Why a Cluttered Work Desk of Cables and Connectors Quietly Erodes Your Influence

Influence rarely collapses. It thins. It fades at the edges, not enough to be dramatic, but enough to be consequential. People do not suddenly stop listening; they listen with less urgency. They do not openly question authority; they quietly defer elsewhere. Most professionals assume influence is won or lost through ideas, confidence, or communication. Far less attention is paid to the environments that quietly erode authority before speech even begins. The work desk is one such environment. It is not neutral. It is one of the few physical spaces that consistently represents a person in their absence. It speaks continuously, even when its owner is silent. And among all the elements that populate a desk, cables and connectors carry an unusual psychological weight. They are functional, unavoidable, and easily dismissed by the person who depends on them. Yet to observers, they form a persistent visual argument—one that subtly reshapes how competence, control, and influence are inferred.

You Are Not Overly Jealous or Sadistic to See Your Workplace Rival’s Misfortunes — But It Still Feels So Good. Why?

There is a moment—brief, involuntary, and rarely admitted—when you hear that a workplace rival has stumbled, and something inside you loosens. The feeling is not loud enough to be called joy, not sharp enough to be cruelty, and not bitter enough to qualify as jealousy. It is subtler than that. A quiet easing. A faint internal click, as though a pressure valve has released. You do not wish them harm. You do not celebrate openly. And yet, if you are honest, the news feels… right. This reaction troubles people because it contradicts the moral image they maintain of themselves as fair, generous, and emotionally mature. But the feeling persists precisely because it is not pathological. It is structural. It arises not from malice, but from the way modern work binds identity, status, and justice into a single, fragile narrative. To understand why a rival’s misfortune feels good, one must stop asking whether it is ethical and start asking what psychological debt it quietly repays.

Growing office desk plant? 7 Ways in Which It Affects Perceptions About You

There is something quietly suspicious about a real plant growing on an office desk. Not plastic, not faux moss, not a decorative cactus sourced from the clearance rack — but a living thing with soil, roots, and the audacity to thrive under fluorescent lighting. Offices are designed to neutralize personal identity, and yet a plant refuses to comply. It grows, sheds, leans toward the nearest patch of sunlight like a prisoner testing the strength of a window. People notice it, even when they pretend not to. It’s a biological interruption in a habitat built for sameness. And because workplaces are systems where meaning is never neutral, the plant becomes a message — not always the one you intended to send. The colleague walking past doesn’t just see leaves; they see you through those leaves. They interpret your watering schedule, the species you chose, the size of the pot, the stubborn resilience of a pothos, or the fragile drama of a fiddle-leaf fig. In an office where even your handwriting on a sticky note becomes data, a plant becomes a psychological case study. You brought it because you wanted something alive next to your keyboard; everyone else reads it as evidence of who you are. The plant grows, the meanings accumulate, and before you realize it, your small patch of soil has become a mirror you never asked to hold.

How to work around an office colleague who is definitely a racist?

It begins quietly. A pause that lasts a little too long when you enter the room. A smirk the moment you speak. A joke sharpened to look harmless but meant to cut. A pattern of “accidental” oversights, “innocent” mispronunciations, and those peculiar compliments that sound more like ethnographic observations than praise. You don’t need a handbook to know when someone in your office is a racist — the body catches it before the intellect does. There’s a shift in the air, a microscopic tightening of your shoulders, the subtle recalibration of how you occupy space. Racism at work is rarely shouted; it’s designed to pass as professionalism, to hide beneath the sterility of corporate décor. But the body knows. It always knows. And working beside someone who carries racial contempt the way others carry a lunchbox becomes a slow, grinding form of psychological erosion. It’s the daily choreography of deciding when to respond, when to ignore, when to protect your sanity, and when to protect your job. Across cultures and centuries, humans have learned how to live near those who view them as lesser — but the office compresses that experience into an eight-hour performance of patience, calculation, and restraint. To navigate a racist colleague is to walk the fault line between survival and dignity, between diplomacy and self-respect, between the need to remain employed and the human instinct to resist degradation.

Giving Indian Roti All the Attention it Has Always Deserved

I love Indian food, and the pride associated with saying so radiates without any pretence. At the same time, I dislike it when people seem unappreciative of what makes our food unique and resourceful - nothing explains this better than the Roti in its many indigenous forms, which I have grown to appreciate over the years.

Extremely fresh roti: Right off the tawa | Crispier | Steaming Hot

Fresh but smeared with desi ghee for a soft texture is the top-tier performer in this domain. Still fresh but left slightly more on the flame for some added crispiness and smeared with desi ghee, these fresh as the grass rotis can be kept soft with little crustiness or turned into Indian bread masterpieces by cranking up the crispiness. Ultra-crispy, the holy grail of ghar ki chapati, allowing desi ghee to gain entry through the crisped, broken surface that allows the ghee to penetrate deeper. If you are someone who does not like the ghee on the roti, you are missing out on life’s simplest and tastiest treats. The non-ghee fresh roti has a substantially shorter lifespan. You are much better off consuming it within a couple of minutes off the tawa. If your secondary sabzi, following the dal for the day, is a bit gooey, like paneer kee bhurjee or baigan ka bharta, the excessively crispy roti creates the perfect contrast. This is like eating those Mexican wraps where the fillings are a bit saucy & soft, placed carefully inside a tough bread. If you are having your meal in Delhi’s winters, the fresh roti with a few drops of ghee dripping makes up for any cooking deficits. Even yesterday’s leftovers seem to taste better when that perfect blend of cooked dough and a bit of ghee is churned, turned, clawed into, and mercilessly chewn by your teeth.

