"The Voyage for a New Writer"

     The Voyage for a New Writer

The human mind together denoted as conscious and sub-conscious gets thousands of thoughts. Of these thoughts few are important and others are transitory ideas. The important thoughts are formed when one acts or reacts to thought with emotion. Emotions are acts, experiences, views or opinions shown by an individual. Emotions start right from being in the womb, to being an infantile, adolescent or an adult, till one leaves the body. Infantile cries to grab attention and mother easily find the cause of her baby crying, these are the emotions between mother and a child. Similarly, a departed partner may have longed to meet his/ her partner is another set of emotion which an individual may convey via a song, poem or a message.

Keywords: write-up, skills, writing, passion, overcoming fear

Objective:

The objective of the present write-up is not to create mere motivation which is temporary but it is written with an objective to help the readers to pursue a carrier as a writer. This write-up will empower its readers to attain a real, tangible changed life rather than simply wishing for a change in life to happen. It will facilitate to create a belief in individuals that they can write themselves and eradicate the fear of being a writer. As in the following article, I will not speak magic but the logic behind the voyage of a new writer. So, I want my readers to keep reading till the end and not miss any points

Who can be a writer?

Orson Scott Card has quoted that, “Everybody walks past every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any” this thought helps one picture the difference between a writer and most people. To be a writer one does not need any title, like the ones who are non-working or the ones who have lost jobs due to any kind of crisis can be a writer. Further, any individual who is willing to or knowing to place, churn, elaborate, punctuate the thoughts in the correct way can be a writer. Someone having knowledge of the subject, or is ready to change the fundamental way one thinks, or is devoted to following a mentor (an individual experienced in writing) can be a writer. Someone who is willing to follow the guidelines of writing (discussed in the later part) or someone who can gather various opinions by reading, listening or watching people and is able to deliver personal opinion can attain the voyage to be a writer.

There is no magic:

It is said that each one of us is an envelope of tremendous potential and one has to work on the skill one wishes to flourish with by training oneself and practicing constantly in the same direction with consistency and perseverance to develop a skill. Practice and only practise can make one perfect. Aspects like, stars and destiny are not the answer for everything. Moreover, becoming a writer is not an overnight process. It does not happen in a few days or few weeks or neither is it a few months process. It is definitely not a pre-destined game. These days many people claim to mentor people for developing their writing skills in say a month I personally suggest one should not follow such mentors because this can make one handicap as one has to be dependent on the person where one will have to pay hefty charges to the person further, one cannot sustain in the game of writing with such a mentor-ship. Writing is a skill where one has to be devoted under the guidance of the correct mentor and being open to learning from the mentor at an individual pace by revising and understanding the pattern of revisions made. With devotion, the writing skill can get imbibed into one’s heart, which thus can never get splashed away. Just like nurturing an infantile for its transformation into an idle human-being, becoming a writer needs hard work and time.

Jane Yolen has quoted, “Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without the exercise, the muscles seize up”.

Steps to decide ones writing niche:

To start anything, one needs to select a niche, which can be a complex process. To simplify the process to choose a niche for writing the following steps can be followed:

1.         Identify one’s interest and passion: For knowing one’s interest and passion one can try new things, understand what really interests one. The kind of subjects one likes to spend ones free time on defines one’s interest. Further doing meditation can assist one to create awareness and help one realize and develop one’s potential.

2.         Identify problems one can solve: Today everyone seeks help. If one is an expert in a subject, one must think about how one’s knowledge can be of help to someone, through one’s writing.

3.         Check the thoughts or feelings: When a thought or an emotion is around one, how one act towards the thought or emotion creates an experience which can be of great value.

How to be a creative writer:

Writing must not be a copy and paste job. Simply copy-pasting job will be categorized into plagiarism. There are different types of plagiarism (https://www.bowdoin.edu/dean-of-students/judicial-board/academic-honesty-and-plagiarism/common-types-of-plagiarism.html).

To avoid plagiarism, and to be a creative writer:

1.             Write your own experience: Write after experiencing the subject.

2.         Observse others thoughts in your niche: by reading, listening or watching and then put up own views on the observed thoughts.

