A person wearing a mask with a smiley face hides their true emotions, while behind the mask, they look visibly stressed and sad — symbolizing the burden of pretending to be happy all the time. In a world where everything tells us to have good vibes only in mugs and bios on most of our social media platforms, being happy by always being positive must be the answer, right? Why not be happy and positive after all? However, what occurs when this quest to positivity becomes poisonous? Toxic positivity is the ideology that everyone, despite the hardness of the situation, should be optimistic. Although it is a strength, to be an optimist, as long as the only acceptable reaction to the pain is the optimistic one, it becomes more of a curse than the one which is productive actually. What is Toxic Positivity? Toxic positivity has nothing to do with the promotion of hope: this is a refusal to admit reality. It is those times when someone would tell you that there is a reason behind everything that happens after you have lost something. It is the phrase, just be happy when you feel burnt out or others have it worse when something personal happens to you. Well-meaning as the responses in many cases often may be, they close the doors of emotional expression rather than opening them. Instead of allowing people to run through their actual emotions, toxic positivity may overwhelm people with a sense of guilt that they are sad, anxious, angry, or frustrated, and all these are perfectly normal feelings. Why It is so Dangerous When we are made to know or inferred that we must feel positive things alone, we start developing a notion that anything other is a failure. With time, it may result into: Emotional suppression: Individuals start suppressing their real emotions with the fear that they would be judged or misunderstood. Inauthentic relationships: We will have inauthentic relationships when we do not feel free to share our struggles, and we end up having superficial and performative relationships. Deterioration of mental health: Never done emotions come to haunt. They fester. Research findings indicate that the continuous avoidance or the denial of negative emotions may generate more stress, anxiety and even other disorders to include depression. The price you pay to lead a meaningful life is discomfort, according to the psychologist Dr. Susan David. By pretending not to feel pain, in the name of being positive, we are missing an opportunity to develop and mature, to heal and to feel deeply. Toxic Positivity in Our Everyday Life Toxic positivity has its way of creeping into our lives, which goes unnoticed at times. There are some typical examples of it: In the job: You have a deadline to meet and one of your workmates tells you, just be happy that you have a job. It is important to be grateful, but this overrules your legitimate stress. On social media: Posters are ready to discuss their perfect moments only, which makes others think they are bad because they are hurting. When being friends: You share about a hard time and you get the response: It could have been worse or just keep a positive attitude. Such responses are done out of well intentions but they lead to shutting down the person who actually needs to be heard. The Healthy Versus Toxic Positivity Difference It would be unfair to state that optimism is the nemesis. A huge distinction exists between harmful positivity and positive thinking. According to toxic positivity, it goes something like: Just do not think about it. Give it attention to the good.” Healthy optimism - says: This is difficult, but I think I will make it. The healthy optimism does not exclude pain. It takes into consideration the challenge but still believes in optimism. Toxic positivity attempts to cut out the bad part entirely: and in that, frequently makes conditions even worse. Avoiding toxic positivity (and making others avoid it too) Being aware is the first step to the cycle of breaking toxic positivity. As soon as you become able to recognize it, you will be able to begin turning around the manner in which you respond to yourself and other people. These are some of the things one can do to journey to emotional authenticity: 1. Clear the Emotions First Rather than attempting to correct another person in how he feels, simply agree with him. Say: It seems to be quite tough. I am with you, pal.” avoid: on the bright side, at least 2. Tell the Truth to yourself When you feel down, don t wonder, Why can t I be happy, and, instead, ask yourself: What do I need at this very moment? You can feel sad or frustrated or grieved. 3. Be Real Positive Be authentic, not be sugarcoated all the time. Authentic positivity does not deny pain, it embraces it and comes out of it by caring. 4. Having it All It is possible to be a two-fold-feeler. It is possible to be thankful about your work and at the same time feel overwhelmed. It is possible to love and to be angry. Feelings are not black and white, they are deep and acceptable. Final Thoughts Whenever somebody says this to you; just think positivity, consider being silent and ask yourself; is this positivity a solution or a concealment? Emotions can not be problems. They are indicators to be listened to. Giving ourselves and others the freedom to experience what we experience invites more healing, improved mental health and deeper human connection. In an era when people are so focused on being fine, perhaps being able to say that we are not is a courageous thing that we can do. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 22, 2025 #ToxicPositivity #MentalHealthAwareness #ItsOkayToNotBeOkay #EmotionalWellness #AuthenticLiving #BreakTheStigma #FeelYourFeelings #MentalHealthMatters #PositiveVibesOnlyIsNotAlwaysHelpful #HealingNotHiding

"A girl looking at perfect Instagram photos while feeling sad and overwhelmed in real life." We are looking through Instagram and notice everything ideal organized brunches, white rooms with pale illumination, glimmering skin, designer closets, beach escapes, serene sunsets. All appears… Perfect. The question however arises; at what cost? Are these aesthetic feeds making us inspired or are they crushing our self-worths in silence? it is not only the filters distorting reality in 2025. It is the standardization of beauty, life and even emotions. Introducing the new mental health crisis: what we can see is hidden, but it is the sneaky one that is creating the way that we feel about our personal lives. The Appearance of Aesthetic Living Everything has now an aesthetic: cottagecore, clean girl, dark feminine, soft life, wellness baddie. Such visuals are beautiful. They provide us with the inspiration, that we have a sense of order, and in some cases even enough encouragement to romanticise the little moments in life. When every cup of coffee has to appear Pinterest-worthy when every outfit has to match and when your room must always be a beige tone with pampas grass - when everything becomes controlled like a performance, it starts feeling not like a possibility to express yourself and start feeling like an obligation. We are no longer per se alive. We engineered a curatorial product line of lifestyle brand -So because of our personality. The Truth behind the Grid What is the real problem? We begin to compare our daily lives with the highlight reel of another person and that is never a fair thing to do. Your reality suddenly becomes ugly, disorganized and unsatisfactory. And it occurs day in and day out and then you start thinking that your life is not as much as it is supposed to be. The Perfection Pressure to be Perfect, Letting the World See Things Falling Apart Psych, of the emotional form of aestheticism. Even our cure now must be a beauty to look at. You can never simply cry, but have to have a filter to it, a book in hands, close to a sunlight. We are acting peace. We are doing curing. We are doing productivity. Behind the screens? People are exhausted, stressed out, and lost without knowing how to even say so as their feed tells them otherwise. That makes a vicious cycle: Act like you are fine → Share and get likes that everything is okay → Be more lonely as it is not the reality. The Mental Health Impact- Subtle and Strong It is not always that you can see it immediately. However, in the long-term Instagram aesthetics can result in: Low self worth: You think your true life is not good enough. Imposter syndrome: You feel like a pretender even when you are doing great. Decision fatigue: Playing Decision Monkey all the time - are such things postable? Does it qualify as aesthetically superior? Body image problems: The attitude to your body against airbrushed images of other people. Loneliness: The sense of being alienated to your truth. It is not just deteriorations of mood, but it is daily micro-shots to your mental condition, and it adds up over time. The Trends of the Clean Girl and That Girl: Empowering or Pressurizing? The trends appear positive in the beginning. Rise early, eat well, keep a diary, tidy your room, - it all sounds wonderful, but do you think you can do it? The issue is in the anticipation of perfection. You have to be glowing, productive, sipping lemon water in a matching gym outfit, otherwise, you feel that you fail. It confirms an idea that success and happiness are supposed to look a particular way slim, minimalist, bright and ever together. But factual growth? Real life? It is usually unclean, leisurely and raw. Taking Back Your Own Beauty- Post Algorithmic Beauty The fact is, you need not be aesthetic to make your life count! Chai in an unglazed mug, an untidy room with its memories, a silent moment of at rest stuff like that does not get any likes, yet it is real. You need not put your peace up in order to show it. You are not required to record your recovery to make it legitimate. When something completes you, whether