Not-that-Fresh | But Not Stale | Hot & Quite Soft | Not Crispy

It so often happens that there is a time lag of a few minutes from the roti being taken off the tawa and finding its rightful place on my plate, nestled comfortably on the sides by some onion, cucumber, and the primary sabzi for the day. This form of roti is rather acceptable and usually the norm given the crazy schedule where my meal timings have taken a serious battering in the last 4 years. This inherently softer version of Delhi’s chapati might be the mainstay in most households, PGs, workplaces, and across the lunch spread of millions who lunch parked somewhere, and those who have to stand and quickly swallow their food.

For any Indian lady who is proud to be the sole meal-time caretaker of a household, the performance of this not-that-fresh chapati is a testament to their cooking skills. You order the wrong type of atta, and these fresh but not-so-hot rotis will develop a dry texture very quickly. Rolled too thin, these reasonably fresh rotis will lose their softness even sooner. You have to know how our forefathers conquered the art of making chapatis and keeping them fresh beyond a few hours!

Not A Typical Roti | Hybrid Version | Borrowed from Desi Parantha

I hope you have all encountered and supported the cause of the Semi-parantha. If not, there is something unhealthy cooking in your kitchen or in the minds of those trusted with cooking for you. The Semi-parantha is Indian cooking’s gift to those who want a bit of extra flavor to their everyday eating, but without consuming the calorie-dense typical parantha. The Semi-parantha has fewer layers to it. It is not a roti or a wholesome parantha. In this identity crisis lies its beauty. It is quicker to make and yet delivers the excellence you just would not expect. You can have it for lunch, breakfast, or dinner. However, Semi-paranthas are not the best bet for workplace lunches. Kept a bit thinner and pressed down using minimal oil or ghee, they tend to develop that hard, coarse crustiness quickly. Have them fresh or within a couple of hours from the time of being packed with you in mind. Semi-paranthas will not fail you!

Muchda-Kuchda Rotis are Mom’s Love & Not Artistry

Tracing the evolution of this form of Indian roti, it was found that our overzealous fore-mothers realized that the humble dhaba-wala or the tandoor artist was stealing their thunder. These guys were doing something unbelievably simple and still so impressive that our ancestral women just couldn’t let go. They carefully examined the cooks across North India and realized that these guys would give the fresh, crispy roti a big crush at the end before serving it. The crush would make a slight sound and unevenly distribute the remains of the roti’s upper crust. To the foodie, this simple torture technique yielded a magical result - the basic roti started looking exotic, as if it had been subjected to handcrafted ingenuity. Enter 2025, and our moms are still doing it. You would imagine forgiving the unsuspecting commercial cooks and letting go of this tactical move, but NO, they still do it, and honestly, it makes the roti taste even better, by at least 17% as per my psychological interpretation and the non-prevalent research team that I have in the underground bunker of a Scottish castle turned laboratory.

Looks like you are roti-wise uneducated & need the enlightenment!

For starters, you have to explore the various forms in which chapati prevails in your life. 

• To categorize each, have a few bites sans anything else to uncover the real taste.
• Fresh roti with yesterday’s dal vs Morning roti at night with fresh dal is a good learning curve to understand the intricacies.
• Try a roti this winter season with nothing but ghee and some sprinkled shakkar…the combination of cereal and sugarcane sweetness is just magical!
• Rotis that are too chewy are a big turn–off. The person making them clearly does not know the art.
• Roti with achaar is the poorest way to eat it, but remember, the genuinely poor souls might go to sleep without a morsel…count your blessings!
• Rotis play a significant role in keeping you away from the bane of the Western world’s health scare…Dread the Bread!

Roti can be a significant quality check for non-vegetarian dishes prepared at home. This is to test the gravy or the soupy part of the dish, especially the meats. Take a big bite, fold it, and dip it repeatedly until you are sure the roti bite has succumbed to your BDSM actions. Now, eat the roti without any meat or flesh. If it tastes damn good on the first bite…your dish is most likely to be loved.

Some Recommended Roti Explorations & Don’t Dos’ for You

• No combination with curd impresses - just stay away
• Try a warm one with some fresh mustard sauce smeared on it
• Wrap half a roti around a big mass of extra spicy pulao - just try it once
• Rotis don’t handle well with any type of salad - definitely worth a miss
• Never end a meal with a sabzi-less bite - kills the entire journey of supper
• Ask your chief of staff to try preparing the dough with some milk

Small morsels of roti in a big bowl of soupy black grams win over 30 minutes spent with friends talking about EMIs and smoking away. For once, compliment the women in your home for the Roti itself and not reserve the kind words for 7-star dishes - without that nonchalant piece of dough, you wouldn’t have grown up if you happened to have a middle-class Indian upbringing!

What Is the Average Number of Friends You Should Have to Be Coined ‘Normal’?

We’ve learned to count almost everything — calories, steps, followers, likes — so naturally, we began counting friends. Somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, friendship became a metric. You could scroll, compare, and quietly panic: Am I normal? The question sounds innocent enough. But behind it lies a complex psychology — part evolutionary design, part social anxiety. The truth is that friendship, once a survival instinct, is now a competitive sport. And the scoreboard isn’t emotional closeness anymore; it’s visibility. If a “normal” number of friends exists, who decided it? Anthropologists, algorithms, or the fear of eating lunch alone?