3.     Write being in someone else’s shoes: think how some-one else would act for a particular emotion or a thought, it implies one must practice to keep dual views on a thought.

4.     Write after different activities performed or write after experiencing different emotions: write after listening, watching or reading someone, write after meditating, or write after visiting a place, or after returning from work, or after relaxing as each mood, or each experience creates a new pattern of writing.

Dealing with the same topics:

When a writer selects his/her niche, there may be thousands of text available on the same topic but that does not really matter. Each one has their individual style, each story has different characters. Many times in school days, the class were given a topic for an essay or for speech but each student comes with their own thoughts. The essay or speech of an individual becomes different even though the topic remains the same. So, no need to worry if you have a topic or niche which is covered by many. It is your effort to put the topic differently by reading all the articles on the same topic and framing the topic as per individual experience.

Why should one write?

There is a quote: Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in a human situation – Graham Greene.

Benefits of being a writer:

1.         Writing is one’s skill-set, personal ambition. The writing allows one to build an individual image, personality or a brand. It helps one bring orderliness and gives a chance to position oneself as a different individual rather than a mediocre life. Writing can help one to live a life where every moment is truly loved and enjoyed and thus it can become one’s hobby to write and create a turning point in one’s life. All this can be suitably related to the quote by Henry Miller, “Writing is its own reward”.

2.         Writing is a channel or a media to communicate with mass. Writing allows an individual to contribute to the welfare of society by sharing one’s knowledge and experiences; thus, writing can be a tool to help or guide others. Writing can assist one to start one’s career as a speaker, trainer or coach.

            Writing is a skill which one does for oneself. Writing can help an individual to remain engaged and free one from worries that are far beyond one’s control (like having lost a job/ or having identity crisis/ or females on maternity leave or individuals who not allowed to work due to sudden disability).

 

Guideline for writing:

1. Know the language:

It is important to have the knowledge of the language that can assist in phrasing correct sentences, use suitable words and arrange the sentences in the correct order. Articulating good phrases with simple words helps the reader to understand the article easily. Placing the sentences in the correct order creates a follow or a link for the reader wherein the reader finds the interest in reading, creates meaning for a reader. For this one has to revise the write-up by self a minimum of three times for its grammar check, sentence phrase check and make use of synonyms. There are software’s available to help a writer get the grammar corrected which can aid in better writing, but most often, it is better to personally get the article checked, as there are pros and cons of the software. ‘Better is to learn the language and the grammar well’.

Note: “Frist draft is just you telling yourself the story”- Terry Pratchett, “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere”- Anne Lamott.

2. Learn to accept:

Someone better than self:

Accept the fact that there will be always someone better writer than oneself, no need to panic, if there are mistakes in your write-up. One has to keep a belief that I am the best, but also remember that there can always be someone better than self.

No one thinks the same, and there will be critics or conflicts for your thoughts in the write-up, always learn to improve by solving the critics, rather than taking them as threats and fearing to face them.

Personal opinions can be timely and can be changed with learning.

The humbleness to accept others opinions can help one improve on the mistakes done in the write-up.

Understand and accept personal Limitations associated with writing and seek help:

One must also, understand and accepts one's limitations linked with writing skills. For example, someone may be weak at grammar, or some-one may be weak at paraphrasing or one may be weak in language editing or writing despite taking classes. Once one knows ones weakness one can seek help from the experts in the area to improve on writing skill.

Take opinions:

Everyone needs help and people are always ready for giving help. Always welcome the comments, or ask for help to edit or revise the write-up which can worth, before sending the write-up to the publisher (Book/ Journal). In certain cases including writing a blog where there is no reviewer and the writer has no boundary to get the write-up published the writer must revise the article thoroughly at a personal level and by seeking help from the close by circle before publishing and be open to receive comments from the readers. One must handle the comments or revisions required in a tactful way.

3.  Keep the impetus:

To keep the impetus of writing, a writer must follow a disciplined schedule for writing which can help the writer keep with the impetus. The writer must understand the personal moods or schedule, that allows the writer to write and must follow the schedule. Also, the writer must follow other thoughts by reading; listening or watching that can help construct impetus for writing.

