Looking at my cluttered space, I realised that this is making even the interactions I have in these spaces quite unintentional and floaty.

For context, I come from a big Indian family (the classic one) and coexisting in such a space really turns difficult when everybody has a different way to use the said space.

Having such a big family can be difficult and noisy (not just literally, but also in the way of life). This noisiness exhausts me. It feels like mental clutter even if physically everything is clean.

This is why I decided to form some intentional spaces around the house: “nooks”, of sorts, where most often my family and other visitors would gather, and the idea was to make these spaces deeply rooted in my traditions as well as intentional where people had reasons to stay off their phones, not switch on the TV, and have actual conversations. It took a while, but after multiple attempts, here are the most ideal nooks you’d need in your desi household to be more intentional, according to me.

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1. Sitting Area

The vibe: Full of people, inviting, conversations, playing games, cushions, coffee table books, large rug, centerpieces, games, etc.

This nook is going to be the main zone people engage within, and guests come to, so this is a shared space; thus the intention here is to have icebreakers, engagement pieces, and form a conversation pit.

Step 1:

Creating the base- since we are going a bit desi-core in this, we start with a mat. You would have chattai at your house; if not, those ethnic blankets or sheets work perfectly as well. Since India is too hot for rugs, I would not suggest using them, but if you already have any, that works as well. Kind of like these:

It’s a great way to bring a slight pop of colour and contrast into a space which would generally be brown or white in most houses. It’s also deeply seated in indian roots and our childhood; I can keenly remember opening up a chattai in summer and having the deepest afternoon nap on it.

Step 2:

Setting the centre- The next step is to get a nice teapoy, preferably made out of bamboo, rattan, or wood- anything that looks heritage enough and fits in your budget. This will be the centrepiece in your living room; the idea is to pick something functional but aesthetic, like:

I would recommend shelling out the big bucks here more than anything else in this zone because it’s the centre of attention. For the same reason, this makes for a perfect heritage element where you can add traditional tiles, wood-working styles, play around with shapes and forms, and essentially add a tinge of extravaganza to an otherwise simpler space.

Now, once you have the centre and the floor done, it’s time to add some movement and shape to your space.

Step 3:

Building the environment- for lighting, I’d recommend soft natural lighting, and if you are on the market for one, then this and this fan are exactly the vibe you want for such an area.

Although these days everyone loves dim lighting, I personally love a bright and well-lit place, just sitting and conversing. The environment of a space is when you get into the details of it, using small nooks and crannies to demonstrate the intentions of the space. When your fans and lights are unique functional pieces, they automatically attract an audience in that area.

Step 4:

Making the seating- surrounding the centre table on top of the mats, you can have sitting cushions covered in quite fun prints and colors, as sitting on the floor was something we all grew up with. Since it might create a bit of a hurdle for those who can’t always sit on the floor, also try and have some rattan chairs or benches surrounding this area. Here are some inspos if you are starting from scratch:

This is the perfect space to add some dynamism to your living room; maybe add a swing, differently shaped cushions, some mattresses, maybe some chairs or different seating sofas. A great inspiration for this is Monica’s Apartment from FRIENDS:

The one with the ottoman, a large reclining chair, a cushy grandma chair, and a perfectly placed couch. I love how this setup included a space for everything and yet looked so dynamic and selective.

Protip: If you don’t have fancy and colorful covers for the cushions, look no further than your own closet and quilt a few out of old kurtas and scrap fabrics with fun prints, even works with old bedsheets and sarees.

Thus, the placement of everything in the zone becomes intentionally geared towards people gathering, but to get the party started, you need a few conversation starters and then some to keep the party going.