it turns out to be camera worthy or not, it is enough. Withdrawing of the Aesthetic Trap The following are some mild reminders and ways of aiding in breaking the cycle: Unfollow because it is good for your mental health. It is also alright to mute or unfollow somebody when there is always something in your feed that makes you feel inadequate. Guard your calm. The content must be human to consume. Subscribe to authors that present the ugly side of life. Those who are the speakers of bad days, unfiltered lives, and emotions. Post less. Live more. Cry with moments! Not contents. Take an inventory of yourself. Prior to posting, question: Do I want to share this to connect, or to be approved? Produce first, then consuming. Do not begin your day watching other people highlight reel. Write, stretch, breathe, or just sit in front of you before you scroll. Closing Remarks: Life over Feed The Instagram aesthetics are not evil. They are attractive, artistic and inspirational. The issue though starts when we get the curated and the real mixed up. You need not have a minimalistic life to create a meaningful life. You do not need to be bright to be adorable. It does not take a filter to suffice. The thing is that healing is not always tender and radiant, sometimes it is ugly, sluggish, and quiet. And that is fine. So perhaps today, do not make your life appear beautiful, simply live it. Feel it. Sloppy, actual, and all yours. That is the aesthetic that we all should have more of. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 22, 2025 #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyAwareness #DigitalWellness #SocialMediaDetox #EmotionalWellbeing

Students sitting in a traditional classroom on one side, and on the other side, students learning with AI tools and screens, showing the contrast between old and new education methods. Only several decades ago, the recipe of success appeared so easy: Go to school. Score well. Earn a diploma. Take a fine job. However, something has changed in the world in 2025 - radically. The game of education and work is being recoded through Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and digital transformation. The question then arises, in the era of AI a big question is now posed by asking: Is traditional education still relevant in our era? The solution is not black and white. Why donate? Let us see. What in the World Is the Traditional Education? Traditional education refers to that system in which most of us were born and to which most of us still send our kids off to school: fixed curriculum, chalks-and-board (or now digital boards), exams, degrees and a step-by-step progression through the education system to job. It lays focus on memorisation, standardisation and strictness. However, it is increasingly likely not to be innovate, adaptive, and problem-solving, that are rather favored in the real world. What AI Has Been Doing to the Employment Sector? AI is not a hype, but it is something that is changing industries: ChatGPT and generative AI are already writing content, writing code, and answering customer support. The number of clerical and other repetitive jobs is being replaced now by automation at a very high rate. They are simplifying the processes in the sphere of finance, healthcare, marketing, and even education itself by means of AI tools. It is projected that 4050 percent of existing jobs can be changed or even substituted altogether by AI by 2030. Thus what does this imply on the traditional education system that trains students to take up jobs that may be non existent? The Shortcomings of Conventional Learning And this is where the breaks start to appear: Obsolete Pedagogy  Most schools continue to embed deeply within their curricula rote learning, textbooks that are decades old, and inflexible exams, and dismiss such worldly competencies as emotional awareness, digital literacy, and creativity. One Size Fits All Learning  Each child is different in learning. However, conventional systems demand equally similar outcomes of all people by using the same mode of teaching. AI, on the contrary, provides individual learning experiences. Shortage of Critical Thinking The students are made to memorize and not to think. In todays world whereby data comes by the tons, the ability to think is more important than knowing. Minor focus on soft skills Communication, flexibility, team work - these so-called soft skills are expeditionary skills in contemporary work places. What Could Education Be in the AI age? It should not be to abandon traditional education altogether, but it should be to evolve through transformations but sustaining the strengths as one adapts it to the changed needs . Here’s how: Hybrid Learning Models  Bring together conventional disciplines and the latest forms: online courses, microlearning, and AI guides. Skill-Based Instead of Degree-Based Hiring The focus of hiring used to be on “What college did you attend?” Now it is on the skills the employee can bring to the table. Courses on Coursera, Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning, among others, are also provided and sometimes such certifications are more important than degrees in certain fields. AIs Literacy to All  The way in which AI functions should be an essential course topic not only in learning technology, but every single person. Even such areas as art, law, or marketing will be influenced by AI. Project-Based Learning  Project-based learning is rooted in real-life projects to learn how to solve a problem, be creative, and work with a team of people, which a textbook cannot show you to the limit of your abilities. Will AI eliminate Teachers? One of the most widespread concerns is the possibility of the AI being able to substitute educators in general. But the reality is that AI is not going to displace a teacher it is going to displace a teacher that does not use AI, but one that does. AI may be helpful with: Individual routes of learning Instant feedback Language translation Administrative work However, it cannot substitute a sense of a human being, guidance and understanding that a quality teacher introduces to the classroom. There is no replacement of emotional guidance, discipline and even inspiration. The Real Purpose of Education 2025 and Beyond There must be a change of emphasis away: We should teach students how to pass the exam is the present question (How do we teach students to adapt, unlearn, and grow continuously? The true value comes with curation, interpretation, and utilization of knowledge in a world where the provision of information is cost-free, and at a speed that is increasing exponentially. Rather than teaching about what to think, education should be how to think and more importantly on how to remain curious. But Is There Still Any Use of Traditional Education? Yes (but only in the case that it develops). The traditional systems provide structure, discipline, and knowledge base. However, alone they are insufficient any more. To them must be introduced: Skill-based learning Technologic flexibility Emotional development Real-world exposure Degrees are not killed. It is not anymore what is the only road to success. The only thing which is important is your capacity to learn, unlearn, and relearn - repeatedly. And the End Thoughts Education cannot anymore be one-shot ticket to success. It is not a one day thing. In the era of AI the most effective instruments will be: Human creativity Emotional intelligence Ethical thinking Collaboration Continuous learning Thus the classroom, syllabus and examination may be there, but what is important is how we use these tools to make resilient, self-aware and future-ready human beings. Due to the fact that AI could replace some jobs. But the knack to remain human? That is our true super power. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 21, 2025 #TraditionalEducation #FutureOfEducation #EducationReform #LearningInTheAIera #AIvsEducation #ModernLearning #21stCenturySkills #DigitalClassrooms #EdTechRevolution #AIinEducation

An illustration of a young child learning to code on a laptop, surrounded by icons like Python, HTML, and Scratch, with books, pencils, and digital screens showing code snippets — symbolizing how coding is becoming a foundational skill like English. Over the past couple of years, a subtle yet effective transformation has occurred in classrooms across the globe, and that is integration of coding as early as kindergarten. Parents are signing their children up to weekend coding bootcamps. Schools are adopting it as part of the fundamental curricula. And coding sites such as WhiteHat Jr., Code.org and Scratch are hot. Then the question is: Is coding the new English? Well, is it so necessary? So let us analyze it. Coding: Is it only a Skill or a New Literacy? Coding can no longer be a technical code mastered by only software engineers anymore, but is now being viewed as a kind of literacy, a literacy like reading, writing, and speaking. Live in an era of dominance by technology, and know an advantage of exploring the language behind it. In the same way English will enable you to talk to humans, coding will also enable you to talk to the machine. It is the digital age grammar. So Why the Sudden Coding Craze? It can be identified that there are several reasons that make coding the priority in contemporary schooling: 1. The use of technology is all over. Code drives everything in your smartphone and even the traffic light at the corner of the road. The less we know about the functioning of tech and the more dependent we are on it, the more important the perception of its functioning turns out to be. 2. Job Market Requirements The most-in-demand and the best-paid field needs knowledge of coding nowadays: app development, AI, robotics. Even the marketing, the financial, and design jobs are getting to be people who require tech-savvy individuals. 