4. Avoid distraction:

Today social media is becoming popular and handy; time can easily fly away replying to a single message, every comment can be a cause of dopamine release and can distract one from one's target. The writer must be careful with the popping message, it is better to keep all the message alerts silent. The writer must prioritize daily work based on urgency and decide upon the times of socializing.

Further, way to avoid distraction is to be organized. Being organised means keeping only the tools that are necessary while writing.

Also, the writer must practice organizing ones thought list by maintaining a log of the write-up: as on-going write-up, completed write-up, and to begin with write-ups. Maintaining a log can help the writer to be focused and less distracted with the multiple thoughts the writer has to write-on.

5. Use tools for writing:

The tools may be a handy mobile phone, with no popping message alerts or a laptop or a physical notebook. Because possessing a handy writing tool can help one to “write what should not be forgotten”- Isabel Allende.

6. Track the time for writing:

Writing is a mysterious, never-ending process, as every-time any-one who reads a write-up can find that changes will be required to be made in the write-up. Importance of deadline can be understood by the fact that most of us got home-work during school summer vacation, however most felt it important to enjoy the vacation and do the home-work during the last weeks or days’ time. Hence, the writer must track the time for completing a write-up.

Once the writer gets to know that there is a correct mood and sufficient time, the writer must use it to write so that the write-up gets completed within a time limit.

7. Track the points to be covered in a write-up:

Any thought can have a huge number of sub-points. The more one thinks more one can elaborate a thought. Hence to be on track with the time and to be specific to the topic a writer must narrow the points to be included and elaborated in a write-up.

8. Fencing self:

Overcome the fear:

I will be able to write? Language is a problem for me. What will others think? These are a few questions that may bother a writer. Writing is a platform for reaching millions and it means one has to risk one-self to failure, defeat or even public discomfiture. Naturally, all these factors are obstacles for a writer, giving the writer a sign of danger which can make a writer transfer self in a safer precinct and lead a mediocre life by discontinuing, stifling one passion to write and questioning one's confidence. My personal note to the writers is that at a particular point, one has to apprehend that the only way one’s life is going to change is if one makes choices to bet oneself for the change and chase the dream of being a writer. It is a universal fact that even the boldest and bravest fears the darkness or a thud. But if one can break the fear and rise above the fear, the achievements in life increase. Fear is thought, each individual at a point is confused consolidation of beliefs, experiences, thoughts, emotions and one has to learn to manage these consolidations by meditation, facing them all and never giving up. However, if one still fears than one must fence one-self by not looking back again as explained in the next paragraph. 

Publish only when you are confident about your write-up: 

One must remember that a certain degree of fear is important, and one must use the fear as a tool to be perfect in writing by rechecking the article as many times as possible before publishing the article.

'Not to look back again':

The write-up is made based on the thoughts that evoked to the writer at the moment. With time the thoughts may change and hence the thoughts made earlier may not seem correct with the time. The best way to deal with this pattern of changing thoughts with time is ‘not to look back again- is a fence to move on’ it means once a write-up is written it must be permanent and one must not to peep into any kind of comments obtained on the write-up and only next write-up must spring up after the one written as add-on or amendment to the current write-up. ‘Sometimes, it is better to close one's eyes and not look back for the things that one has already written’, because some-times a write-up may not be up-to-the-mark and the comments one may receive on the write-up may be perplexing and looking back and pondering on the comments obtained on published write-up can be distracting and can cause hindrance for one to move on to the next level. It must have been your personal observation with the best seller books that you have read was having certain errors, hence better practise is to 'not look back'. And remember a quote by Sadguru, "If you have to have deep insights into your life, other peoples opinion of you should not mean anything to you".

I end my write-up using an encouraging quote, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”- Toni Morrison

PS: I hope with this write-up I am encouraging you to be a writer. I request you to like, comment and share the write-up within your circle to inspire each one for writing.

The present topic can be elaborated further, however, keeping the interest of the readers in view the present article has been narrowed. 

Yogita Labrath.

