someone. I continue to use the platform in a way that enables me to express myself through words. Though the whole world has moved (or forced to move) onto short video format, I consciously decided not to pursue this path. Words are my way of expression and I derive happiness and satisfaction through writing. Vanity metrics like engagement, reach and follower count haven't moved up in the past 2 years. Yet, the motivation to stay consistent with content creation hasn't gone down, thanks to the state of "flow" I experience whenever I write and to the handful ...

 As part of the Satvic Intense Yoga program, we learned about the 5 elements / Panchamahabhootas last week. While on the topic of Jal, the nature of water was discussed - flowing, non-stagnant, transparent, adaptable, flexible, and clear. The Suryanamaskar practice following the discussion was also gentle and flowing in nature, which I absolutely loved. The rising number of people diagnosed with diabetes and obesity is attributed to an imbalance in Kapha dosha, as per Ayurveda. Kapha dosha is comprised of Earth and Water elements. Given that our body is comprised of 70% water, it is natural for us to be flowing, moving, and non-stagnant. Our bodies are designed for movement. Because of our sedentary lifestyles and desk jobs, the water component in our body isn't in alignment with its natural state. This stagnation is fuelled even further in urban lifestyle, thanks to convenience and technology - food ordering, 10-min instant grocery, OTT platforms with never-ending entertainme...

 Thanks to a dear reader who recommended me this book. It was such a fabulous and informative read. I'd highly recommend this book to all women (and men too). Keep an open, curious mind and give it a read! You may choose to agree/disagree with the perspectives shared, but it is worthwhile to hear the facts and reasoning before making any conclusions. Many ancient menstrual practices are blindly dismissed today as superstitious/patriarchal influence/unfriendly to women. In the first section of the book, the author has elaborated in detail, on the context, history, and reasoning behind many practices. And she has substantiated her research with the help of ancient Indian sciences (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Hindu philosophy) to explain the reasoning, which made a lot of sense. It was fascinating to read about the different systems of medicine being practiced across the world and the similarities in the understanding of physical and subtle energy bodies. As the author dives into the chapter...

  You might have heard of this quote - "Time is money". It is usually used in the context when each hour can be converted or measured in monetary terms. I don't relate to this quote. But I consider "Time" as one of my most important values. Maybe, that's why I get offended when I watch "Dil Chahta Hai" and how Subodh is made fun of, just because he is a stickler for time! :) I have often thought about these questions: Is Time equivalent to money? Or is it more valuable than money? Why do many of us spend our money carefully, while we lavishly spend our time? Do time and money present a zero-sum problem? While you have one, you cannot have the other - is it true? Or is it a man-made conundrum? Many of us are frugal with our expenses, but are we approaching Time with the same mindset? Can we be frugal with time?  If Time had a monetary value attached to it, will we be wasting it on frivolous activities? "Frivolous" is a subjective word. Wha...

 A year back, when my dad was critically ill, a dear friend shared with me the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. After memorizing the mantra, it has become a part of my daily evening prayer ritual. It gave me strength to sail through the health situation. Chanting Mantras / chants / shlokas have immense benefits if done with faith and trust in the Supreme. The vibrations each syllable and sound produce have a powerful effect on our thoughts and emotions. Mindful chanting is extremely important to feel the effect. I'm grateful to my paternal grandmother for teaching me so many beautiful chants/shlokas when I was a kid. I remember she used to have a book of short mantras to chant for everyday situations. I learned this shloka "Buddhir balam..." which is to be chanted just before we face any exam or challenge. It used to be my ritual to chant this shloka in the exam hall before seeing the question paper. I used to feel so scared to swallow tablets when I was a kid. This book had a shl...

 This book often pops up as a recommendation by bookstagrammers, which made me curious to check it out. And the fact that it was available on Kindle Unlimited made it an easier choice. It is a self-help book and ideal for those in their late 20s and early 30s. The author has structured the book so well, starting with essential but often neglected physiological aspects such as sleep, breathing, and nutrition. I found it fascinating to read about the role of adenosine in our sleep cycles and how caffeine interrupts this process. He then moves on to the psychological aspects of our state of mind, our needs, and our emotions. How our state of mind impacts our decisions and actions is beautifully written and so are the triggers that can improve our state of mind - music, body language, smile, gratitude, etc. There is also enough coverage related to our work routines, financial planning, minimalism, and relationships. As he talks about these multiple aspects one after another, it gives ...