3. Logic, Building and Problem-Solving Coding delivers structured way of thinking, decomposing large tasks into small, and resolving them one by one. This is a skill that is much wider than the realm of computers, even in the real world and occupation. 4. Global Movement Nations such as US, UK and China have introduced mandatory coding in schools. Even India has implemented it as a part of new education policy (NEP) since Class 6. What Business Have Children with It? The way children scientifically learn to acquire language and recognize patterns until the age of 7 is how coding is an ideal early skill. They consider it as a game not a job They study logic without even caring about it It enhances creativity since it enables them to create apps, games, and animations Just as English is useful in telling a story, code is useful in digital story telling. Similarities and differences of coding and English: Is it a fair comparison? English is a worldwide spoken language. It creates possibilities in travel, business, education and communications. On the contrary, the language behind the screen is coding. It is not a replacement of English but a supplement. When humans use English so that they can communicate to each other, when humans interact with technology, they understand through coding. No, then, coding does not replace English. But it is also becoming fundamental. The Other Perks of Tech Career Although a child may never end up becoming a software engineer, coding can provide: Increased concentration and attention to detail Increased levels of mathematical and logical problemsolving Increased resilience (debugging teaches you why you should not give up!) Back to source confidence building up something out of nothing Inquisitive analytical thinking It forms a generation of creators and not merely consumers. The tools that make code fun However learning to code does not involve looking at lines of text. New platforms are interesting and active: Scratch: Allows children to build games and stories using drag-and-drop logic Tynker: Cartoon and quiz based coding classes Code.org: Provides free classes with the support of tech giants of the world WhiteHat Jr.: Education in app and game development among children Programming nowadays is like coloring with a coloring book; only it is supercharged. What the Schools and the Parents ought to do ? Schools must incorporate coding at an early stage instead of waiting till college or job level. Not only in computer labs - but interdisciplinary. Math: Instruction of logic on simple Python example Science: Construct computer models in code Arts: code digital animations or music Parents may also empower the children through: Signing them up to online coding clubs Allowing them to create games or simple websites The culture of celebrating such small victories as bug fixing or creating a button Technological Systems Have become a Culture of the Future Previous self-driving cars, smart homes, medical robots, and artificial intelligence generated art- The future is coded. The sooner kids are introduced to coding, the more assuredly they will be able to capture that future, and not be afraid of it. As a matter of fact, as we may ask, why should everybody speak basic English?- so it is with code. But Let us Not Overdo It And the fact is that not all children have to become an coder. But at least every child needs to be nurtured with the chance to know about it. Not all English speakers are imagining themselves to grow up and become novelists No one imagines that all coders too will grow up to be developers. What is desired is to provide them with a new mindset, rather than a new profession (in case they desire it). In Conclusion Is coding the new English then? Not exactly. It is indeed the emerging universal language- a passport to successfully living and functioning in the 21 st century. The sooner they pick it up the more confidently they will be able to navigate in the world around them, the world/s that are more and more governed by the lines of codes. Next time we will not be asking, “Do you know how to code?” We will say to you - “What is it that you have created in code?” 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 22, 2025 #CodingForKids #FutureSkills #DigitalLiteracy #21stCenturyLearning #CodingIsTheNewEnglish #TechEducation #LearnToCode #EdTech #STEMEducation #CodeTheFuture #SkillBuilding #YouthTechRevolution #EducationTrends #ParentingTips #CodingRevolution

A student thinking seriously about what to do after Class 12 – whether to take a gap year or join college. The Indian education system has been designed in such a way that, over decades a student has been told to adhere to a certain pattern: Class 12 Finished → College → Career. Anything out of this path, detour, delay or deviation is mostly looked down upon with brows raised and a lot of judgment. However, lately, it appears that one thing has begun to change. An increasing number of students are thinking along the lines of taking a gap year after Class 12 and catching up on some well-deserved rest, and/or not getting agitated in the academic rat race, and/or gearing up to become better prepared. Nevertheless, there is one question that stays in the air: Is it a year to waste or a year to make a good decision? Ok, so let us breakdown. What Is A Gap Year? A gap year is an intended hiatus typically 6 to 12 months that is taken between high school and tertiary education. In this time students have an opportunity to: Travel Internship or employment Competitive exams preparation Acquire new skills Volunteer Find out their interests However, unlike many think that it is a year of not doing something, gap year could be one of the most purposeful and shaping periods in the life of the young individual, provided it is done correctly. Why Do Students Take Such a Year? And here are the most usual and reasonable reasons: Certainty After Decision Not all people know what they should study at the age of 17. Gap year provides room to research on careers, options, and make a deliberate decision rather than getting into a course at random. Competitive Exam Prep JEE, NEET, CUET, SAT- some student have to spend extra time to study without the distractions of school. Mental Health Reset Some students are just tired after years of being pressured with academic requirements. Gap year gives one an opportunity to take a breath of a fresh air, reflect, and recover before plunging into another demanding period. Skill Building Whether it is a coding bootcamp, or learning how to speak the English language fluently, or go out and get some real-life experience at internships- a gap year can help fill in the skills gap that schools cannot teach. Financial Planning Saving up a year before college is a necessity rather than an extravagance to some families. But What of the Fear? Although it is given, a gap year could be more like a nightmare one, particularly in a world where the faster one is, the more successful one will be. These are some of the popular fears: People will say that I failed. I will get left behind by my friends. What might happen in the case I will spend this year and regret in the future? Will there be judgement because of the gap by colleges or employers? We can discuss each of them. The reality behind Gap Years Myth-Busting 1. You are not lagging behind, you are getting control We do not lose our time when we are doing nothing we simply waste it. To be getting somewhat clearer, better skilled or stronger in your feelings, is not a step back, but a step forward. 2. Gap Years are encouraged by Colleges (Even Abroad) In fact, most of the top universities abroad such as Harvard, Oxford and Stanford universities condone or encourage gap years. In India too, when you can describe how you as an individual made productive use of your time, it qualifies as a plus in your resume. 3. The True Danger is that of taking the Wrong Decision in a Rush Thousands of students make the wrong choices either leaving the university altogether or changing majors part-way through losing years, money and mental fortitude. That can be avoided through a well spent gap year. The Maximum You Can Do with Gap Year Gap year is not a way of escaping responsibility. It is an opportunity to become more purposeful. Want to plan wisely? Here is the way: Keep Your Goals Clear  What is it you want out of this year? Clearness, mastery, score up, healing or a combination of these? Make a Ball Park Timeline Block out your year: 3 months studying, two months of interships, a month of travel or of relaxation, etc. This provides structure along with no pressure. Write about it  Keep the records by means of a journal, blog, or even a tracker. This can be used to reflect back, and it is also good in case of an interview or SOP in college. Keep Accountable An accountability partner- a mentor, parent or a coach even- someone must be there to remind and get you on track. Real Life Examples Aastha entered a gap year in order to prepare in NID, and she also had an internship experience with a designer in her hometown and created a gorgeous portfolio. She is currently doing well at design school. Pranav, while failing to achieve his target score in NEET in Class 12, quit a year, joined a coaching centre, performed yoga to improve his mental concentration skills and registered success the following year. Ritika just did not know what to do. She spent a year to learn about psychology and even digital marketing as well as volunteering in an NGO. Nowadays, she is not afraid to approach a degree in psychology without looking back. What happens when you do not take a gap year? That is absolutely okay as well. Gap years are not suitable to everyone. There are students who are perfectly prepared in their heads to college immediately and that is good. However, in case you are not sure, are tired, or feel forced into doing something that you yourself have not selected a path, a break in the process could save you years of confusion in the future. In conclusion, I would like to say that this article is not only based on the thoughts and ideas in my mind but also inspired by some of my fellow colleagues. When I started writing this article, I had not communicated to some of my colleagues about this initiative and yet they served as a reference point with regards to success factors upon contacting me to know what I was doing. Therefore it would be unfair to conclude that this was an idea that I had planned out myself since some colleagues had started to think the same way in terms of success factors in this initiative. Speed is idealised in our world, we are expected to finish quickly, graduate fast, earn fast. However, growth does not take place through speedy lanes. It occurs in reflection, exploration and courage. A gap year does not mean weak character it means grown up. It states, I would like to make my own choice- not necessarily take the road. Is gap year after Class 12 a waste? Absolutely not.  