REVERSE AGEING WITH SHIV: Unhurry is आज़ादी

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I could have used independence or freedom, but आज़ादी rhymes better with Unhurry, no?

On this Independence Day, I recalled my conversation with a colleague when I first introduced the “Unhurry” platform to him along with my “reverse-ageing” series. His immediate question was, “Does unhurry make sense in today’s corporate world, where staying ahead is the goal, and speed is the only way?”  

True that. When your work days are full of Excel sheets, PowerPoints, Teams meetings, Project reports, KRAs and KPIs, and twenty-four hours don’t seem enough, any slowdown would naturally mean missed targets and sidelined careers. Speed reading, multitasking, longer work hours, shorter sleep time, fewer holidays become the norm. Most people feel guilty if any time is spent on entertainment or relaxation when there are many incomplete tasks on the “To Do“ list.     

I reasoned with my colleague that one can accomplish more by doing fewer things but the right ones.

I invoked Peter Drucker’s famous proclamation on “doing things right versus doing the right things” to buttress my argument.

Peter Drucker

In order to determine those right things, you need time to reflect, and an unhurried thinking helps you. आज़ादी to proactively decide on what you want to work on, instead of getting sucked by one task after another endlessly.

Let me share with you two tools that worked for me in this संघर्ष for आजादी. 

From very young age, I had developed the habit of distributing my “To Do“ list along the well-known 2×2 matrix of important vs urgent tasks. Ideal situation is when most tasks are in the quadrant “very important but not urgent”. You have plenty of time to access and process data, generate multiple options, organise work etc. The effort is to ensure that the quadrant with “very urgent & very important” tasks doesn’t become bulky – that’s when the quality of outcome suffers.

To ensure that the tasks don’t end up in that wrong quadrant, it is equally important to draw up a “Not to Do“ list as well. After doing this in my own way for long, two years ago, I ran in to Rory Vaden’s framework on elimination, automation, delegation and procrastination to determine what your concentration should be on. I recommend that book to you. Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time.

 Best wishes to you all on आजादी का अमृत महोत्सव 🧡🤍💚

S. Sivakumar

A senior business leader at ITC Ltd. He could hide behind lack of time but has healed himself, lost 35 kg and walks the talk on making time for yourself to get healthy.

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9 thoughts on “REVERSE AGEING WITH SHIV: Unhurry is आज़ादी”

  2. Thanks Shiv for this wonderful share..I am also undergoing the process you have rightly suggested in above write up..

    Talking more on Reverse Ageing, I guess we need to add more aspects/routines to our lifestyle like Morning Yoga, meditation ( kind of peaceful prayer), more proteins n nutritious intake, adopting kinda 5-S technique in our life as well( Yes,I am referring to that famous Japanese 5-S management/ HK technique)…All these are to be followed by individuals who has crossed age of 50 OR on threshold on crossing it..

    Would like to share real time successful story with larger audience either through write-up columns OR may be who knows even a book.. thanks and love to everyone out there!!

    Reply

      • Hi, I just finished reading all the posts in series except one chapter-10 things to do while walking..This I finished during my own defined “Non- time”- that’s now(1 AM)..This is non- time for me since it’s holiday ( mohrum+ weekend )..

        All posts find them adding value to my understanding n fitness regime..

        Learnings- 1)Emphasis on eating Vegetables.( Since I am basically a vegetarian at home, converted to non- Vegetarian from the days of Engg Hostel stay till now)
        2) Importance of breathing exercises ( though I do Nidrasan after nearly 30 to 45 mnts of Yoga. I guess that covers up breathing exercise per se)
        3) of course importance of 7-8 years of sound sleep..
        4) Walking before lunches/ dinners..( here I would like to add you have not mentioned walking after those meals).
        5) and many more points

        ( I am not recollecting them as I write this post.I am unable to refer back those article in the midst of this writing.but I will revisit them for sure)..

        What I feel you probably missed out are:

        1) importance of intake of Potassium n Magnesium salts which we are missing in daily intake of drinking water..

        2) as pointed out above, importance of walking after meals( of course as time permits)

        3) Importance of millets along with other mentioned cereals..

        4) what about measures to increase calcium intake as well??..pl suggest

        5) any eating window to be strictly followed?You did mentioned dinner before 7.30 PM.

        6) for proteins- the importance of protein shakes along with eggs..(since it may not be possible to eat too many eggs to target intake of 25% protein intake)..

        These are randomly learnings n suggestions what I could jostled down before now I go for that 8 HR sleep .

        Thanks n Regards Shiv..pl continue to inspire..

    • Srinivas: Thanks for reading all my posts. Much appreciate the detailed comment. Surely, I will feature some of your additional inputs in my forthcoming posts. Best wishes.

      Reply

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