 While searching for the book "Dopamine Nation" on Amazon, I accidentally stumbled upon Thibaut Meurisse and his book " Dopamine Detox ". It's a short read of 50 pages and is available on Kindle Unlimited. It was an easy, informative read on the role of dopamine and how it is being hijacked. Contrary to common belief, the author states that dopamine is NOT a pleasure chemical. It creates the anticipation of a potential reward after a certain action. The current digital habits and routines we follow have led us to a state of overstimulation, thereby requiring the need for more and more external stimuli for the same amount of dopamine to be released. When we are in a constant state of overstimulation, we easily get distracted and tend to lose our precious ability to focus. We also tend to become more short-sighted with our ability to set and achieve goals. We also end up expecting super fast results, which leads to a state of inadequacy and loss of PATIENCE. This ...

  Last weekend, I had been to Forum mall (now renamed Nexus mall) after a long time. The usual routine is to step into Landmark and spend some time in the books section. I felt sad to see that the books section is now moved to a corner of the store. When Landmark first opened in Forum mall, the lower floor was exclusively allocated to books, while the upper floor used to have DVDs, audio CDs, stationery, and gifts. I remember spending hours, browsing through bookshelves, reading a few pages, and picking a few books to buy, whenever we visited Forum mall. Crosswords in Residency Road used to be one of my favorite places. It has shut shop, and so is Crosswords in Phoenix Market City. Sapna and Blossoms are still around and continue to remain a hangout spot for bibliophiles like me. As I wondered why the bookstores are no longer finding it viable to run their business, these are the reasons that came up: - Customers shifting to online book purchases where they get attractive discounts...

  The recent news surrounding the Vauld crisis has raised concerns regarding fintech influencers and their credibility. Since the losses are immediate and tangible, the investors are now skeptical about such influencers and their financial advice content shared on social media. In 2017-18, many food influencers and mom bloggers were promoting many packaged and junk foods, citing health and nutrition-related claims. As far as food is concerned, there is no way to attribute the intake of a single food product to the cause of an ailment. Because of this sole reason, such food influencers got away with irresponsible promotions - they make their money from brands, write books, take fancy vacations, and what not! In the past couple of years, there is also a new trend of influencers, promoting extreme lifestyles and ideologies on social media, across various aspects of life - parenting, diet, nutrition, fitness, wellness, home organization, etc. They paint a pretty picture - be it their r...

 "I remember his hammer was smashed by his sister Hela. But how did he get the ax?", I posed a serious question to K and D after watching "Thor: Love and Thunder" yesterday. Both of them burst out laughing and responded in chorus, "Already forgot Infinity war? He gets it in that movie". We had so much fun, laughing and crying while watching together. Watching Marvel movies is becoming a family activity. Though I was never a fan, I was initiated into it in the 2000s, thanks to K when the initial movies (Iron man, Spider man) were released. Slowly and steadily, I now seemed to have watched most of the movies, though I don't follow them with rigorous detail🙂 D has also started liking these movies and as someone who likes to teach, she brings me up to speed by explaining certain situations🙂 I'm content to observe and listen to her when she explains with so much passion and detail. Many parenting "gurus" and influencers pass judgments, sayin...

  Most lifestyle ailments manifest in our bodies when we experience a sudden stressful situation in our lives. The seeds for such ailments might have already been planted, but they start to make themselves visible during periods of stress. It saddens me every time I hear a 20+ youngster saying, "I'm young. I can eat anything. My body can take it. It's time to enjoy my life". When you are at ease,  When things are going normal,  When you don't have too many responsibilities on your shoulders, Take the time to work on yourself,  Take the time to grow your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The 20s and 30s aren't only about growing in your career and your financial health. When you invest even a little effort towards your wellbeing, it starts to pay good dividends IF you end up facing certain challenging situations in your late 30s or 40s. What are those little efforts? A few suggestions. Include fruits in your diet every day. Many of us skip eating frui...

  Imagine this situation. You have a single charging point at home and a single mobile charger. Newer phones do not need frequent charging - they charge quickly and retain their charge for long. Older phones need frequent charging - they take more time to charge and drain their charge faster. Let's say - your phone is neither new nor old. And your phone is THE most important one at home - it has all the required data, contacts, and apps that are used more frequently. In such a scenario, what would you do? You will ensure that your phone is fully charged before others get hold of the charger. You will make sure that your phone's battery never goes into the Red zone.  Our daily lives are very similar to the above situation. If you are in your 30s/40s with multiple responsibilities (child care, work/career, household work, elderly care, pet care, etc), your energy is THAT most important phone of the household. The single charger is nothing but your Home. Everyone needs access to ...