Sanity on a Tightrope: Balancing Life Without Falling Into the Abyss
On my 5th article on having energy Im talking about mental health.
Picture this: You’re juggling work, family, friendships, self-care, and that one plant you swore you wouldn’t kill this time. Meanwhile, the universe is throwing in surprise plot twists—like a global pandemic, an unexpected bill, or your kid announcing they need a 3D model of the solar system by tomorrow morning.
Mental health? Oh, she’s out there somewhere, sipping tea and watching the chaos like a reality show.
Why Mental Health Matters More Than That Third Cup of Coffee
We all know balance is key to a happy life. But when was the last time you actually felt balanced? If your answer is "Tuesday, for 15 minutes," congratulations, you’re doing better than most of us. Mental health is the foundation of this balancing act, and neglecting it is like ignoring a wobbly table leg—things will crash, usually at the worst time. Surely you know of that time when you screamed at your loved one in public!!
The Myth of “Having It All”
Raise your hand if you've ever felt personally victimized by the phrase "work-life balance." Seriously, why do we treat "work" as something separate from "life"? Isn’t it just another thing we do, like eating, traveling, or pretending to listen during Zoom meetings?
Society tells us we should excel at everything while also doing yoga, drinking green smoothies, and journaling our gratitude. Spoiler alert: No one is doing all of this. Or if they are, they probably have an army of assistants (or a deal with the devil).
Instead of trying to "have it all," maybe it's time to redefine "having enough." Enough rest, enough joy, enough quiet moments to hear yourself think.
Balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about making sure your emotional cup isn’t running on empty.
Practical Ways to Stay Sane (or at Least, Saner Than My Wi-Fi Connection)
1. Embrace the Art of Saying No
There’s a reason "NO" is a complete sentence. If your calendar looks like a game of Tetris on expert mode, it’s time to reclaim your sanity. You don’t have to bake 200 cupcakes for the school fundraiser just because you made eye contact with the PTA president. (I have failed at this reasoning with my wife)
Case in Point:
I was a fresh CA with dreams of studying an MBA in the US. To fund this, I needed a job that paid in a stronger currency. Enter: a lucrative gig in the Middle East. Perfect, right? Except they wanted me to start three days before Deepavali.
Now, my parents lived in a remote part of Telangana, and in the '90s, we didn’t have a phone at home. So I took a bus, traveled an hour to find a phone, and called the company.
The person on the other end enthusiastically welcomed me aboard. I had a golden opportunity to request a week's delay. But did I? Nope. Instead, I mumbled a "thank you" and hung up.
Fast forward: I landed in Abu Dhabi, missing Deepavali with family… only to learn that the client wasn’t even ready for two weeks. TWO WEEKS.
Moral of the story? Just ask. Or at least, try.
2. Sleep Like Your Sanity Depends on It (Because It Does)
Sleep deprivation turns even the nicest people into cranky goblins. Aim for at least seven hours, and if that sounds impossible, remember that doom-scrolling at midnight is not "self-care." It’s just you sabotaging tomorrow’s happiness.
My previous article was on just this topic…go read it if you haven’t.
Sleep: The Lazy Superpower You Didn't Know You Had
You know what’s underrated? Sleep. You know what’s also free? Sleep. You know what we all love but refuse to get enough of? Yep—sleep. You know what has survived millions of years of evolution - sleep!!
3. Move Your Body, Even If It’s Just a Dramatic Eye Roll
Exercise is like a free therapy session—except instead of complaining about life, you just sweat and hope for the best. Even a 10-minute walk counts. Bonus points if you resist the urge to text “I hate exercise” while doing it. And I wrote about this as well…
The "Lazy Person's Guide" to Exercise
Let's be real. We all know exercise is good for us, but when the alarm goes off at 6 AM (or worse, earlier 😱), and your blanket feels like a warm hug from the universe, suddenly all that "health talk" doesn’t seem so convincing.
4. Find Your Emotional Outlet (That Doesn’t Involve Passive-Aggressive Social Media Posts)
Some people journal, some paint, and others scream into a pillow. Do what works for you. Just don’t bottle it up, unless you want to explode the next time someone chews too loudly.
I love playing sports where i can hit a ball - yes cricket, then badminton, squash and now golf. It is my therapy…I’m out in the open letting my emotions out!!
5. Breathe - are you really doing this right??
I used to have anger issues. Not just mild irritation—full-on Durvasa-mode anger (people to represent emotions - clever huh). Bridges? Burnt. Relationships? Strained. Then I discovered……breathing.
We all breathe. Obviously. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. But are you breathing right?
I thought it was nonsense too. Until one day, I attended an Art of Living course.
I was in between roles (moving from Moscow to Amsterdam) and my wife and I were waiting for our visas to come; what better time to chill and be pampered by my mom!! She suggested we take the Art of Living Course. Cheap, short, why not?
They taught us Sudarshan Kriya—a breathing technique that, frankly, sounded like a cult initiation. Close your eyes. Focus. Repeat the mantra.
Then… something happened. Tears started flowing. Not crying—just… release. When I opened my eyes, I felt lighter than a feather floating in the evening breeze.….never felt that light!!
Maan what was this feeling? No one teaches us to breathe…
Back Pain? Gone. Anger? Controlled. Stomach Issues? Fixed
Breathing correctly CHANGED my life!!
If you are curious, then I highly recommend reading Breath by James Nestor, a book that I have gifted many times as well.
6. Surround Yourself with Good Energy (A.K.A. People Who Don’t Drain Your Soul)
You know those people who leave you feeling like you ran a marathon uphill! Minimize your time with them. Seek out friends who uplift you, make you laugh, and won’t judge you for eating cereal or even milk with rice for dinner (yes I do have a friend who does that).
We all know that one person who calls only when they need something but never picks up when you do. Yeah, that person. I’ve always been careful about who I allow into my circle.
Conclusion: The Real Secret to Balance
Here’s the thing: No one truly has life figured out.
Some days you’ll be on top of the world; other days, you’ll cry over a missing sock. (Don’t judge—sometimes it’s the last straw.)
The goal isn’t to eliminate stress—it’s to manage it in a way that doesn’t involve flipping tables. So go ahead, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you’re doing your best. And if all else fails, take a nap. It’s science.
After 5 articles each on health and wealth, next week, I try and connect these 2.
Till then stay curious. And Breathe!