The Entire City Is Misreading It: There Is NO Air Pollution in Delhi!!

Step outside, squint through the beige horizon, and remind yourself that this isn’t pollution — it’s panoramic. The air is not thick with dust and death; it’s textured. And that dull, relentless burning in your throat? That’s civic pride, baby. The government says it’s all fine, so you can exhale — carefully, of course, because the AQI hit 460 this week and every breath counts. In the official narrative, Delhi doesn’t have pollution. It has “temporary atmospheric fluctuations.” The kind of fluctuations that make your air purifier wheeze like an asthmatic vacuum cleaner. But don’t worry. There’s no crisis here. The city just needs a good Instagram filter.

The Smoggy Haze Brings You Closer to Living Among the Hills

Why spend a fortune on a Himachal vacation when you can experience “mountain mist” from your balcony? The smog settles so gently, it’s practically spiritual. Visibility drops to five meters, and yet, the city insists you’re looking at “urban clouds.” On 18 November 2024, Delhi’s AQI hit 491 (severe-plus) — the kind of number that should come with a coffin emoji. But if you squint through the haze, you can almost pretend you’re in Manali. The only difference is that instead of pine trees, you have flyovers. And instead of mountain dew, it’s particulate matter. This isn’t a public health emergency; it’s collective imagination at work. You didn’t lose the sun. You just gained atmosphere.

The Water Droplet Dispensing Machines Are for Free Car Washes

Yes, those mighty anti-pollution sprinklers — the city’s proud defense mechanism. You thought they were deployed to settle dust? Think again. They’re part of Delhi’s revolutionary “Drive-Thru Hygiene” initiative. Follow one of those trucks through a traffic jam, and you’ll notice the science: micro-droplets of recycled water (and possibly despair) coat your windshield. Switch on the wipers, and voilà — eco-friendly car wash. Pollution solved.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, less than 25% of Delhi’s allocated air-quality budget was spent in 2024–25. But that’s fine — why invest in infrastructure when you can give your citizens free mist facials? Some say these sprinklers don’t reduce PM2.5 levels. They’re wrong. They reduce visibility, so no one can see the pollution.

Labored Breathing Makes You Want to Get Tested

That tightness in your chest? Not a warning — a wellness program. The coughing fits? Just nature’s detox routine. Hospitals across Delhi reported a 34% rise in respiratory cases this winter, but the official explanation is simpler: citizens are “overreacting to weather.” After all, nothing says good governance like gaslighting your lungs.

And if you do go for a checkup, you’ll be contributing to the local economy. Healthcare packages, pharmacy chains, oxygen cylinder rentals — all thriving industries in this “clean” city. Pollution denial, it seems, is a brilliant business model.

Your body may be collapsing, but your city’s GDP is doing just fine.

Conversation Starters Delivered on a Platter

There’s an unexpected upside to choking together — social bonding.

Nothing bridges workplace cold wars like the collective coughing of colleagues. Forget politics or cricket; air is the new small talk. “How’s your kid’s asthma?” “Still alive, thank God.” “Mine too.” Suddenly, empathy is back in fashion. We no longer share meals; we share medical bills. Delhiites have turned illness into intimacy, turning AQI charts into conversation starters. In a strange way, the pollution didn’t divide us. It made us relatable.

You Always Wanted to Smoke, and Now You Can Without Touching a Cigarette

Congratulations, non-smokers! You finally know what Marlboro Man felt like — without spending a rupee on tobacco. Step outside and inhale a decade’s worth of carcinogens. It’s budget addiction at its finest.

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhiites inhaled the equivalent of 700 cigarettes per year in 2024. It’s not addiction, it’s “environmental empathy.” You’re not smoking; you’re participating in shared civic inhalation.

And that morning cough? That’s your new personality.

The Morning Run of the Damned

Every dawn jogger in Delhi deserves a medal for optimism. You see them on the streets — Lycra-clad silhouettes jogging through a soup of smog, Fitbits tracking steps towards hypoxia. They call it discipline; doctors call it slow-motion lung assault. But it looks good on Instagram. #RiseAndGrind (and wheeze).

A 2024 AIIMS study found that outdoor exercise in AQI above 400 increases inhaled toxic load by 300%, but don’t let science ruin your vibe. Remember, fitness is about pain — and what’s a little benzene between friends?

The Mask as the New Accessory of Faith

The Delhi mask is not protective anymore; it’s a costume. We wear it not to filter air, but to pretend we still have agency. Some wear N95s. Others wear hope. Most wear them under their chin because pollution, like morality, is optional when inconvenient.

The government distributes masks at schools, while the same schools close for “weather-related reasons.” The irony is thicker than the smog. At this point, the mask isn’t a shield; it’s a symbol — a quiet admission that survival here is performance art.

Real Estate Developers Call It ‘Filtered Air Premium’

Developers have found religion in the fog. Apartments now advertise “integrated air-purifying systems” as luxury add-ons. Buying a home in Delhi is no longer about location; it’s about lung capacity. You don’t pay for space; you pay for survival. The average “green” apartment costs 35% more — a price tag on the right to breathe.

In this economy, clean air is no longer a right. It’s real estate.

The Comfort of Denial

Delhi isn’t dying; it’s adapting — by pretending it isn’t. We call it resilience. The world calls it delusion. The sky turns grey, our throats burn, and we scroll past headlines like weather reports. Each year’s “worst AQI in history” is followed by a shrug. We’ve normalized apocalypse into daily commute traffic. The most haunting truth isn’t the pollution itself — it’s how quietly we’ve learned to live with it. The air gets heavier, but our outrage gets lighter. And so, when the authorities declare there is no pollution in Delhi, they’re not lying. They’re describing our condition perfectly:

We see nothing. We breathe nothing. We say nothing.