Leveraged correctly, it is the best investment you can have on yourself. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 22, 2025 #GapYearAfter12th #CareerChoices #StudentLifeIndia #LifeAfter12th #WiseDecisionOrNot #GapYearIndia #YouthDecisions #WhatNextAfter12th #IndianStudents #FuturePlanning #TeenTalk #MindfulChoices #CollegeOrGapYear #SelfDiscoveryJourney #CareerBreakOrWaste #StudyBreak2025 #TakeAGapYear #StudentMentalHealth #PurposefulPause

A stressed young professional surrounded by open tabs on a laptop, unread emails, sticky notes, and a constantly buzzing phone — all while the clock behind them shows late hours. Their eyes are tired, but the to-do list keeps growing. We are living in the age where being booked and busy has become the medal of honor. You poke up to someone and ask how he/she is doing and his/her most resounding answer would be:  Busy, yaar. Back-to-back meetings. Not a second to be had to breathe.” Along the way, somehow exhaustion became a status symbol. We have created a culture which glorifies in hustling and being over-scheduled and burnout but secretly shames calmness, restfulness and ease. But have you ever asked the question why? What is so terrible about decelerating? And why do we make our value based upon our full calendar? The New Rich is busy? In the current world, there exists the unsaid rule that when one is busy he or she must be important. When your DMs are blowing up, your Google Calendar is filled to the top, and your phone won’t stop vibrating anymore, then voila, you are doing good. Is it really success or merely a decent camouflage of coping mechanism? We have identified purpose with productivity. We have got mixed up between exhaustion and achievement. But being busy all the time is not necessarily good it can be just the avoiding. Denial of feelings, no interviews, provocative questions, and internal unease. The Fear of Stillness Come on, it is terrifying to be quiet. It compels you to deal with what you have been hiding beneath items on the to-do lists. There is no doubt that dread of facing yourself alone is real. Space makes way to things such as silence: Are you, by the way, contented with this life? But what happens when one realizes he/ she is not doing what he/ she wants? How can it be that despite all these achievements I am so much disconnected? When you are motionless, you are not able to conceal what you have done. This is the reason why we prefer chaos to calmness. Since the state of calm requires a confrontation - with ourselves. The Hustle Culture Trap The hustle culture informs us that we are supposed to do more. Wake up at five AM. Take 2 part time jobs. Side hustle. Be fit. Be social. Travel. Meditate. When they star in shows and have a relationship and an Instagram curated. It’s exhausting. However, when an individual tells you he is taking off a day just to rest, we secretly feel he is lazy or is behind in life. This is because it is something we were conditioned to believe as something of a luxury, not a necessity. However, the thing is: a constant busy-ness is not a flex. It is the trauma reaction. Psychology Behind the Idea of Busyness Perfection Most of us keep ourselves occupied so that we might not feel empty, as though worrying, or that we lack a self-worth.  When you have always depended on your performance to be a valuable person in school grades, accomplishments in your work setting and social power then slowing down makes you feel unworthy. You are not lazy. You are only afraid that when you desist, people will desist in loving. With this internal pressure, a cycle is established: Burnout → Feeling guilty to take rest → Overworking once again → Burnout. And the really ironic part of this, the more we boast that we are booked and busy, the less we move closer to finding peace. Do nothing and make it your Superpower Not moving does not imply laziness. It is the state of presence. It implies that it is sitting down with your thoughts without having to fix or run away.  It implies a redefinition of the term productivity as not only associated with production but also emotional well-being. Some of the creative ideas, subtle healing insights and strong life choices are best found in moments of non motion. It is that step without music. That 10 minutes of looking up in the sky. The weekend you did not plan anything. At stillness your nervous system stops, your mind starts thinking and your soul breathes. Sleep is Efficacious - Says Science Some research indicates that rest is not something good, but it is necessary. Neuroscience documents that deep rest has been beneficial in enhancing memory, concentration, and control of emotions. Research done on mental health indicates that excessive work leads to anxiety, sleeplessness and even depression. The arguments presented by creativity experts stress that the brain will not be able to solve complex problems when concentrating intensely. But even when we do slow down we still find ourselves over booking as if rest is something that we have to earn. You do not work a resting-place. You’re human. It is required in order to work. It is time to continue with the Normalization of the Comment: I am resting. Consider a scenario that: When a person says I did nothing, it is not judged, but admired. Sleeping is not a sign of weakness. Saying no to plans is not impolite it is self-care. Expressing the desire to change one thing and say “I should pace myself down” is regarded as a sign of strength and not embarrassment. We have to relearn that it is not productive to be inactive. We, as people, tend to find out who we are in that tranquility, we tend to identify who we are and not who we are pretending to be. Personal Check-In: Do You Rest or Do You Just Distract? A few moment self check: Do you or are you really resting or are you feeding time with distraction (scrolling, binge watching, false productivity)? What was the last time when you simply sat down without a screen? Do you not like to be alone, or do you even dare not to? These may turn out to be uncomfortable questions but they tell you so much about what we actually require. Holidays: You Are Still Worth Something, Though You Are Still Not moving forward does not imply that you are not progressing. It is equivalent to telling that you prefer rest over stress. It implies that you are courageous enough to listen to yourself, emotion, and mind. You should not based your worth in how busy you are. It is the kindness in you. Your joy. Your creativity. Your presence. None of which necessitate you to always be busy. And when you get that guilty feeling next time of resting, remember this: You have a right to stay put. You may take time off. You can simply exist. Since life is not a competition. It is a flow. And sometimes, the idea that you have to do is by far the best thing you can possibly do - slow down. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #BookedAndBusy #StillnessIsPower #HustleCulture #ProductivityPressure #SlowLivingMovement #RestIsProductive #BurnoutCulture #MentalHealthMatters #BalanceOverBurnout #YouDeserveToRest #WorkLifeBalance #PauseToBreathe #MindfulLiving #IntentionalLiving #BusyIsNotBetter #UnlearnTheHustle #EmbraceStillness

A thoughtful young woman staring at her reflection, symbolic of self-reflection and emotional healing, with red flag icons subtly in the background representing ignored personal issues. We are in a culture that is eager to criticize mistakes, but not quick enough to turn the eye inward. To say a person is a red flag, she is toxic, or they should get therapy is the new meme we share all the time, even when it is not in our best intentions. However, as we examine people through microscopes trying to find any possible defect in them, we do seldom ask ourselves: And are some red flags me? And now, it is the era of the relationship hyper-alertness- we are aware of all the symptoms of the narcissist, and yet we only begin to realize how much of an emotional infant we are. Red Flags a Plenty- But Then There is the Mirror? This is one of the hobbies we have developed in order to spot red flags. The step-by-step instructions on recognising manipulation, trauma bonding, gaslighting are the newest content, Instagram infographics, TikTok storytimes, Twitter threads are filled with them. On the one hand this awareness is very strong and sinister, on the other something has gone awry. The Problem? We use so much time to tell whom we should not date and forget to ask the question whether we are ready to date or not. We are more prone to define someone as an emotionally unavailable person, whereas we cannot admit that we are afraid of being vulnerable. It is simpler to write someone off as being the perp of a love