From: As told to Arshad Ali

Restarting Life   

Posted On Friday, April 01, 2011

It took a lot of grit for Manish Sharma to switch off email alerts, mobile phone and close the door to his room for a full hour...

Inspired by a book I recently read, I have got into the habit of getting ‘offline’ for an hour every day. Usually it is between 5 and 6 pm. That time I spend in reflecting on the day which passed and planning for the day next. I like to focus on important but non-urgent stuff during this time and how I should be going about them. Initially, it was only and strictly work. My thought process would revolve around business but looking at the benefits that it has been giving me, I have extended this session to my personal life as well. It might sound very simple till one tries it out. It took me a lot of discipline and grit to switch off email alerts, mobile phone and close the door to my room for a full hour. I have been very satisfied with the outcome of this habit. Its advantages are beyond words. The most important thing it has done for me is to slow down after a day’s work and the rest of the evening easily flows through. I also feel rejuvenated after the session and whatever I do later, I seem to be doing it with renewed energy. This break from the fast and high tech, works as tonic to soothe the nerves that are almost ready to give way after a strenuous day. And if one is planning to do something that is entirely different from what he/she has been doing throughout the day, then this break would help him begin anew

(Sharma is the vice president - APAC, NComputing India)