References:

• The Guardian (Nov 2024): “Pollution in Delhi Hits Record High, Cloaking City in Smog.”
• Times of India (Feb 2025): “Delhi Air Foulest Among Serial Offenders.”
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) (2024): “Annual PM2.5 Levels Rose Despite Reduced Stubble Burning.”
• AIIMS Environmental Health Report (2024): “Outdoor Activity and Respiratory Exposure in Delhi NCR.”
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) (2025): “Air Quality Index Trends for North India.”

7 Ways to Manage the Day When You’re Wearing Loose Pants Without a Belt at Work

Some mornings test the limits of human dignity. The alarm fails, the coffee burns, and by the time you’re halfway to the office, you realize you’ve committed the one sartorial sin from which there is no graceful recovery: you’re wearing loose pants without a belt. You tell yourself it’s fine — that you’ll walk slower, sit more, rely on posture and prayer. But deep down, you know the truth. Today is not about productivity or purpose. Today is about survival — the daily ballet of pretending to have control while gravity, as always, disagrees. “It’s not just a wardrobe malfunction — it’s a masterclass in modern composure. Every adult is holding something up; some of us are just more honest about it.”

Accept That Gravity Always Wins

The first rule of the unbelted day: surrender. The pants will fall. Not catastrophically, but gradually, as though conspiring with time itself. Every step, every cough, every trip to the copier becomes an act of tension management. By 10 a.m., you understand the futility of resistance. You are but a mortal in soft cotton. The universe is tugging downward, and all your to-do lists, ergonomic chairs, and motivational Slack channels cannot reverse Newtonian law. Accept this. It’s liberating. In that moment of quiet humility — tugging discreetly at your waistband like a monk adjusting his robe — you grasp something profound: adulthood is simply the art of appearing composed while perpetually descending.

Master the Pocket Grip

Civilization is built on improvisation. The “pocket grip” is its masterpiece. Two fingers anchored casually in each pocket, holding your dignity aloft through meetings, elevator rides, and conversations with superiors. To the untrained eye, it’s confidence; to you, it’s crisis management. You become a kinetic illusion — walking with hands tucked like a philosopher deep in thought, when in fact, you’re performing delicate anti-gravity surgery on your trousers. Anthropologists might someday identify this posture in workplace fossils and call it Homo Sapiens Clutchicus — the modern human who survives through discreet stabilization. In this, the pocket grip becomes both gesture and metaphor: the silent, daily reminder that the world rewards those who can pretend nothing’s slipping, even when everything is.

Turn Every Meeting into a Seated One

Standing meetings are for people whose lives stay in place. You, however, must live strategically. A chair is no longer furniture; it’s armor. The trick lies in tone: “I just think this discussion deserves more grounding.” You say it calmly, with gravitas, as if you’ve read something about embodied cognition in Harvard Business Review. What you actually mean is: If I stand up, my pants will make a run for it. Decline “walking brainstorms.” Reject “energizer huddles.” Real thinkers sit. Great ideas, you explain, come from stillness — a euphemism for waistband management. Your chair becomes a sanctuary, your stillness a philosophy. By noon, you’re not the unbelted employee — you’re the contemplative one. Productivity declines, but self-preservation soars.

The Psychology of Hidden Panic

Beneath every workplace runs a quiet river of panic. You see it in the way people hover over keyboards, in the emails marked “urgent” that are anything but. Your slipping pants are simply your contribution to this collective farce — your private crisis dressed as composure. The mind spirals. You begin to measure time not by hours, but by the intervals between waistband adjustments. Every movement is a negotiation. You lean slightly when walking, pivot gracefully at corners, and invent detours that lead you past fewer people. Yet, oddly, you start to notice something: everyone’s managing something invisible. Someone’s battling impostor syndrome, someone else’s Wi-Fi, someone’s unresolved existential dread. You just happen to be doing it literally. The realization is strangely comforting. We are, all of us, one good cough away from collapse.

Use Strategic Layering

At 1:30 p.m., your day enters its tactical phase. You begin to build defenses. The untucked shirt? Defensive camouflage. The blazer? Structural reinforcement. Each layer buys dignity. The modern workplace is full of such disguises — makeup concealing fatigue, spreadsheets disguising confusion, small talk masking despair. Your layering simply makes the metaphor visible. By 3 p.m., you’re an onion of self-protection: emotionally raw at the core, fashionably fortified on the outside. Someone compliments your “relaxed” look. You smile. They don’t realize that beneath the calm exterior lies a war fought stitch by stitch, pocket by pocket. You are the picture of modern professionalism: collapsing elegantly, invisibly.

Reframe the Crisis as Minimalism

When panic fails, philosophy helps. You decide that your lack of a belt is intentional — a rebellion against capitalist overconsumption. You’re not unprepared; you’re enlightened. “Why are we so attached to things?” you say to a coworker, tugging discreetly as the elevator rises. “Attachment is suffering.” They nod, impressed, unaware that your attachment problem is literal. Minimalism is the modern fig leaf of dysfunction. Forget meditation apps — enlightenment can begin in the trouser department. You’re not falling apart; you’re simplifying. Zen, you remind yourself, is just another word for “making the best of a wardrobe malfunction.”