Step 5:

Bringing in the icebreakers:

1. I love the idea of coffee table books, but why buy something which has to be highly customized? I would suggest getting your old printed photos hardbound into a nice large photo album with dates or memories annotated out. Yes, I know many of us are hesitant to spoil those precious photos that have been saved for so long, but let’s be honest, those photos are not doing any good sitting in that one drawer; instead, with personal experience i can say, many relatives and friends have loved to come and find these photos out and talk about good ol days winding down the memory lane. A great conversation starter. If you are still unconvinced, some other great coffee table books can be— childhood paintings, a collection of fabrics or stamps, and old Stardust or Filmfare magazines.

2. Another conversation pit classic is to have a few games on hand; I’d recommend Ludo, Sequence, and the classic card sets.

3. You must always have a fragrant space, simply to make the space smell inviting, fresh, and comfortable. My personal go-to is either jasmine incense or kapoor on hand to burn before people come over; I can’t count how many times I have been asked what the air freshener I am using is. For the same purpose, you can either have a potpourri or fresh flowers in a bowl- low effort and yet smelling divine.

Overall, the vibe we’re going for is echoes of laughter and conversations. Anything which is inviting enough to have people repeatedly want to come over and hang out forever in this space, whether it’s a lazy Sunday afternoon or a lively Friday night.

Remember, the intention here is to have guests feeling they just want to sit here and talk forever.

Personally, I didn’t have as much flexibility to alter, I started by moving the seating away from the TV so people would indulge in one another rather than a screen. Then I added an old Rajasthani blanket on the floor, some floor cushions (my house is blue so I got red and yellow to complement), along with 1 sofa, a recliner and used the circle centre tables we had to complement it. To bring it together, I did add some throw blankets from IKEA. For decor and vibes, I had a large diya pot at home, so I used that with a long candle holder in the centre surrounded by flowers (either mogra or genda), which are easily available in my area. I usually keep some games (hidden in boxes which look like books) and a painting collection of mine and my mother’s on hand to indulge in whenever people come over.

So you need not do all, but the difference I saw was instant; my family was constantly playing one game or another, those paintings weren’t rotting in a cupboard somewhere but instead were being constantly shown to guests. Whoever came to the house complemented the desi vibe they got from it.

Definitely my mother’s plants and father’s energetic karaoke had a lot to do alongside our Marwadi cuisine, but all in all this really improved the space by a ton.

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2. Display Zone

The vibe: mini art gallery, a museum of your life full of books, showpieces, clocks, calendars, trinkets on a wall.

The next nook we speak of is the display zone in your house. We usually tend to hoard a lot of little trinkets and showpieces but never really properly display them. The same was the case in my home; thus, an intentionally curated space to display our decor made all the difference here.

Step 1:

Building the base- We start with a single wall; maybe it’s the one with the TV, maybe it’s the one near the conversation pit, or maybe just another wall. Ideally, keep this wall away from already cluttered zones like kitchens or dining, as there would already be too many distracting elements in that space. This wall is going to be the anchor for all the decor.

Some common elements I'd suggest having in this are a few cabinets, some floating shelves, maybe some open and transparent shelves; the idea is for the whole thing to look like one unit. Something like this, which allows your collection to be on full display:

Step 2:

Adding the collections- my go-to for such spaces would be frames; they blend everything seamlessly. Here are some framing ideas I genuinely loved:

Some common elements we all can have on display are-

1. Calendars- all our households have one on display, and since obviously many of us will not want to buy new ones just for the aesthetic, here’s what you can do instead to make your calendar look more aesthetic— just put one inside an empty frame, then stick some random fabric pieces in empty spaces to make it pop into that desi vibe more.

2. Travel trinkets- maybe magnets, keychains, or mugs; I’d suggest putting them out there. Collaged into different frames or maybe hung all in a single large frame.

3. Wall clocks- it’s a classic. You can get some interesting wall clocks that are timeless pieces which go within the space as well, or you can fashion yourself one with any flat surface with a hole in the centre and a clock mechanism.