bomber than to own up to the fact that we are "in the closet" addicts to the euphoria of being affirmed. We all have wounds, defense mechanisms and habits we have acquired through having experienced pain and yet we seldom take time to work on them. We are trying to find healthy partners and remain loaded with unhealthy habits. Psychology of Projection It is called projection in psychology — transferring the feelings and fears, or the qualities about someone onto another person. To illustrate the point, one who has commitment issues could be saying that his or her partner is always distant. Or a person who has some troubles with trusting other people will accuse them of being sneaky with no actual evidence. There are times when we may not be talking about a person when we overuse the word red flag. Here we talk about our triggers. Even normal behavior can feel dangerous to repair the triggers that are not healed. This is the reason why self-work is and should be so fundamental: it is not only to guard ourselves, but also not to turn into what we call the feared ones. Treatment Is Ugly Self-awareness is not all that glamorous as calling someone out. The process to healing is sloppy. It’s uncomfortable. It is coming clean with our egos, our defense mechanisms and our emotional laziness or fear of intimacy. It does not always mean writing with candles and meditating with crystals, sometimes healing takes the form of facing your guilt rather than pointing the finger to your ex. It appears like apology when you lose temper, communicating skills, or even confess you are an emotional wallflower. The type of work that changes who we are attracted to and how we love the most is not trending on social media, though. Therapy Does Not Only Help a Broken-Person Another enormous misunderstanding is that only the people with trauma, depression, or diagnosed disorders could receive therapy. As though it is only injury and these persons come to the gym. Therapy will enable you to know communication style, boundaries, attachment styles and values. It provides you with vocabulary to your emotions, educates you in conflict resolution, and retrains pernicious beliefs. It enables you to identify your red flags, not only other people. Think of a world where no one would judge what others experienced in a traumatic way without having evaluated their trauma. Dating Is Not Blame Game We all mix-up standards with control. I need the person without baggage, I only date people who are emotionally healed, I do not have time to deal with drama, etc. - that sounds firmly grounded, can be fear under a new name. We are demanding assurances. We desire ideal mates because we do not want to face the unpleasant aspect of connection. Yet the fact is: All people have baggage. The thing is - are they taking it with awareness? The same is with us. We should take responsibility in what we bring on the table in relationships. That involves owning up to being jealous, our communicational gaps, our emotional availability and our patterns. Love is never about searching a perfect person, but it is about being ready to evolve. Accountability Is the Actual Green Flag This is one of the shifts you can adopt: Instead of worrying of red flags, seek ones that are green in others and within you. Are they accountable? Are they in tune with emotions? Is it possible that they can control their emotions without striking back? Do you do so? Being environmentally friendly is not always hot. They are not exciting as the mess of abusive cycles. However, they result in peace, safety, and actual loving relationships; much better nutrients than short-term chemistry. The Place of Social Media The fact is, the social media gives a comfortable opportunity to compare others to villains and promote ourselves. We share memes that say I deserve better and do not change anything. We ridicule other people because they have attachment issues when what we are doing is secretively ghosting others. we read books by so-called experts on relationships that tell us how to get what we want out of other people unless we stop to think about what we are offering the other person. The fact is: the most viral telling is usually one-dimensional. The cure does not play in 15-second reel. Effective development involves depth, silence and honesty with oneself. Last Thoughts There is nothing bad about seeing red flags, on the contrary, it is healthy. However, it becomes a bad habit when we obsess about the flaws of other people in order to prevent any healing ourselves. Thus the next time you use the phrase red flag on someone, just ask yourself; is it something I am working on regarding becoming a green flag to someone? After all, relationships do not consist of some kind of victory or diagnostic. They are all about connecting. And interconnection starts with self-cognition. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #RedFlags #SelfAwareness #WorkOnYourself #ToxicTraits #HealingJourney #MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalMaturity #GrowthMindset #FixYourselfFirst #AccountabilityOverAesthetics #OnlineTherapy #SelfImprovement #RelationshipTalk #EmotionalIntelligence #InnerWork

Multiple people sitting together, each with their eyes glued to their phones, their hands holding devices — highlighting digital overload and disconnection in the age of constant screen time. It seemed like an additional dumb buzzword at first a Digital Detox. An Instagram break. Requests for no-phone day. An adorable hashtag of how humans are yogailing in the mountains. However, move on in time to 2025, and one thing is obvious, digital detoxing is no longer a fad. It is becoming a question of mental, emotional even physical survival. When every single person is communicating 24 hours, a day, when the difference between scrolling and inhaling is inconsequential, and our (fragile) self-esteem depends on our (ever precarious) online presence, not being online is not a privilege. It is a bailout process to your mind. So shall we dive into the details of why we should undo the digital world now, more than ever before, what happens when we are not doing it, and how you can get back your serenity without signing off on technology altogether. We Are Addicted And We Do Know It An average citizen spends 7-9 hours daily on the screens. We spend more time than we sleep. We spend more time communicating with people we love than with those we talk to. We dwell longer with these than with our own thoughts. We are attached to mobile phones in the bathrooms, whilst taking a stroll, at bedtime, even in a conversation. So what do we receive? Anxiety Insomnia Comparison fatigue Burnout Reduced span of attention Sensing being wired and yet emotionally detached The fact is: our minds and bodies have not been designed to withstand this amount of continuous stimulations. Why is this a Mental Health Crisis ? An overload in the use of digital can impact more than eyesight. It reconfigures the brain. Excessive screen time has been shown to: Reduction of grey matter (which encapsulates empathy, memory, and decision) Amplify cortisol (your stress hormone) Reduce your concentration power Disrupt melatonin (results in poor sleep) Cause addictive tendencies and dopamine disorders Very in simple words: your mind becomes tired, impatient and unconnected to the reality. And the frightening bit? It is occurring sonorously it is occurring on scrolling. Emotional Overload is Digital Overload It is not only the screen. It is sentimental baggage of what we ingest. Wartime news 24/ 7 The ideal lives of the influencers The need to post on Instagram, Instagramming, and being in the spotlight Texts, films, clips, pandemonium You are still charging up with energy, emotion, expectation even when you are doing nothing on the phone. This is the reason why after an hour of scrolling, we do not feel relax but rather we feel exhausted. You had slept not. You have just changed screens. Detoxing is Not Just Pulling Plug out, It is Reconnecting By digital detox, people imagine severing with the world. However, it is on the contrary. It’s About: Get back in touch with your thinking. To become conscious of your body again Healing with nature Returning to authentic happiness - not manufactured happiness Connecting with presence It is about taking into consideration that you were something prior to the algorithm. Yet no filter was needed to your peace. Symptoms That You Need to Be Digital Detoxed There is no reason to reach the bottom. Yet, should you connect to any of those, you need to slow down: As soon as you wake up, you turn to your phone to check it out You go through these pages blindly and are even worse when you do so You are scared to miss out on posting or being tardy on responses You compare your life with strangers on line You are unable to concentrate on a book, a talk, silence The degree of your activity in the digital way determines your self-worth They are the indicators of your nervous system not to lose yourself in others, but to be connected with yourself. It was found out what happens when you detox (even after 24 hours). Individuals that even experience a brief digital vacation record: Better sleep Reduced anxiety Increased focus of mind Increased creativity Greater relating to the environment The sensation of lightness and freedom It is like closing every one of the browser tabs in your head. At last you may be able to think. Feel. Be. This is how to get a realistic digital detox (without giving up on life) You are not forced to disappear in the internet. All you have to do is to establish deliberate limits. Start here: 1. Phone-Free Mornings When you just wake up, do not go to your phone within a half-hour to an hour. Journal, stretch, listen to music, drink tea or, or stay quiet with that time. 2. Unfollow to Breath Tidy up your digital room just as your room. Unfollow/mute what causes you to feel less than, anxious or overstimulated. 