Remember: Everyone’s Holding Something Up

There’s a peculiar kind of grace in realizing your humiliation is universal. Everyone’s holding something together — a project, a marriage, a sanity check. You just happen to be doing it with visible stakes. This is adulthood in its purest form: a collective improvisation of stability. Every colleague in that open office is a one-man puppet show of control — tugging strings, hiding slips, keeping the illusion intact. The human condition, in business-casual form. Your situation, absurd as it is, becomes a mirror for all of it. Gravity is merciless, but solidarity is real. When you see another person adjusting their mask — metaphorical or otherwise — you nod silently. The fellowship of the barely held-up is vast.

Strategically Finger-lift It via the Belt Loop When Walking

Eventually, all strategies fail. Meetings end, pockets tire, layers shift. You must resort to the belt-loop lift — an act of pure manual resilience. Two fingers hooked lightly into the side loop, a subtle rhythmic lift every few steps. Done right, it’s elegance disguised as survival. It’s the choreography of defeat turned into art: an understated tango between dignity and gravity. The key is to own it. Walk as if you’re conducting your own pants — a maestro of fabric and farce. From afar, no one can tell the difference between poise and panic. In this moment, you become the philosopher of the workplace. The loop tug is no longer shameful; it’s existential. A micro-gesture that encapsulates the human condition: nothing stays up on its own, everything requires maintenance, and sometimes, the best you can do is keep lifting in rhythm.

By day’s end, you’ve survived the unbelted odyssey. You’ve learned that modern life is just a series of wardrobe adjustments — subtle, continuous, mostly invisible. You’ve practiced mindfulness disguised as physical restraint, stoicism disguised as fabric management. On the commute home, seated at last, you’ll feel the relief of gravity reclaiming what was hers. You’ll smile faintly, because you know the truth: the day was never about pants. It was about the absurd dignity of persistence — of showing up, sagging but still upright. Tomorrow, you’ll wear a belt. Probably. But a part of you will miss the honesty of today — the quiet freedom of a person who knew, at least for eight hours, exactly what was falling apart and exactly how to hold it.

References (Stylistic / Conceptual)

• Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.
• Adams, S. (1997). The Dilbert Principle.
• Botton, A. de. (2009). The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.
• Kierkegaard, S. (1843). The Concept of Anxiety. (spiritually relevant to waistline instability)
• HBR (2023). “Micro-Crises in Modern Professionalism.”
• Kafka, F. (1915). The Metamorphosis.
• DFW, D. (1997). “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.”
• The Atlantic (2022). “The Quiet Panic of Everyday Efficiency.”

Why are some people calling the contemporary European crisis of migrants & minority faiths taking over as paying for the 'Sins of Colonialism'?

When someone says Europe is “paying for the sins of colonialism,” the phrase lands like a ledger slammed shut on an unsettled past. It promises an accounting: a historical balance sheet in which plundered wealth, imposed borders, extractive economies, and violent episodes of empire are reduced to a single line item that supposedly explains contemporary migration. That shorthand is intellectually enticing and politically potent because it compresses centuries into a tidy moral claim. But historical truth is rarely tidy. The phrase picks out a real causal thread — imperial actions remade economies and polities in ways that continue to matter — and then stretches that thread into an explanatory rope meant to hoist an entire modern phenomenon. The truth lies between: colonial legacies matter, but so do proximate shocks, local elites, climate stress, and the choices made by contemporary states. Before we sign the invoice for “sins,” we should first understand what is being billed, who is allowed to interpret the bill, and what remedies look like in practice.

How to place a PC mouse on the table so that it does not strain your wrist?

The placement and usage of your PC mouse can significantly influence your wrist health and overall comfort during work or gaming. Prolonged use without proper positioning can lead to discomfort, repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), and even chronic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. By understanding the science behind mouse ergonomics and adopting the correct placement strategies, you can protect your wrists and improve productivity.

The Science of Wrist Strain and Mouse Usage

Using a mouse repeatedly over long periods exerts pressure on the tendons, ligaments, and the median nerve inside the wrist. These structures pass through the narrow carpal tunnel, and improper mouse placement can compress this area, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research confirmed that excessive wrist extension or flexion increases tension in the tendons, causing inflammation and discomfort (source).

Prozac works but why not try the un-chemical way to feel good?

This discussion is not about whether Prozac helps with anxiety. Yes, medicines like Prozac can help you control your anxiety levels, but here, I am discussing some DIY methods that are not equally chemical and don't require you to chase around for a prescription. I have had issues with restoring my mental energy levels every time they get depleted over a few hectic days. Ever since I turned 25, a pattern emerged where, after a couple of days of sustained physical and psychological work, my mind would go into a caffeinated mode, unable to wind down, and as a result, my anxiety levels and the associated digestive symptoms would surface. The medicines I tried over the years to control this habit and its root cause helped to some extent, but there is a catch to using them. No matter what the pharmaceutical world says, there is a downside to every drug out there, prescription or over-the-counter. Once you get into the habit of using mood boosters, or in my case, mood-sustaining salts, there is a big chance your body and mind will stop evolving to help you navigate and manage different phases of your life, and some need you to be alert and calm. My continuous run-ins with these meds also helped me uncover some things that could boost the overall mood and energy levels. These mental health tips are not stolen from the web or blatantly rewritten to engage the search engines. This is from my cup of psychological wellness, and I am sharing some of it with you:

Take some bites: the easiest way to control anxiety on a bad day.