 

"Embracing the Power of Comfort Zone: Achieving Growth and Development"

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It is always recommended to work out of your comfort zone for appropriate growth and development. However, one always works, consciously or subconsciously, in the comfort zone so as to avoid discomfort. It is important to work in the comfort zone to avoid stress but not at the expense of growth due to the fear of change or due to fear of discomfort or procrastination. On the contrary, one should try to attain2 the maximum by staying in the comfort zone, getting motivated to achieve from it and being ready to handle unpredictable discomforts. The following article highlights the importance of being in the comfort zone, how to efficiently utilize your comfort zone, and how to create comfort. Further, the article explains to the readers the well-known idiom "how and why to rock one's own boat in the middle of the sea". The article is based on teachings given in Sadguru, Jaggi Vasudev’s- 'Inner Engineering Course: 'how and why to accept things as they are’ and also based on individual know-how.

Keywords: Build personality, likes, dislikes, Inner Engineering, Sadguru, acceptance

Factors for Comfort

When things occur as per one’s expectation, or things that create peace, relaxation, happiness and joy depict comfort.

Social media, family and society influence one to create an ideal lifestyle and comfort zone. 

A pleasing view, a beautiful home, a beautiful office, comfortable arrangements- a comfortable chair, neat working desk, updated gadgets, having sufficient or bonus income, having sufficient to eat or having an additional favourite dish after a meal are examples of tangible components creating comfort.

Living in a good society, having good relations, excelling in a career, having good health, and sufficient sleep or extra sleep can be counted in the list of intangible components creating comfort.

Factors for Discomfort

The factors that are against one’s expectation or that create stress or irritation, or aggression depict discomfort. 

The factors include unpleasant ambience, being cornered, failing in endeavours, having enemies, insufficient resources, bad relationships, an ill-health, uncomfortable arrangements, difficult guidelines, unfulfilled desires, being in a new team or a new place or doing work in an area where one is not specialised in, or if one is unable to find suitable opportunities or if one has to do repetitive work, or if one is overloaded with work, or if one has disagreement in views can cause discomfort.

Importance of comfort zone

The comfort zone is the place where one wants to live in. An appealing surrounding brings positive impact and happiness and enhances work efficiency. 

The upbringing, social network and the resources available to a person play a crucial role in building personality, building passion and also help one to gain success in endeavours. 

Making correct choices related to a profession or partner creates a comfort zone and prevents one from the struggle, which is an outcome of wrong choices and helps one to face and sustain in the undertakings. 

The comfort zone brings focus and aids in specializing in a subject, similar to a horse whose eyes are shielded to allow a focused view.

Further, a comfort zone improves one's sustainability because, in a comfort zone, one tries to resolve setbacks and does not give up.

Drawbacks of being in the comfort zone

However, being in the comfort zone, if one is not exploring or is avoiding new things, the comfort zone becomes a killer to one's abilities. 

Because performing a routine task, limiting oneself to a defined work area, being dependent on a particular thing, failing to find alternatives, or exploring new things is like following the phrase ‘pond is the limit to the frog’  may bring saturation and hinder one's growth. 

Further drawbacks of being dependent on one defined working sector make one inflexible. They may bring a 'pause' when there is a lack of opportunities in a particular work sector or when one has to leave the job for any reason in the sector. One may thus keep getting frustrated watching the closed door (pause) and may fail to realise that the next door may open.

Having a pause is important. It helps one analyse self and evolve. However, if the pause becomes too long, it may create negative emotions like social fear, fear of entering a new work area, the anxiety of “what will be my image if I choose a different work area”,; or may even lead to suicidal tendencies. One should work, see alternatives, seek help, and get mentored to tackle the 'pause'. As it is said, "when one door shuts, the next door is always open. Only one has to remember to look at the next door rather than wasting time observing the shut door".

Utilize the comfort zone

In order to be strong for facing untold discomfort. 

One must take a few steps each day while in the comfort zone. One must develop and practice a good habit daily, as 'drops together help to fill the bucket'. 

One should explore and invest in new work sectors where slowly one may build interest, and hence create new opportunities and get secured from the 'unpredictable pauses'. 