3. Tech-Free Zones Designate one of the places in your house as a screen-free zone at least: your bed, kitchen, or balcony. Make it a restoring place Of your soul. 4. one Hour a-Day--Alone Designate one hour each day free of technology. Stay in touch with nature. Walk. Cook. Paint. Meditate. Do nothing. Observe how the contents of your mind will begin to become smoother, clearer and more your own. 5. Slow Sundays or Low- D DAYS Fast content should be restricted once a week. No reels. No news. No scrolling. Nothing but books and music and nature and rest. The app won t get you refreshed. 6. And Make People Wait You are not required to be around 24 hours a day. Be slower in your reactions. Take back your time. You phone is not a leash, it is a tool. The FOMO- The Lie Following one of the reasons why we are glued to our screens is called FOMO — fear of missing out. However, the real fact of the matter is: The actual missing out part is? Yourself. Your peace. Your now. Mental health is the most important reel. In Conclusion Digital detox does not mean anti-technology. It is the matter of being pro-you. It is about the minds over metrics. Your priority on followers. Your calm about dings. You need not to be off-grid. All you need is get back into yourself. The amount of time necessary is as little as 30 minutes a day. Your nervous system will reward you. Emotions will be softened. Your sleep will become even. You will feel that you are alive once again. Since we live in a world, which never logs off, a log out comes as a courage. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #DigitalDetox #MentalHealthMatters #SlowLiving #MindfulLiving #DigitalWellbeing #UnplugToReconnect #TechLifeBalance #DetoxYourMind #OfflineIsTheNewLuxury #IntentionalLiving #SelfCareRoutine #BreakFromScreen #DigitalMinimalism

A man sitting at his office desk with a pen in his mouth, staring blankly at his screen, surrounded by paperwork and digital distractions—representing an overstimulated brain and inability to focus. You open Instagram to look at one thing, and don t get out in 40 minutes because of a rabbit hole with a video about baking cookies by a cat? Or take a seat to do your job and you refresh your inbox five times in five minutes? You are not the only one. We live in 2025 where our brains are more stimulated, distracted and more tired than ever before. We read more information in one day than a hundred years ago people read in a year. The result? Brain fog. Burnout. And the frightening lack of focus to simply sit and concentrate. So, what exactly is going on in our heads, why attention and concentration have become luxury goods and how we can begin to reset our overclocked brain before the old wiring is irreversibly damaged. So What Is Mental Overstimulation? Due to the continuous influx of notifications, messages, news, videos, emails, music, noise, and visuals bombarding your brain, a scenario known as overstimulation occurs when you rarely get the opportunity to restoratively process the information. Imagine that your brain is a browser. Every new distraction creates a new tab. After some time, everything starts to get slow, crashes, or becomes frozen. The symptoms of overstimulation are the following: Being unable to concentrate even in a matter of a few minutes Being exhausted, mentally, despite having slept the whole night long Unease with silence or stillness Hopping between Activities and not completing one thing Constant desire to get stimulated (scrolling, phone checking, etc.) It is certainly not laziness. It’s neuro-fatigue. And we all are up to the middles of it. Our Brains Are Being Rewired by The Digital World The fact is that our devices are not simply tools any more. They have turned into another appendage of our nervous system. Usually, an average individual looks at his or her phone more than 100 times daily. Throw in reels, TikToks, WhatsApp pings, Netflix, emails, and the endless feed, and it is not a downright wonder that our concentration looks in record time. Research has indicated that the attention span of humans has decreased by 33 percent in 2000 (12 seconds) to a mere 8 seconds now that is even lower than that of a gold fish. Apps are programmed to take over your dopamine system - that is the brain chemical that associates with pleasure and reward. Each like, ping, or reel counts as a mini dose of dopamine. In the long run, your brain develops an addiction to continuous stimulation and can no longer focus on anything which fails to give an immediate payoff (like reading, studying, or deep work). The Myth of Multitasking This is the cold harsh reality: Multitasking is a myth. When you jump between things very fast such as responding to DMs, being half on a meeting, and reading an article, you cannot do everything simultaneously. It is switching of tasks, and every switch takes mental juice. Studies indicate that Multitasking decreases productivity by a maximum of 40 percent and even temporarily lower their IQ. Concisely, overloaded minds do not get distracted but rather stupider and emptier. The Problem with Gen Z & Millennial Aspects Technology has made it so that younger generations have instant access to information and entertainment throughout their lives. That is what they have always known. It is also painful to remain silent. It is intolerable when we are bored. However this hyper-connectivity has its price: More anxiety and FOMO Being restless even at leisure time Lack of ability to stay through long form content Reliance on background noise or multi-tasking Frequently low grade sense of being in arrears or overwhelmed This brain was not conditioned to take on too much information. And it is slowly crashing. So… What are the solutions? The answer does not lie in scrapping all the applications and going to the Himalayas. It is about retraining your brain in small, but powerful ways that creates space, stillness and focus. Here’s how: 1. Begin with Micro Detoxes You do not have to get a complete digital detox - begin with minor things: One-hour screen-free per day (it is better in the morning or night) In the first half an hour after rising, no-scroll mornings Dopamine-free weekends (no reels, no binges - just the real life) The first thing your brain will fight is the withdrawal. Push through. 2. Guard Your Attention as Fat as You Can This is because it is. The new currency is attention - and every one wants yours. Set boundaries: Apply focus applications such as Forest or Freedom Silent non-urgent messages Have days where there is no disturbance in a day (do not disturb hours) Time block (25-45minutes concentration and 5-10minutes break) 3. Get the Habit of Doing Just One Thing Try monotasking. When you are hungry, then eat. Read only when you can read. Rewire your brain to look into satisfaction, not pace. It is easy things that are most comforting: folding your laundry, brushing your hair, doing them with presence. 4. Reintroduce Boredom Indeed boredom is healthy. It happens to be the way the brain gets refreshed, restored and revitalized with creativity. Take a walk without listening to the music. Take a 10-minute silence seat. Daydream. Free your thoughts. Then to your surprise, several new ideas and feelings come up. 5. Feed Your Brain As You Do Your Body Physical basics: Do not underestimate: Hydrate Get 79 hours of good sleep Diet sugar and caffeine Consume foods such as nuts, berries and omega-3s that are foods that love the brain Deep breathe (yes, seriously) Clear thinking is not only a state of mind. It’s biology. 6. Learn How to Rest It is not a rest to lie in the bed with your phone. It is all about recuperation of nerve systems. Try : Meditation Breathwork Journaling Imaginative play: painting, singing, dancing Time in nature (no screens) Your brain must not have demand-filled input. That is its curative process. In Conclusion We are in a noisy world. Our minds which were built to work on simple tasks, focus on one mission each time, are now stressed out, too little night sleep and overworked. Nevertheless, you do not need to remain in this rut. You have the option of resetting. In order to have your attention back. To have an image of what it is like to be all the way here. You are not mentally messed up. It is worn out. And it is waiting to seize you: to squeeze you out of the turmoil. When in the silence, your clearness comes back. And your authority withal. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #OverstimulatedMind #DigitalDetox #BrainReset #FocusFatigue #MentalClarity #TooMuchScreenTime #AttentionSpanCrisis #SlowDownToFocus #MindfulLiving #NeuroWellness #ReclaimYourFocus #ModernBurnout #MentalOverload #ResetYourBrain #CognitiveClarity

