About the Author:
Shoba Narayan is the author of six books. She has been a journalist and columnist for over 30 years, writing about health, relationships, travel, food and culture for global publications, winning a James Beard award and Pulitzer Fellowship. She has taught at universities in India and abroad. She founded and co-created Project LooM, about textiles traditions of India, and Jewels of India: about Indian jewellery. She is the host and anchor of Bird Podcast. She serves on the board of Industree Foundation, Neev Academy and Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography.
Ten New Year Resolutions to Help Your Future Self
One of the things that people keep talking about these days is “future-proofing,” particularly with respect to AI. But as Darwin demonstrated centuries ago, future-proofing does not apply only to the latest technology to take over the world. It applies to each of us. We all need to change, adapt, and evolve in order to survive and thrive. I have been thinking a lot about this, particularly in the context of New Year resolutions. Here then are 10 suggestions of how to adapt and evolve so that you can embrace the brave new world that awaits you as you age.
1. Choose discomfort over comfort.
All of us have developed certain patterns and habits that have helped us so far. The way to evolve is to break those patterns. So if you always read non-fiction, read fiction. If you think of yourself as an engineering geek, try doodling or drawing as you speak on the phone. If you hate numbers, learn basic math. If you are the kind that says, “I can’t dance,” force yourself to get on the dance floor during your niece’s wedding. Guess what? Nobody’s watching you; nobody’s judging you; nobody cares—they are each caught up in their own mental drama.
2. Solve for postural defects.
We each have certain ways of standing, sitting and walking that may be causing us cramps, spasms or pain. Visit a physiotherapist or at least do a phone consultation and see what emerges. When I visited Radha Krishnaswamy, a self-employed strength and conditioning specialist, she immediately pointed out that my last two toes were not touching the floor and how that would impact my gait and posture.
3. Get acquainted with pain.
No matter how old you are, pain is something that will hit you, either through sports, falls, or fractures. My daughter had a meniscus tear while learning how to surf. Learning how to deal with and indeed embrace pain is something that will help all of us. There are many ways of tolerating and accepting pain but mostly they point to somatic or body healing techniques including yoga, The Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method, and many more. I listen to podcasts on these topics, and mostly they point to moving with awareness.
4. Use the “If This Then That” (IFTTT) approach to building productive patterns.
For example, in his book, Tiny Habits, author BJ Fogg creates this command: after I pee, I will do two push-ups. If you are disciplined enough to do this, the number of push-ups builds till you can do 40 push-ups over time. My version of this is to wall-sit every time I speak to my Mom. Some people do the plank in the office after they finish a meeting. If the culture of your office allows for this, no problem. Else, figure out some other activity like walking up the stairs when you speak on the phone.
5. Mix activities with socialisation.
The surgeon-general of America, Vivek Murthy, has written about the “loneliness epidemic” hitting America with more people going an entire day without meeting a real person, given how ubiquitous texts, zoom calls, and emails are. If you have an activity you love (like cycling or motorbike riding on weekends), do it with a group. Golf, for example, is an activity that mixes sport with socialisation. Trust me, this will help you not just physically but mentally and emotionally too.
6. Breathing deeply is the love language of the nervous system.
Stress is held in our nerves and taking a one-minute break just to breathe deeply helps.
7. Get rid of excess emotions the way children and animals do.
Have you watched your toddler when she gets overwhelmed by emotion? They literally shake or scream or roll on the ground. We call this having a tantrum but it is a fantastic way for this little human to deal with an overload of emotion. As we grow older, we swallow and suppress this overload of emotions. Anytime we get mad or sad, we ignore the feeling, distract ourselves with our smartphone or sedate ourselves with alcohol or cigarettes. What if you tried shaking off that feeling, quite literally? Go into the toilet and shake it off like kids too. Dogs and cats do this too. They literally shake away their fear, rage and sadness.
8. Work with your senses.
Even though we have five senses, we mostly use our eyes these days. Why not engage all your other senses like smell and We live in an eye-centric culture. These days, I am trying something at home. I walk around with my eyes closed. It is scary and I can’t do it for more than 30 seconds. Often, I practice it when I walk down the stairs. It is a safe space and I hold the bannister, but even then, it is scary. Consider giving your eyes a rest.
9. Incorporate rituals in your life.
It could be a prayer to a god of your choice; a mantra or rosary beads; it could be lighting a lamp or candle. Rituals, even if you don’t believe in religion or god nourish the soul.
10. Engage in multi-planar movement, which is a complex way of saying, play sports or dance.
When you play sports, you bend, jump, run, crouch – move in multiple levels or planes. The same with dance. Our current lives are not this way. Mostly we sit, stand, and walk all in one level. Try to recreate our primate ancestors who swung, leaped, jumped, ran, sat, stood and walked.
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