You need to boost your sugar levels, but just a bit, not to the extent that you get a sugar rush. A few bites of literally anything, spaced across one hour where you nibble and munch a lot rather than consume a heavy meal, can help. Don't gulp aerated drinks as they don't hold for much time. Try more bread, cornflakes, some ice cream, a smoothie, a shake, or a small sandwich that you keep biting into. Yes, chocolate helps, but in moderation. Nuts, roasted or with something sweet, can help too. Raisins work in some way and are also a physical energy booster. Bananas tend to make me feel sluggish, so I avoid them despite a whole lot of natural sweetness. This is not meant to cure your anxiety, and it does not help you to cure anxiety. This simple exercise can help you get over anxiety for a few hours and navigate a hectic day at the workplace when there is a distinct burden you are carrying.

Don't force sleep: slightly offbeat anxiety prevention tip.

Trying to route your mind towards a relaxing mode could have disastrous results. You could end up feeling more irritated and less energetic. Don't sit alone and do too many deep breaths...this generic advice does not help many people like me. You might want to lower the intensity of the lighting around you, put on some music, and start engaging your mind with videos or music you like. Trying to put yourself to sleep is often the cause of bringing about anxiety. Your mind starts to dig up answers. You start examining everything that has happened over the course of the day or even yesterday. The further you dig, the farther you are from a good night's sleep. Sometimes, this can make you overthink to the extent that a small daft of anxiety comes knocking. As a rule, don't lie down for too long just because it seems like the right time to sleep or just because someone recommended a quick nap. If you are not someone who is genuinely good at power naps, don't stress it. Don't go chasing the general rule of an 8-hour sleep cycle. Keep it simple - sleep only when you are naturally slipping into it.

Online window shopping or OTT indulgence: easy ways to control anxiety

For shopping enthusiasts like me, an easy way to maintain sanity on a slightly stressed day is working on an online shopping cart. Prune the wish-listed products. Cancel items whose items have just escalated. Try to read into the current sales campaign. Save items you might need in the near future. De-link or upload more of your payment cards. Update shipping addresses or link a digital wallet that can provide some savings the next time you actually buy something. Indulge in some online product comparisons. Overall, this exercise might not lead to actually buying great products, but it occupies your mind in a way that takes the focus away from something that has been bothering you. It also takes away the need to sip beer. Making a big bowl of homemade popcorn and catching up with that OTT show that has been waiting in the watchlist is another good idea. Let the OTT zombies chew down your anxiety levels. A bit of butter on the popcorn will not make you morbidly obese, and renewing the monthly OTT subscription is still a lot cheaper than getting dependent on valium or Prozac.

Find getting-rid-of videos: easiest tools for managing rising anxiety levels.

This must be the strangest advice for controlling anxiety, but sometimes, it actually works. There are a lot of videos on YouTube and Instagram where people are getting rid of some strange wart or mole, overgrown nails that challenge Shrek, or hair that has never been clipped for decades. How does this work? When you are watching this type of visual content, there is a feeling of superficial, artificial relief that kicks in as the ugliest nails are clipped off, unruly locks are shaven away, or blackheads are pulled out. This helps in unwinding in a private, aloof manner, and such content is available at all times. While I call it getting-rid-of content, it can be slightly overbearing if you are watching it for the first time. Believe me, nobody really likes watching ultra-magnified views of ingrown hair on the chin being pulled out, but when you are out of quick answers to manage anxiety, anything is worth trying. However, if you chance upon animal slaughter videos uploaded by PETA-type agencies and find the recorded killings somewhat calming, you probably need help - the idea here is not to turn sadistic.

Online & Offline Clean-up: the simplest way to distract away oncoming anxiety 

You need an instant boost of goodness, and this is closely associated with a feeling of accomplishment. You need instantly doable tasks that help you feel that way. How can you do it? Get on your smartphone or get on your knees. Dust away things that are cluttering your desk or room, and your mailbox. Kick away, dump, and delete everything that seems mundane or highly unusable. From glamorous Apps to what seems no-long-usable on the bedside table, eradicate, and kill stuff that is not serving any purpose. This keeps your mind busy, works up the body a bit, and you get a nice feeling of gaining more control. Plus, your room partner or your mom would have one less reason to scream at you - how is this a bad deal?

NOT sure-shot ways to reduce anxiety - find your own fix...

There are days when running or heavy weight-lifting, even stretching, and some burpees can bring back that feeling of being alert, a reasonably good mood, and restore energy levels to some extent. And there are days when all of the things shared above don't make any impact. Like I said, this is not swallowing a pill and slightly numbing your mind. The entire efforts here are on managing your anxiety without using prescription pills or things that can be addictive. Usually, having too much caffeine or sugar does not help. Driving around aimlessly also does not get the job done. In contrast, something as simple as sipping some form of fluids might not take away that feeling of low, but it can prevent ruining your mood. You have to try it all and find what works best for you. For instance, every time I am snacking on crispy, crumbly stuff, making all sorts of horrible eating noises, my mind seems totally distracted, as if the focus has been taken away from overanalyzing things. And in the work-from-home schedule that has been enforced upon us, anxiety can come calling in the most unusual ways. You have to find simpler, non-medicated ways of keeping up your state of mental health.

I recommend trying out:

• Slow, conscious exhaling with a slight humming sound

• Chewing your food more consciously, taking extra minutes to swallow each bite

• Listening to music that tends to make your mind travel, even if for just a few minutes

• If you are connected to paper & pen, try to write a bit, try to journal your feelings a bit

• If you are addicted to blogging, write about anything - it really works [personal website]

• Tightening the grip on a body part, almost to the point of making it numb, and then releasing 

Do you need experts to tell you that it is OK to Lie?