A confident woman working from a cozy home setup, surrounded by natural light, plants, and a laptop, symbolizing freedom, femininity, and freelancing over a traditional office job. The workplace of former times was constructed on the nurturing energy of the male cattle of AGG- structure, logic, deadlines and discipline. Although that is helpful, it might not leave much space to emotions, cycles or creativity. There is also a growing tendency of more women. Temporary contract on a freelance basis as opposed to ones working on fixed shifts Lazing mornings instead of hectic commutes. There is a silent revolution taking place and it is not about protesting or trending on a hash tag but rather leaving big companies in the form of an email of resignation, start-up enterprises, or side hustles on the side that take center stage. All over India and the world, increasingly more women are quitting their 9-5 jobs that they are used to. Not that they are unable to keep with the times, but that they are no longer interested in doing so. They are abandoning strict timetables, burn out, office politics, and stagnated cultures of work, to something softer, more open, and closer to their value sets. What then is going on? Well, it is time to get into the nitty-gritty of why increasing numbers of women are leaving the corporate world behind, and why it all partners to a broader rearrangement in terms of identity, purpose, and personal authority. The Post Pandemic wake-down call With the arrival of COVID-19, the whole world had to become slower. To a great number of women, that gap of time brought clearness. They began to pose the questions they had disregarded during years: Why do I get to work 10 hours every day and still feel unsatisfied? Why do I feel guilty of taking breaks when I am tired? Why is work no longer a two-way mirror about me? It is the first time in many years that hordes of women were at home- cooking stuff slowly, getting back in touch with their children, working in their pyjamas, rediscovering hobbies, and talking to themselves. The fantasy in due course of reaching the top of the corporate ladder started to break. The Silent Burnout They have had a long history of women being burned out. But in many cases, it was put under, or rather diagnosed with terms such as, mood swings, low productivity or worse still emotional instability. The reality? Women were working in different roles --- employee, daughter, wife, a caregiver and they did not even find support or appreciation. Toss in unrealistic job expectations, gender discrimination and emotional work, and burnout is bound to occur. Quitting the 9-5 regime was not only a change of employment. To most of them it was self-preservation. The Feminine Reclamation Flow Over Force Another significant cause of this change is energetic one, the emergence of feminine energy. Feminine energy in spiritual and psychological space is about being soft and passive as nothing. It is gentleness, imagination, the senses, togetherness and relaxation. Cause-oriented initiatives, instead of money-oriented functions Emotional poise against corporate designation It is not laziness. This is wilful conformity. Money and Independence- On Their Own Conditions Women are not leaving in order to just chill out as it is generally believed. They’re building. They're creating. Etsy stores, wellness coaching, digital products and content creation, are some of the ways that women can capitalize on their talent. Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and Upwork are some of the platforms that have been used as launchpads of freedom. And what is even better? They are doing them their ways. No more Leaves begging. There will be no mansplaining at the meetings anymore. No more demonstrating a sense of value in awkward environments. Liberation of money is not affiliated by a walled office anymore. Same mental space, Safety, and Emotional space Mental health is another massive factor that has led to 9 to 5 exodus. There were toxic bosses, unrealistic expectations, and office politics, but there was no way to say anything. And at most of the Indian workplaces women too have to face: Microaggressions Harassment Any person being denied the right to engage in leadership functions Looking and being labeled too emotional or too ambitious Quitting that space was a decision that represented peace versus pressure to many women. Doing jobs at home or freelancing or being able to start their own brand gave them emotional space that they did not have. Guilt Free Motherhood Let us do it real. Mothers were not meant to have majority of the corporate jobs. Pregnancy and child-bearing, post child-bearing and parenting reasons- all these are stages when women feel they are being left behind or punished to be human beings. Such ability to make your own schedule, work at home and take time off as necessitated by the circumstances is not a luxury anymore, it is a necessity of thousands of women who are striving to be present mothers and professionals. Freelancing and owning businesses give them the time to raise the children without getting choked with guilt. Passion, Purpose and Personal Branding Purpose is one of the strong impetuses behind this movement. Most women are not happy with mere earning nowadays. They are eager to influence, inspire, create. Although a corporate report might be satisfying, nothing beats creating a community, sharing or teaching an acquired skill or making something important available in the internet. The social media provided women with a platform. Through branding, they had their voice. And content provided them with attachment to the world that 9-5 work usually never brought. Whether it is the fashion influencers of Siliguri, or the wellness bloggers of Delhi - the women are clawing their way out of the resume-oriented world of success. Is the 9-5-Dead to Women? Not entirely. Other women really do like the order, working with a team, the stability of money in a corporation and that is O.K. too. Nonetheless, the notable difference here is that women are no longer compromising. They are no longer putting up with work places that do not honor them, value systems that embarrass their feelings, and roles that are sources of put out their light. It has addressed the choice of distance position, a small business, or a full-time content-maker-the choice is now available. This alone is strong. In Conclusion This is not merely the issue of jobs. It is a cultural restart. Regarding how women can prefer freedom over fear, flexibility over force and peace over pressure. And even should that be the case that you are a person reading this and you are at your desk and you have a question of whether I have found a better life, or no, you are not alone. Work in the future is not merely digital. It is highly sentimental, deliberate and even feminine. Women are no longer waiting to be given a say. They are making the life they had a dream of so many years ago, and they are doing it quietly, prettily, and the way it suits them. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 16, 2025 #WomenAtWork #9to5NoMore #FemininityAndFreedom #FreelanceLife #WomenWhoLead #WorkLifeBalance #ModernWoman #QuitThe9to5 #EmpoweredWomen #WomenInBusiness #SoftLiving #DigitalNomadGirls #RemoteWorkRevolution #WomenEntrepreneurs #FeminineEnergyAtWork

A girl walking confidently and enjoying her day, like she’s the main character. You’ve seen it all over social media — people calling themselves the “main character” of their life. There’s dramatic background music, slow-motion coffee pours, twirling in the street, and captions like “ Romanticizing my life, one moment at a time .” House belonged to the world of Main Character Syndrome, which has been going gangbusters on TikTok, Instagram, and so on. It’s empowering. It’s fun. But it is also eyebrow raising. What is Main Character Syndrome then? Is this a good self-love practice or is this a contemporary coping skill that covers up the predators, feeling of loneliness or lack of emotional attachment? It is time to look at both sides of the coin. What is the Origin of It? The term Main Character Syndrome is not an official diagnosis or even a medical term. It is internet-bred a term used to explain the sensation of seeing your life as a film and you as the lead character. Consider this: in any movie, there is a character arc, turns of events and scenes of conversion. This way of thinking gained particular popularity during the pandemic when people found themselves at home and resorted to the content creation process in order to find some meaning in their daily activities. All of a sudden, folding laundry, making coffee or going out in the rain become cinematic, why not make your life romantic as well? What It May Appear Like Online The trend on TikTok and Instagram Reels is as follows: Montages of every-day life as esthetics Examples of voiceovers such as POV: You are the main character Dramatic messages concerning personal development, break-up, or new life Self shoot portraits using film camera filters Movie-like soundtracks It is artistic, emotional and somewhere habit forming to look at. However, behind the facades and tunes there is something going on. The Good Side: Self-Awareness/ Empowerment So, to begin on the positive side: Empowerment When one has been invisible, voiceless, or in the background of his or her own life, Main Character Syndrome can be a form of empowerment. This is why it is striking: It teaches you to cherish your life experience It assists you to recontextualize everyday experiences as significant It tries to release you to take care of yourself first. It fosters intellectual self assurance and expression of emotions To individuals who are already overcoming low self-esteem or emotional abandonment, claiming your quote unquote main character energy may seem like redefining yourself. Why, after all, waste time in failing to romanticize your life, when somebody must do it! However The Other Side Is: Escapism & Self-Delusion It is not all healthy when it comes to Main Character Syndrome. It has a powerful potential: it can become empowering; however, it can also turn into the escape in emotions as well, so it can be emotional escapism: this can happen especially when you live your life only (or mostly) to share about it on camera, instead of living your life and capturing it on camera in a clean way. These are a few red flags: You also always need to be in some mode of performing on social media By romanticising you do not face real problems You put beauty before truthfulness When you are comparing your movie to the “highlights reel” owned by another person, then you are not alone. You take other humans as a backdrop in your story Such thoughts have the potential of gradually making you detached with reality. When it all comes down to being noticed, valued, or even admired; you might begin to lose contact with the dirty, gritty, unedited