4. Mirrors- these instantly catch people’s eyes and make a space look interesting. You can obviously buy a beautifully decorated mirror, but I’d recommend taking this opportunity to let out your creative energy and use your small trinkets, or fabrics to create a frame for 2-3 small mirrors which you then keep on display. This makes an eye-catching way to display your trinket collection and also elevate them to be more than trinkets.

5. Art and collections- I think the last item on my list would be art and collections, because we tend to hoard beautiful things without any intention behind them- such as that pretty wedding invitation, or maybe those old coins and stamps, or maybe just old bottles and trinkets and mugs from our trips. Obviously, I am not suggesting you throw your precious memories away, but there is a way to turn these into something more intentional, which is also a great way to display your taste. Turn everything into art.

Begin by buying a lot of different-sized frames and then fill each one as a collage of all your things; try to have a theme to this as that will elevate this decor further. Maybe cut out the aesthetic part of that wedding invite and stick it in the frame along with some other element; essentially, instead of making that collage edit for Instagram, spend one day with all your trinkets and make a physical collage on a sheet.

This zone is kind of a gallery, something that makes people pause as they are walking, take in the little things, bring up stories and have warm conversations.

My mom and I are very artsy people, so our wall needed a lot of selective decluttering, but we did use aesthetic papers, frames, handmade art with loads of tiny cups and plants to form a display zone in our home. Now every time people come over, they make it a point to go through our small museum (yes, our people are snoopy and I love it). Those who are repeat guests try to find if we removed something or added something new, making that a whole conversation in itself. We have also kept some games, books, trophies, and showpieces on a floating shelf which were difficult to display on a wall.

3. Temple Zone

The vibe: Clean, mindful area, fragrant plants, quiet, well-lit and full of books.

Okay, I don’t exactly mean the temple with an idol of god, but somewhere there is quiet. Especially when lots of people are over or in houses crowded with multiple people, this becomes the distinguished quiet spot.

And to make it such, we differentiate this area by its color, vibe, and overall experience. Going for whites and neutrals compared to the otherwise vibrant household, this area automatically becomes more peaceful.

Step 1:

Creating a separate space- divide the space from the rest of the house either by using this chattai and frame to create a divider, or by using an extension rod and curtain, or by creating a plant wall. Something like:

Note that the idea is not to permanently occupy and close this space up, but rather create ways to have a temporary divide away from the noise in the house. It can even be a differently colored space, just something that is visibly showing this space is distinct. Ideally, this space should be close to the open spaces like windows and balcony, or somewhere with loads of sunlight.

Step 2:

Setting the aura- For this, I'd suggest having really fragrant plants in the area, along with some close-to-nature elements like sandalwood, jasmine, tulsi, etc.

When we talk of plantings in indian household, all I am reminded of is those large pots that are forgotten to be maintained and cause mitti to be messed around everywhere. Honestly, why even focus on those large potted plants? A little green goes a long way, according to me. We can check out indian herbs, especially tulsi, curry leaves, even basil and mint!

The key here is the pots we use; for those of you who come from classic indian households, I just know there are like 3-4 different tea cup sets in the house without any purpose. Yes, we can use one of them, as they are small and naturally have a water-collecting dish (the saucer). You can also use the 100 mugs you collected thinking ‘ohh, this is so pretty, so aesthetic!’

Other few options are- warli matkas, copper dishes/matkas/bowls, aluminium cans, old alcohol bottles, tin cans and old jars

This is a zone where one can pray, practice mindfulness, and just enjoy a few moments of quiet in the mornings or noons.

For my house, it's the balcony; with a swing and a coffee table set kept on false grass where 3 people can sit. Usually no one talks much here; it's quiet and clean and perfect to observe the sky changing at dawn and dusk. We have kept a couple of bird feeders here along with fairy lights, a few plants and a couple of yoga mats in case you want to exercise. We do close it up in monsoons, where everything is removed, to prevent Mumbai rains from destroying the area, but all in all it’s a very good set up.