We are doing it all the time and still, we need the assurance that ethically and morally, there is nothing wrong with it? I am talking about lying spontaneously, lying on the go, and lying without giving it a second consideration. It has become imperative to our daily existence. Just the other day I found my wife hiding on WhatsApp. I couldn't be more surprised - why would anyone try to camouflage oneself on something as free and miscellaneous as this social communication platform? Because there are some people out there, toxic thought carriers whom you don't want to overwhelm your sense of calmness on some days, at least on days when Life already seems to be going in a tizzy. So, are there any morality calculators out there that can define when it is OK to lie? 

Is it okay to lie, sometimes? The recent spate of events is sufficient proof that I have to lie, I have to make up stories, and more often than not it is not even for my benefit. I have to lie that I need to be excused earlier because there are things that need to be handled at home but essentially, the conversations are so damn boring - hanging around would have only meant more of myself and less of being a good participant in social situations. I have to create weird conversational backdrops for my father every time I want to buy something new for him - being honest would mean not doing some very basic things for an aging parent.

This recent article mentions that "Lying is often socially motivated" and features opinions from experts like Christian L. Hart [a researcher in lying and deception!], and he concludes that on most occasions people don't lie for "direct gains". This is true across most social situations. The intent that brings about lying should indeed be the only parameter to judge - white lie vs dishonest lying. The latter is more of a cover-up. The former is chosen because the absolute truth would perhaps do more damage. Therefore, lying in many situations is mathematically and logically the only choice.

What is self-compassion and it is important for you to accept your body?

Self-compassion is a critical psychological concept that entails treating oneself with the same kindness, concern, and support one would show to a good friend. Rooted in ancient Buddhist practices, self-compassion is fundamentally about recognizing our shared human experience, which includes suffering and imperfection. Dr. Kristin Neff, a pioneering researcher in this field, defines self-compassion through three main components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.

Components of Self-Compassion

Self-Kindness: Instead of being harshly self-critical, self-kindness involves being gentle and understanding with oneself. It means recognizing that it's okay to make mistakes and that imperfection is a part of the human experience.

Common Humanity: This aspect emphasizes the connection between oneself and others. It involves acknowledging that suffering and personal inadequacy are part of the shared human condition, rather than feeling isolated and alienated by one's imperfections.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness entails being aware of the present moment in a balanced manner. It involves neither ignoring one's pain nor being overly immersed in it, but rather observing it with a sense of clarity and balance.

The Importance of Self-Compassion

Emotional Resilience

Practicing self-compassion is crucial for emotional resilience. It allows individuals to navigate through life's challenges without being overwhelmed by negative emotions. By treating oneself with kindness during difficult times, one can maintain emotional equilibrium and recover more swiftly from setbacks.

Mental Health Benefits

Self-compassion has been linked to numerous mental health benefits, including reduced levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Individuals who practice self-compassion tend to have higher levels of emotional intelligence, which helps them manage their emotions more effectively and maintain a positive outlook on life.

Enhanced Self-Acceptance

One of the most significant benefits of self-compassion is enhanced self-acceptance. Accepting oneself means recognizing and embracing all aspects of oneself, including one's physical appearance. This acceptance is not about resignation but about acknowledging reality and treating oneself with kindness despite perceived flaws.

The Role of Self-Compassion in Body Acceptance

Self-compassion plays a pivotal role in body acceptance. In a society that often promotes unrealistic body standards, many individuals struggle with body image issues. By cultivating self-compassion, individuals can develop a healthier and more accepting relationship with their bodies.

Challenging Unrealistic Standards

Self-compassion encourages individuals to challenge unrealistic body standards and to understand that beauty and worth are not determined by physical appearance. This shift in perspective is crucial for developing a positive body image and self-acceptance.

Promoting Physical and Mental Well-being

Accepting one's body is not only important for mental well-being but also for physical health. Individuals who accept their bodies are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as balanced eating and regular physical activity, rather than resorting to extreme diets or harmful practices.

Strategies to Cultivate Self-Compassion and Body Acceptance

Mindful Self-Reflection: Engaging in mindful self-reflection can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings about their bodies. This practice involves observing one's thoughts without judgment and recognizing negative patterns that may hinder self-acceptance.

Positive Affirmations: Using positive affirmations can reinforce self-compassion and body acceptance. Affirmations such as "I am worthy of love and respect" and "My body is strong and capable" can help counteract negative self-talk and foster a positive self-image.

Self-Compassion Exercises: Incorporating self-compassion exercises into daily routines can significantly enhance one's ability to accept and appreciate their body. Exercises such as writing a compassionate letter to oneself, practicing loving-kindness meditation, and keeping a self-compassion journal can be highly effective.

Seeking Support: Building a support network of friends, family, or a therapist can provide the encouragement and validation needed to maintain self-compassion and body acceptance. Sharing experiences and receiving feedback can reinforce positive changes and provide additional perspectives.

Self-compassion is an invaluable tool for fostering emotional resilience, improving mental health, and enhancing self-acceptance. By integrating self-compassion into our lives, we can challenge unrealistic body standards and cultivate a healthier, more accepting relationship with our bodies. Accepting our bodies as they are allows us to live more fully and authentically, free from the constraints of societal pressures.

