Lessons for Life: Self-Doubt, Productivity, and Wellness
Multitudes of life's challenges can be framed through the lens of self-doubt and the pursuit of higher productivity. This reflection explores three key lessons learned - overcoming self-doubt, prioritizing wellness, and embracing incremental growth. Each lesson offers a pathway towards a more fulfilling and efficient life.
Overcoming Self-Doubt with Kaizen
Months after my CA result, I found myself engaged in a project to change course in my career. As I cleaned my study area, I stumbled upon a question from my accounts paper that had previously caused significant frustration during the exam. This question was worth ten marks, and I vividly remember spending half an hour on it. In fact, I believed it was one of the most challenging questions during the exam. But driven by a renewed sense of purpose, I decided to tackle it again.
With Taylor Swift playing the background, I approached the question with a lighter heart and a clearer mind. After just eight minutes, I had the answer - not just for the question, but also for my self-doubt. In that moment, something clicked. Instead of dwelling on past frustrations, I decided to confront the problem with a more positive mindset. The lesson I learned is that life is too short to take everything so seriously. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment of freedom from doubt to conquer our challenges.
Prioritizing Wellness: Sleep and Exercise
As impactful as overcoming self-doubt is, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is equally critical for sustained productivity and wellness. There are certain things in life that need to be done without any hesitation or excuse - just like how our heart knows how to pump blood, or how the brain commands the organs. Among these essentials, sleep and exercise stand out. A good night's sleep, between 8 to 9 hours, and at least 45 minutes of daily exercise can significantly alleviate half of the mental and physical problems one may face.
There are times when life feels blocked and mentally draining, where one doesn’t know what to do. In such situations, taking an afternoon nap, using personal leaves for a few days, or simply going home to sleep can be transformative. This reaffirms the importance of giving oneself some rest and rejuvenation to deal with deep-seated problems or fears.
The Power of Micro-Improvements: The Kaizen Method
After the Second World War, Japan was in a state of ruins, and within just a few decades, it emerged as a global economic powerhouse. This success is largely attributed to the implementation of Kaizen, a method of incremental and continuous improvement. Kaizen focuses on making small, consistent improvements in daily tasks, even if they are brief.
For instance, if I am studying, I might promise myself that my thinking and studying will be a tiny bit better than the day before. This approach can be transformative as it is sustainable and builds upon itself over time. By consistently improving, even in small increments, one can achieve remarkable progress.
A monk once said, “I do not know his name.”, but this is what I learned and realized today. Embracing Kaizen in daily life can lead to enhanced happiness, productivity, and recognition from others.
In conclusion, self-doubt, wellness, and productivity are interrelated aspects of life that require deliberate attention. By confronting self-doubt head-on, prioritizing wellness through adequate sleep and exercise, and applying the Kaizen method to foster incremental growth, one can lead a more fulfilling and productive life. These lessons are valuable for anyone looking to improve their quality of life and achieve their goals.