It was May 2019, I was off on my first trip to Kumta that I earned through my writing. I woke up in a tempo traveler with 13 other stranger-friends and looked out the window. We were around Sirsi and dense fog surrounded us. That continued for a while and we finally reached a cozy beachstay. It was an exciting trip and I enjoyed it to the core. The serene beaches, the Phyto planktons, the beach stay, it was truly a trip I’d relive over and over again. Although it lasted for a couple of days, I came back to the grind to a good job. A job where I just got promoted.

Photo by Katie Treadway on Unsplash

I went on so many such trips for the rest of that year. So many trips that I had to consciously slow myself down in 2020 but unfortunately it did come to a grinding halt due to COVID-19. Looking back, it was what I can now call, the good old days. A good job that paid enough, gave me enough time to deal with my random midnight thoughts.

I can’t say the same about my life anymore. For one, I now have just Sunday to explore this beautiful world. Although the job pays me better, it leaves less time for the midnight random thoughts I craved so much.

The past few months have made me understand a few things about my own life. Specifically the non-negotiable aspects of my own life. Or to put it as Wayne puts it, Non-negotiable, Unalterable Terms. You can read more about it here. A more detailed explanation from the same article, N.U.T.s are the boundaries that define you as man, those things which, if repeatedly compromised, will gradually—but assuredly—turn you into a pissed-off, resentful man who will likely blame others—especially your wife—for your unhappiness. And sad to say that am currently at the pissed-off state.

What Are Your NUTS Inju?

The past three months of my new job made me realize that my personal time is non-negotiable.

I’ve realized that the 1 hour of reading books, working out for 1 hour, writing 500 words every day, working on the crazy moonshot ideas that may not see the light of the day. All of this is my time and is non-negotiable.I can’t even begin to explain how critical this one is for bringing my A-Game to the regular job as well. It’s almost like a flywheel where the momentum from the hobbies transfers into the regular job and so on.

The time I spent at home during the lockdown made me realize that I crave for a family time more than anything. I can give up reading that exciting book I just picked up if my mom asks me to help her in the kitchen. Likewise, I like to catch up with my grandparents once in a while and listen to their age-old gossips. Heck, listening to my nephew’s banter has grown up on me.

Saturdays. For my crazy midnight thoughts, a 2 day weekend seems like the most important thing. Most of my personal works need dedicated deep work that extends for hours and having just Sunday where I cram up everything doesn’t help at all.

I have also realized that not travelling and exploring leaves me restless. This was a surprising find. But I have realized that travelling and exploring the world has become a part of me now.

So, me time, family time, traveling and a 2 day weekend (If at a regular job) are the most non-negotiable, unalterable terms of my life.

So where do we go from here?

Short answer, I don’t know. But defining the N.U.T.S will certainly help me make a better decision.

I should probably add a disclaimer now that the blog is receiving significant traffic. Many blog posts here are related to travel. However, there are few blog posts that talk about my own life. I write those blog posts as I want to unravel my own thoughts about a problem I have in life. These may or may not be unique to me. So before you take any advice to the face value, I suggest you think about my context. You can DM me on Instagram to discuss the same.

That’s all for today folks. Thank you for sticking through to the end.

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This is post no.36 in the weekly blog post series. You can write to trailsofinju@gmail.com for any feedback or collaboration. Alternatively, you can drop me a DM on Instagram.

Talk Soon!

Inju.

About Inju

A speck of stardust in the universe, constantly wandering on a planet called Earth and a geographical location called India. Thinks long and hard about what to do with the time given to him. He is documenting the useful media through which he wastes his time here on trailsofinju.com

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