If you’ve ever watched Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (which you probably have, because desi millennial/Gen Z law), you remember this line. Naina, standing quietly beside Bunny, softly says:
“Kitni bhi koshish karlo Bunny, kuch na kuch toh chhoot hi jaata hai.”
She doesn’t say it in anger. Or guilt. It’s just a simple truth that life demands trade-offs.
And look, I get it. We all juggle dreams, deadlines, and desires. Sometimes it does feel like something slips through the cracks. But I don’t think that line has to be universally true forever.
Because what if... it doesn’t have to be?
🌍 The Case for Living Fully in Every Direction
I refuse to believe that a rich, fulfilling life, emotionally, mentally, physically, academically, professionally, romantically, socially, financially (and every other -ally) is some Pinterest fantasy.
Call it delusional if you want.
I call it worth trying for.
Not because I think balance is easy. Or that hustle culture is the answer.
But because I believe that showing up for yourself, all of yourself, matters.
How I’m Trying to Balance Everything (Without Burning Out)
This isn’t a blueprint for perfection. It’s a plan for intention. For making space in the chaos. For living in color, not grayscale.
1. Audit Your Life
Where are you thriving? Where are you just surviving?
No filters. No fluff. Just honesty.
2. Design Your Days
Goals are sexy, but routines are where magic happens.
Tiny steps matter. 20 minutes of movement. One real conversation a week. A journal entry. That’s the stuff balance is built on.
3. Let Go of “All or Nothing”
You won’t hit every goal, every day.
That’s not failure, that’s life.
Progress over perfection. Always.
4. Build a Support Squad
This isn’t a solo game.
Surround yourself with people who get it.
Who call you out and cheer you on. Your growth needs both.
5. Track. Reflect. Adjust.
Check in weekly.
What’s flowing? What’s dragging?
Balance isn’t static; it’s a constant recalibration.
The 30-Day Life Reset Challenge
Starting on the 1st of July (since I have prior commitments this month and I'd also like to prepare for this insane challenge), I’m committing to every part of myself. It’s probably going to get messy.
But hopefully, it’ll also be transformative.
Here’s what that looks like, area by area:
💭 Emotional: Journal Daily
Every day, I’ll take 10 minutes to journal. It might be a brain dump, a dream I had, a burst of joy, or a wave of anxiety. Whatever’s real, it goes on the page. This is not for anyone else to read. Not a blog, not a poetic Instagram caption. Just me, writing for me.
🧠 Mental: Learn Something New Daily
I’m kicking things off by reading the newspaper every morning. The world’s on fire (almost literally), and staying informed matters. On top of that, I’ll spend 15 minutes reading a non-fiction book daily. This might sound minor, but considering my childhood love for fiction, reading non-fiction is a challenge in itself. Pray for me.
🏃 Physical: Walk It Out
Movement is medicine. I’m setting a goal of 10,000 steps a day, but I’m easing in with 6,000 steps in Week 1 and adding 1,000 more each week. Whether it’s walking, dancing, stretching, or spontaneous yoga. I’m moving. Every. Single. Day.
💼 Academic/Professional: Work Smarter
I have a full-time job. A demanding one. But somewhere along the way, I started surviving my work instead of thriving in it. That ends now. I’ll pick one core goal per day at work and stay laser-focused on it. No multitasking. No busywork. Just impactful effort.
❤️ Romantic/Social: Be Present
This one's deceptively simple but incredibly hard to do consistently, especially when you're doing a whole-life overhaul. So I’m keeping it gentle. I’ll call a friend once a week. That’s it. Real conversation. Real connection. One person at a time.
💸 Financial: Get Smart with Money
Three months into corporate life, and I’m already in the "where did my salary go?" phase. The pattern: salary in → chaos → broke by the last week. No more. For 30 days, I’m going to: Track every expense, Save intentionally, Learn one money-related concept per week (like budgeting, investing, credit scores, things adulting never prepared us for)
🧘 Spiritual/Personal: Sit With Myself
I’m not deeply spiritual. I don’t meditate in the Himalayas or wake up at 5 a.m. whispering affirmations to the sky. But I do believe in stillness. So I’ll spend 5–10 minutes daily either meditating, doing light yoga, or just sitting in silence. No distractions. Just me, breathing and reconnecting with whoever I am under the noise.
Why This Will Be Hard (And Why I’m Doing It Anyway)
Because we’re told balance is a myth.
That something always has to give.
That rich, rounded lives are for Pinterest boards, not real people.
But maybe that’s the biggest lie of all.
What I’m Hoping to Find
Clarity. Energy. Peace. Power.
And maybe… a life where nothing important really chhoots anymore.
I may not get it perfectly right. I might skip a day. Or mess up Week 2.
But I’ll be showing up for every part of myself.
Because I don’t want to live a life that’s always half-lived.
Let’s See Where This Goes
At the end of these 30 days, maybe I’ll be exhausted. Maybe I’ll fail a few times. Maybe Naina was a little bit right.
But maybe, just maybe, I'll find a version of life that’s worth fighting for. One that doesn't sacrifice one kind of richness for another. One that feels like enough. Because if I can come out of this month feeling more whole, more alive, and more connected, even in small ways, that’s a win in my book.
So, let’s go.
30 days. All in. See you on the other side with stories, lessons, and maybe a little more proof that the impossible isn’t all that impossible after all.
Naina, respectfully, I love you, but I’ve got something to prove.
Let’s go.
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