In other words, one must learn to rock one’s own boat in the middle of the calm sea'.

Advantages of being in discomfort

One understands the value of comfort only when one faces discomfort.

While working to create comfort, the discomfort assists one in surfacing one's talents and skills and strengthens one to tackle the discomfort.

Creating Comfort

Sometimes comfort zone may get created by themselves. For example, a parent creates comfort for a child, or a manager creates a conducive environment for his employees, or society or government works to create comfort for their people. Such obtained comfort are blessing gained by good deeds/ karma one has done in a past life or in the present, and one must value such comfort and work to retain such obtained comfort.

But, knowingly or unknowingly mixture of good and bad karma occurs in one's life. Hence, the discomfort becomes part of one's life. And one has to work to create comfort. Creating comfort is a process which is linked to one’s ability, interest, and tolerance. 

Find the cause of discomfort

Check if it is possible alone or if one needs a helping hand to create comfort. 

To create comfort: 

   --> Think alone to find ways

   --> Seek help by discussing with someone  

   --> One can ignore, let go, forget and forgive.

  --> One can re-work in a different way in case of failure.

  --> Meditating and chanting create good vibrations and help one cut bad karma and eventually helps one create comfort. 

  --> Reading, uttering, writing or listening repetitively to one's desires creates vibrations and aids in creating positive thoughts, makes one strong and helps one to attain desires and eventually helps one to create comfort (please follow Sadguru's guided meditation on achieving goals- from his Inner Engineering program app for better results).

--> De-socialise, forget the influencers, 

--> Erase the definition of the perfect or ideal life.

--> work at your own pace. 

--> compete with self.

Learning to be at peace or in comfort in spite of dis-comfort helps one to:

a.) Improve Tolerance Level,

b.) Create A Flexible Natured Personality,

c.) Understand the Feelings Of the Front Person,

d.) Break the Barrier Of Likes And Dislikes,

e.) Accept Things As They Are,

f.) Overcome Failures, 

g.) Accept Challenges As An Opportunity,

h.) Build A Strong Personality

i.)  Face the unpredicted discomfort.

Conclusion

In the comfort zone, work efficiency is high.

Each one tries to be in the comfort zone or works to create a comfort zone when there is discomfort. Comfort zone brings sustainability. 

One must be thankful and confident to say about being in the comfort zone. 

One must value the comfort zone, and one must work, explore one's potential, create new opportunities,  discover one's niche, and prepare oneself to face the untold discomfort caused in life while being in the comfort zone. In other words, "one must remember to rock one's own boat in the middle of a calm sea" and seek the boundless sky as “Pond is limited to the frog, but an intelligent should seek the boundless sky”. 

Also, one must note that each one has a unique story. In other words, "There is always a unique and beautiful way out for every discomfort to transform into comfort".

Stepping out of our comfort zones is often touted as the key to personal growth and development. However, it's important to balance challenging ourselves and seeking comfort to avoid stress and burnout.

Our comfort zones are composed of both tangible and intangible factors, such as pleasant surroundings, good relationships, and a fulfilling career. These factors contribute to our happiness and productivity, and help us handle setbacks and challenges.

On the other hand, being too comfortable can hinder our progress and prevent us from exploring new opportunities. By sticking to routine tasks and limiting ourselves to a single area of expertise, we risk becoming stagnant and missing out on potential growth.

To maximize the benefits of our comfort zones while avoiding stagnation, we can take small steps to develop good habits and explore new areas of interest. By gradually building up our skills and knowledge, we can expand our comfort zones and be better equipped to handle unexpected challenges.

Moreover, facing discomfort can actually be an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. By acknowledging and accepting our discomfort, we can learn more about ourselves and develop resilience in the face of adversity.

Ultimately, we should strive to find a balance between comfort and discomfort, and actively work towards achieving personal growth and development. By embracing the power of our comfort zones and seeking out new challenges, we can unlock our full potential and live fulfilling lives.