You might want to know:

Dr. Kristin Neff did pioneering work in helping us understand self-compassion. She is widely recognized as one of the leading researchers in this field and has developed a comprehensive framework for understanding and practicing self-compassion. Her work includes defining the three main components of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Dr. Neff's research has significantly contributed to the field of psychology, highlighting the importance of self-compassion for emotional resilience and mental well-being. The book "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself" by Dr. Kristin Neff is widely regarded as one of the best resources for understanding self-compassion. In this book, Dr. Neff explains the concept of self-compassion, its benefits, and practical strategies for cultivating it in everyday life. The book combines scientific research with personal anecdotes and exercises, making it a comprehensive and accessible guide for anyone looking to improve their self-compassion...

How is compassion different from self-compassion?

Compassion and self-compassion share a common foundation in recognizing suffering and responding with kindness, but they are directed toward different recipients. Compassion involves recognizing the suffering of others and feeling motivated to alleviate it. It is an outward-focused emotion that drives us to extend care, empathy, and understanding toward others in distress. Compassion encourages actions that support and help others, fostering a sense of connection and community. Self-compassion, on the other hand, is the application of these same principles towards oneself. It entails recognizing one's own suffering and responding with the same kindness and understanding one would offer to a friend or loved one. 

In essence, while compassion is directed towards others, self-compassion is an inward-directed attitude that involves treating oneself with the same care and concern one would offer to others. Both are essential for fostering emotional well-being and building healthy relationships with oneself and the world. Incorporating more self-compassion into your daily life can significantly improve your well-being and emotional resilience. Here are ten easy ways to practice self-compassion every day:

1. Practice Mindful Breathing

Take a few moments each day to focus on your breath. This helps anchor you in the present moment and fosters a calm, non-judgmental awareness of your thoughts and feelings.

2. Use Positive Affirmations

Start your day with positive affirmations. Phrases like "I am worthy of love and respect" or "I am doing my best" can set a compassionate tone for the day.

3. Keep a Self-Compassion Journal

Write down moments of self-doubt or criticism and respond to them with kind, understanding words, as if you were comforting a friend. Reflect on these entries regularly to see your growth.

4. Engage in Loving-Kindness Meditation

Spend a few minutes each day sending loving-kindness to yourself and others. This meditation involves repeating phrases like "May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be safe" and extending these wishes to others.

5. Treat Yourself as You Would a Friend

When facing a difficult situation, ask yourself what you would say to a friend in the same position. Then, offer that same advice and comfort to yourself.

6. Set Healthy Boundaries

Recognize your limits and set boundaries that protect your time and energy. This act of self-respect is a key component of self-compassion.

7. Take Care of Your Body

Engage in regular physical activity, eat nutritious foods, and get enough rest. Treating your body with care is an essential part of self-compassion.

8. Allow Yourself to Feel

Acknowledge and accept your emotions without judgment. Permit yourself to feel sadness, anger, or frustration without pushing these emotions away or criticizing yourself for having them.

9. Practice Gratitude

Regularly reflect on things you are grateful for, including aspects of yourself. This helps shift focus from self-criticism to appreciation and positive acknowledgment.

10. Seek Support When Needed

Don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or a therapist when you need support. Recognizing when you need help and seeking it out is a powerful act of self-compassion.

By integrating these practices into your daily routine, you can cultivate a more compassionate and accepting relationship with yourself, enhancing your overall well-being and emotional health.

Overcoming Barriers to Self-Compassion

Recognizing Negative Self-Talk: Identify and challenge negative thoughts that prevent you from being kind to yourself. Replace them with more compassionate ones.

Setting Realistic Goals: Set achievable goals that consider your well-being and don’t overextend yourself. Understand that it’s okay not to be perfect.

The Role of Self-Compassion in Mental Health

• Stress Reduction: Self-compassion helps reduce stress by allowing you to step back and take breaks when needed, rather than pushing through exhaustion.
• Anxiety Management: By fostering a kinder inner dialogue, self-compassion can alleviate feelings of anxiety and promote a more balanced perspective.
• Depression Mitigation: Practicing self-compassion can help mitigate symptoms of depression by reducing self-criticism and increasing feelings of connectedness and self-worth.
• Self-Compassion in the Workplace: Workplaces that encourage self-compassion see employees taking breaks without guilt, leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

Understanding the connection between self-compassion and giving yourself a break is crucial for long-term well-being. By embracing self-compassion, you give yourself permission to rest, recharge, and ultimately lead a healthier, more balanced life. Creating a culture that values self-care and compassion can significantly improve overall workplace morale and employee well-being. When you practice self-compassion, it improves your personal relationships by allowing you to be more empathetic and understanding towards others. Self-compassionate individuals tend to communicate more effectively and empathetically, fostering healthier and more supportive relationships. Practicing self-compassion leads to sustained mental and physical well-being, helping you navigate life's challenges with greater ease. Self-compassion enhances resilience by allowing you to recover from setbacks more quickly and with less emotional turmoil.

For the sciency folks: this link contains some researched information by the National Library of Medicine, providing deeper, intellectual insight about the subject. 

For those who want to give it a real try, try this link - the information here by Positivepsychology.com provides some handy exercises and activities to do, to kickstart your journey toward loving yourself and becoming more compassionate for your own mind and body.

For those who believe that self-appreciation should be a part of self-love and self-compassion, try this link that talks about the easiest of daily-life habits that can make you more appreciative of what you do, helping you navigate the tougher days in your personal and professional life...