side of life, the side that causes growth. Does It Mean a Coping Mechanism? Sometimes, yes. Main Character Syndrome may be a form of emotional pain avoidance. In the moments when your life seems too much, it becomes easier to fly through the scenes pretending a film is going on and the whole world including the broken heart follows the most wonderful plot. Rather than dealing with grief or anxiety or a sense of disappointment, you say “This is just the sad montage before my glow-up.” And although such an attitude can be comforting, it might postpone the process of actual healing. The Times When Main Character Syndrome Goes Wrong When it beginnings to be an issue: You will not be able to live without it being aesthetic-looking To continue pretending and sustaining the image of the main character, you emotionally distance yourself to maintain a job position. You pass by relationships or duties that do not seem to suit your ideal script You also fantasize toxic behavior in the name of growth When you are always curating your life rather than living it, then you are not strong, and then that is not empowerment, that is, avoidance. Soo What is the healthy balance? Main Character Syndrome does not have to be good or bad. It is all intentional, just like most processes online. The following is how to keep it realistic: Do not live in your fantasy, romanticize your reality. You can enjoy your own life, with a messy kitchen, the rainy day, and a dinner alone. Be present. It is not enough to capture something, you just have to feel it. Make sure your intentions are right. Do you do this to bring joy to the world or to get validation? Include others. You are not the only character who has a story. Never make other people turn into accessories in your life. Allow imperfection. The protagonists weep, broke down, and lost their direction. So you do not have to be flawless to be powerful. The reason This Trend Resonated (At least among Gen Z) Gen Z has been brought up on the Internet. As anxiety rates, turned up, fears of climate change, and fear of failing to succeed at young age factors in, it makes sense that an artistic outlook on life is a form of gaining control. So is the Main Character Syndrome a fight against invisibility. When everyone in the world is speaking, it is high time to finally occupy the space, as the main character, without any apologies or hesitation. And the thing is, on some occasions, dancing in your room with the headphones on actually does feel like it would look like a movie. Why not have that fun? In Conclusion Main Character Syndrome is a show and reflection. It is an importance of being noticed, be appreciated and be remembered but it may also act as a shield that we make not to confront the reality of the ugly things that happen in life. When applied with care, it is a stunning suggestion to romanticize the present, accept our development, and show up wholeheartedly to ourselves. However, when it becomes emotional avoidance or self-performance, perhaps it is time to get out of the microscope and see the truth. You are the protagonist, but remember: the plot in real life has loopholes, twists and uncensored scenes. And that is exactly what is so beautiful of them. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #MainCharacterSyndrome #Confidence #MentalHealth #SelfLove #SocialMediaTrend #MainCharacter #PersonalGrowth

"A woman sitting peacefully by the beach, looking at the waves." Have you been seeing the term soft living everywhere in your Instagram Reels or Tik Tok? You are not the only one. The concept of soft living is the hottest trend when it comes to morning routines to slowly sipping some chai on a balcony, and Gen Z, and millennials are keen on the idea. Now what is soft living? Is it merely another fashion of beauty or is there an underline issue influencing this cultural movement? Spoiler warning: it is far more than a nice Pinterest board. Soft living is a protest against burnout, hustle culture, and the harmful culture of celebration of nothingness that is busy. So, what does this whole lifestyle trend even consist of, why has it recently skyrocketed, and why this could precisely be what your soul has been missing? What then is soft living? Soft living can only be described as a conscious decision to live an easy, peaceful and gentle life. It is not an alarm clock that turns on at full blast, a sluggish breakfast instead of a rushing coffee or refusing to be in a rush on the weekends and preferring to rest or simply to think. It does not mean being lazy. It represents congruence. Living soft is not a way of shirking duties it is simply a method of doing the duties as an act of quietness and loving maintenance rather than hue and cry. And as the global population is obsessed with the culture of hard work, living on the edge, and grinding until you make it, in a world that presents a skewed understanding of the concept of already being good enough, soft living is the voice that says what if you had already been enough? The Emergence of the soft-girl look : The soft-girl look Before the soft-girl look What soft living looked like was provided by social media of perfect pink clothing, diaries, and skincare, warm niches, and lattes. There was the phenomenon of the so-called soft girl, which blew up, especially on Tik Tok, where makers capture the most mundane experiences - combing hair in the sun, preparing new flowers, or simply enjoying calm music during laundering. But this is just superficial. The more innermost motion is emotional. The imagery is merely the gateway into a state of mind, which puts a strong emphasis on emotional safety, the management of the nervous system as well as inner peace. What Stoked This Change? To tell the truth, we are all tired. Yet today people are becoming increasingly burned out after years of intense school, employment, pandemic stress, one-job to eight-job hustle, and being always on and extraordinarily wired electronic stimulation. Burnout is not an unfamiliar medical phenomenon anymore; burnout is the state of lifestyle. It has been telling us, year in year out that success comes at the price of our sleep, sanity and softness. So what good is success when we can not even feel it? In comes: soft living. A silent act of resistance of burnout. Going back to the self. It Is Not a Trend Alone But It is a Reaction to Survival When you keep going when you are tired, when you deny yourself feelings, when you seek affirmation through achievement of goals, your body retaliates. Anxiety. Overthinking. Health issues. Emotional detachment. Your natural remedy is soft living of your body and mind. It’s about: Guilt-free prioritisation of sleep Doing one non-hurried task instead of five hectic ones The release of such relationships Slow eating of real food Refusing to say yes as much Making space of joy All of these are not luxuries. All these are things we have been taught to view as unproductive since capitalism dictated the same to us. Soft Living Universal vs Laziness There is a misconception that soft living is synonymous to doing nothing. Softness does not imply passivity, though. It refers to presence. It is being conscious, deliberate and heart aware. It is still effective but not with force but with flow. A cushy existence does not mean that you wake up early every morning to do one million errands. Just perhaps to drink tea with thyself. It might also involve writing down your objectives but without negativity should you fail in achieving them. It may be ambition,--not discipline in disguise of anxiety. You May Need It Now Why? In the event that any of them ring a bell then soft living may be beckoning you: You are stressed even during the weekends You are continually complaining that you feel so tired yet you do not know why When you are resting you feel guilty You are caught into a cycle of burnout and a feeling of numbness You always compare your speed with the other people on the internet Soft living is not a getaway. It is a coming back. It was a coming home to yours, rhythms and to what you really wanted. It is all about repairing your nervous system and getting to select a life, which does not need treatment. Understanding Being Nice - or, How to Start Living Softly (Without Changing Your Whole Life) You do not have to relocate to the hills or to resign to become soft. Try this: Morning practice: even 10 min of silence, spine stretch, or breathing exercises Digital detox: an hour every day free of screens Slow food: No eating on the run Gentle affirmations: Rid yourself of life-shaming thoughts by opening up to its positive counterparts Do a muzzle on the chatter: Drop the noise of insane posts, trap-free comparison: Micro-moments are how soft living is constructed and not massive changes in lifestyles. Emotional Power of the Soft Living This trend is emotional in nature. It tells me that I can take it easy. I have a right to be emotional. I have the liberty to pick peace. And in a world, which is constantly requiring your attention, your energy, performance, that is a revolutionary act of self love. In Conclusion Soft living does not mean that you are weak. It is all about being in rhythm. It is a revolution inside and dressed as peace. It is understanding that peace is stronger than pressure. And it is the permission to spend the life the way you want it - soft, graceful, and with a real presence. For sometimes, it is by doing a little less, that you get rid of a lot. 📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 18, 2025 #SoftLiving #SoftLifeMovement #MentalWellness #BurnoutRecovery #SlowLiving #LifeWithoutHustle #IntentionalLiving #SelfCareFirst #GentleLifestyle #RestIsProductive #EmotionalWellbeing #SoftLifeIndia #DigitalDetox #MindfulLiving #HealingEra #FeminineEnergy #QuietLuxuryLifestyle #AntiHustleCulture #PeaceOverPressure #WorkLifeBalance