"Pursue Dreams, Manage Stress- A Happy mother"

 

In the world today where both males and females have equal right to chase their dreams and make them true, the new mothers have to put in some extra effort. This article brings in the regime of a new mother, stress triggers for a new mother, and technique for stress management and to be happy. It will enlighten the readers with the teachings of Sadguru’s (Jagadish Vasudev) “Inner Engineering program”, to help new working mothers to accomplish their dream of being passionate about being financial sufficient.

After becoming a mother, the baby is the priority above personal precedence’s. But one has to also perform a certain compulsory task and also get involved in work to sustain financially.

Managing the home, taking care of personal hygiene and health are mandatory activities for a mother. Exercising, meditating, cooking, cleaning, maintaining grocery, taking an adequate amount of sleep are included in ‘compulsory predicted tasks’ (Image 1). The activities such as a sudden plan of a family program or a visit of a relative or a friend or certain government documentation work where it is uncertain as on how much time will it take or sudden falling ill of a family member and taking care of an unwell family member can be counted in ‘compulsory unpredicted tasks’ (Image 2). Activities like pursuing a hobby are not mandatory but are important as they bring fun, freedom and frees one from stress can be included in the category of ‘voluntary and predicted task’. While certain activities like a marriage of a distant relative can be included in ‘voluntary and maybe predictable or unpredictable task’ (Image 3) and can be avoided.

 

      

Image 1: Compulsory predicted task

  Image 2: Compulsory unpredicted task

 

Image 3: Voluntary predicted task (Hobbies)

The time of feeding the baby, playing with the baby, teaching a task to the baby, taking the baby for sightseeing, taking care of baby’s hygiene, a vaccination day or any other emergency are the tasks where the mother needs to attend the baby and cannot perform any other task. Such tasks can be categorized as ‘mother’s attention time’.

There are times when the baby sleeps and needs no attention but mother's presence is needed for feeding, patting and rocking the baby timely so that the baby feels secure, sleeps longer and peacefully. Under these circumstances, the mother can perform her tasks which require concentration. Such a task can be included in the category of ‘mother’s me time’. The tasks including office work, meditation or a hobby can be completed during this time. 

The time when the baby is engaged in playing by themselves and the mother simply is needed to be around for the baby’s safety while performing her mobile activities can be categorized as ‘mother’s mobile time’. The mobile activities include cooking, cleaning, etc. which require movement.

Apart from the predictable regimes, there are some unpredictable regimes (Image 4). Depending on the age of the baby (in months), the baby’s sleeping time, feeding time, activity time varies. The sleeping time of baby reduces with baby’s age which can increase the stress levels of the mother. Further, baby can wake up anytime, may get hungry anytime, may need cleaning any time and also, may need complete attention any time. A mother must be aware of the discussed uncertainties in the regime and confront the stress. This is where Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program comes into the picture. This program discusses "Accepting the Present as it is", which is a mantra for happiness and helps to confront stress. Thus, the new mothers should work in the direction of accepting reality as it is and try to accommodate her career dreams, happiness and self-fulfilment while being around the baby. This will not only facilitate the new mothers in shaping the baby’s initial months by nurturing the baby with all their time, love and affection but will also facilitate the new mother in not forgetting the women she is, her independence and in retaining herself the way she wants.

A new mother can manage her stress, retain her self and take care of the baby without losing her true self (perusing her dreams) by adopting the following measures-

I. Categorizing and prioritizing task (As explained in above sections)

A.) Compulsory predicted tasks, B.) Compulsory unpredicted tasks, C.) Voluntary and predicted task, D.) Voluntary and maybe a predictable or unpredictable task, E.) Mother’s attention time, F.) Mother’s mobile time, G.) Mother’s me time. A mother must prioritise compulsory tasks and not refrain if the timeline for voluntary task gets extended.

II. Get suitable toys: Having suitable toys and teaching baby to rightly play with the toys can engage the baby in activities which can help baby to build her cognition and help you perform other activities.

III. Singing songs or rhymes for baby: Singing songs or rhymes helps to enjoy her time.

IV. Taking power naps while making the baby sleep. The power nap can help in improving energy levels.

IV. Meditating for a minimum of 20 min while the baby is sleeping. Meditation can help new mothers to relax and improve work efficiency by reducing sleeping time for mothers. Meditation can be chanting a mantra or can be chanting simple ‘AUM’ (Meditations: Sadguru’s inner Engineering Program).

