It can be hard to slow down when everything’s going great for you, when you jump out of bed every morning with hope and excitement, and when you think you don’t need a break. Are you that person?

2020 was one of my most productive years. Now I don’t particularly struggle with productivity if that’s what you’re wondering. I prioritize my well-being and my happiness above everything else. If I don’t get my eight hours of sleep, I’m a cranky, annoying person. If I don’t get my meals on time, I’m hungry and angry as hell. So, you don’t want to mess with me when I’m hungry. That’s who I have always been.

So, being productive isn’t a challenge because I take regular breaks. I travel. Travel is the fuel I need to recharge.

But 2020 ruined many of our plans, didn’t it? While it wasn’t exactly a great year for me in terms of travel (which I love too much!), other things kept me going. I focused more on my personal growth and professional development. I seized the opportunities that came my way and became more visible on social media.

I used my non-working hours to network with people. I started scheduling at least three meetings per week with new people. That not only helped grow my network, but it made my weekdays more interesting. I had fun conversations and learned something new in every meeting. Nobody forced me to do this; I had these meetings because I truly enjoyed talking to different people.

Every new project I took up became a fun experiment for me. Either I enjoyed it, or I sucked at it. Whatever the outcome, I knew I had at least made an effort.

Fast forward to 2021 and the second wave of the pandemic, and I started missing travel terribly. I wanted to escape to the mountains, to the hills of Himachal and Uttarakhand. We had almost made plans to head to the mountains in May this year.

But things continue to look bleak for the most part. People may be travelling everywhere without masks, without precautions, but that’s not me. I haven’t taken a flight in nearly 18 months. And I miss that. After June, I realized I needed a break. I needed to escape the monotonous views of my apartment complex and head someplace new.

That’s how I ended up in Aurangabad for a few days. It was a blissful time exploring the place, admiring the greenery, visiting the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, clicking zillions of photos at the Lonar Crater Lake, and reliving some of my memories of the place.

I barely checked Whatsapp, Slack, Clubhouse, or any other app on my phone during that time. I had taken my laptop along, hoping to watch some Netflix. I didn’t open it at all. I didn’t do anything except enjoy the scenic views every day.

It was a blessing to be able to slow down for those few days. And that didn’t bother me. I was happy to take that pause.

We all need that pause in our lives. Especially now. When it was time to come back to Mumbai, I didn’t want to. And now I can’t wait to go on my next holiday. This pandemic has been tiring, depressing, annoying, and frustrating in many ways for so many of us. It’s taken a toll on our mental health, sanity, and happiness.

I’m grateful for everything; however, there are days when I feel the monotony getting to me. I want to desperately go back to pre-pandemic days when I could enjoy a cup of coffee in a café without worrying about who was sneezing next to me. I want to experience a live concert or play. I want to TRAVEL to the 30 countries on my bucket list.

Until that day, I will have to be content with these short pauses.

Now it’s your turn. How are you slowing down?

About the Shades of My Self series:

In June, I decided to start a series of articles that would uncover shades of my personality. If you haven’t read my post on cultivating friendships, you can read it here. You can also learn more about switching careers here.

See you next week!

Photo credit: Kritika Kulshrestha

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Cheers,

Kritika

Being Curious

#20: Slow Down to Stay Sane