V. Maintaining strict hygiene conditions including keeping the floors, premises clean, cleaning baby’s toys, cleaning milk bottles regularly using bottle sterilizer can help to maintain babies health and reduce doctors visit. Also using disposable diapers instead of re-usable cloth diapers, making use of suitable anti-rash creams can be can help in maintaining hygiene for baby. Additionally, mosquito repellent can be used to protect the baby from mosquitoes.

VI. Get all electronic gadgets charged: Charging the electronic gadgets while doing the mobile task will allow a mother to work using a laptop/ mobile being close to the baby. This will help the baby to have a sound sleep as the baby frequently checks if someone is around them during the course of their sleep. Also, charging appliances will allow the mother to work in any corners and at any times, regardless of the charging points or power cuts.

VII. Maintain a minimum of five milk feeding bottles: Using five milk feeding bottles per day will help a mother to have sufficient me time as baby needs feeding while sleeping as well and feeding the baby while baby is asleep helps to prolong baby’s sleep time.

VIII. Use bottle sterilizer equipment Using automatic bottle sterilizer equipment instead of boiling bottles in an open vessel aids to save energy (time, fuel). Use a thermos bottle: Using a thermos bottle helps to keep the warm water ready for use when required for making the baby’s milk or baby’s feed. And can thus allow an efficient ‘me time’ for mothers. Also, using warm water for baby is required for the health of the baby.

IX. Feed and rock the baby while the baby is asleep: Feeding baby or rocking baby in arms (in case cradle is unavailable) or holding close in arms while the baby is asleep

X. During ‘me time’ work being next to baby, so that baby can be patted or given feed when required and hence mothers can prolong baby’s sleep.

XI. Accept that are and will be several uncertainties: There will be several uncertainties in both mother and baby’s regime which should not become stress triggers for the new mother.

XII. Mothers must write down the valuable ideas when they strike and plan to execute ideas stepwise in ‘me time’

XIII. If possible live in a joint family or hire people for assistance: The extra helping hands can help a working new mother to be emotionally balanced, be efficient in her activities and be a beautiful mother to the baby.

Thus, a new mother can provide the best care to her child as per her motherly instincts and continue with the activities that she loves (apart from taking care of her child) by making small changes in the day to day life and “ACCEPTING THE REALITY AS IT IS”.

Following are a few selected links  

Links for Sadguru's inner Engineering program: https://isha.sadhguru.org/inner-engineering-online/overview. Links of hygiene materials for baby safety and to easy work: floor cleaning 360⁰ mop https://amzn.to/3iNj6Gl, 5 L liquid floor disinfectant: https://amzn.to/3g4xwQT, wet wipes for baby: https://amzn.to/2DQuFxV, liquid handwash anti –germs after cleaning baby: https://amzn.to/2CwIyAq, Sanitizer spray for the room: https://amzn.to/30ZZzwq, hand sanitizer: https://amzn.to/2YaRyTD, baby moisturizer: https://amzn.to/3h4sogB, Baby bottle cleaning liquid odour free: https://amzn.to/3aBgbhd, Glass bottle cleaning brush set: https://amzn.to/3hci3zq, https://amzn.to/2Q0bZy7, Thermos bottle: https://amzn.to/34b7NDO Links for selective baby toys for building cognitive abilities of baby: https://amzn.to/3kMgkTL, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/310YfJA, https://amzn.to/3awOwOe, https://amzn.to/2Ef9Ag4. Links for baby diapers: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, https://amzn.to/313w9h5, https://amzn.to/2EeWHmc Links for baby feeding plastic bottles: https://amzn.to/3kSUWvV, https://amzn.to/3g1JBWY, Link for breast feeding pump for collecting milk https://amzn.to/310WxId, https://amzn.to/3haItBO Link for baby bottle sterilizer: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, Alexa: https://amzn.to/317YJ0s

Acknowledgement:

I would like to acknowledge Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program to make me realise to “Be certain in uncertain times by accepting the present situation as it is".