4. Dining Area

The vibe: Loads of conversations, laughter, tons of tasty food, coffee, hot chocolate, rotating dining table, serve ware, tea kit, fruits and sweets.

Eating is one of the most intentional spaces in my house. And as food is important in any indian household, I imagine it all must be like that for you as well.

It all started when we had to stop watching TV to avoid showing the screen to my nephew. Although I thought I was quite intentional in eating, I realised that was untrue the day I had zero entertainment to consume while eating. That's when I realised how my conversational skills and attention span had reduced to an extent I couldn’t even get through one meal. And moreover, my dining space was also so boring, with everyone looking at their phones. We decided to fix it.

Step 1:

Remove the entertainment- the first and foremost rule on the dining table is no phones. We took a basket and added a label to it: “put your phone here”. Obviously you have to stick to it, but when everyone is eating together, and conversations are flowing, it’s easier to follow. We also set the dining table away from the TV.

With the external distractions gone, this place had already become a lot more intentional than I had thought it would be.

Step 2:

Adding the functionality- now coming to the thing which actually makes people sit at the dining table, the food. The table has to be intentionally a place to sit and eat, so we started putting a few basics out on display at all times. Some fruits in a large bowl, a tray of small containers full of dry fruits and munchies, a jug full of water, and some other snacks and sweets which stay good at room temp. I also added a large lazy susan which makes it really easy to grab food when you are dining.

For me, the serveware makes all the difference whenever I visit someone’s house. Which is why I make sure we have enough cute bowls, serving dishes, and sets whenever people come over. It’s best to go for copper/brass and ceramic serveware instead of plastic, as they feel classier in nature. They also bring a desi vibe. I’d recommend having at least 6-7 different serving platters (bowls, plates, dishes, and kettles as well). These should all look like one set even if they are not.

I love table runners, but I feel they aren’t fully functional; instead, we use table mats and coasters for all the meals, which are easier to clean and look good too. On some lazy days, we don’t even use them.

Again, here the details speak more than the heavy weights; even if your dining table is simple but you pay attention to the serving details and the environment, it's much easier to make this space fully intentional. Have aesthetic serveware such that even the simplest of the foods look appetizing, and everyone can access it easily instead of having to go through your kitchen.

The idea is for this zone to be somewhere people are comfortable enough to always leave with a full stomach. Making the food accessible and appetizing is what plays a huge part in this.

5. Nap Nook

As I speak in this article:

I have this napping nook because in my house everyone is addicted to afternoon naps after waking up early. We love the idea of relaxing down and sleeping in the afternoon, but it doesn’t always lead to productivity after waking up; most of the time we’re just tired and lethargic.

That’s why a special napping nook is needed, which is the Goldilocks equivalent of relaxing yet preventing deep sleep in every household. Refer to this article to understand how to build one.

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6. Productivity Nook

And lastly, it's quite easy to get distracted in a house with so many people and not get any work done, so my favourite and personal spot is my productivity nook.

Step 1:

Building your space- I’d start with a desk and a chair, simple things. Then a few organizers or cabinets which help clear the clutter. I have 6 drawers on either side of my desk for my study materials, tech, stationery, notes, art supplies, and tools.

I also suggest a well-lit place and a study lamp to keep the focus intact. I always wear headphones due to the noise in my house, so i keep those hung on the wall as well.

Step 2:

To make this space intentional, you need to get rid of the clutter. I suggest having drawers or a cabinet nearby with at least 3 compartments— one for tech, one for stationery, and one for study materials. Everything should go back in its place.

Note that this place must be inconvenient to do anything else except your intended task, so no napping or eating on the desk.

Because there are kids in my household, I have to keep everything inside and that makes my space very clean.

Keeping it simple here is the way to go, a simple cloth to keep the desk safe, a chair with a cushion and some books are all you need for a perfect study nook.

The idea is for the space to be associated with active working on a task, such that every time you sit here you are Pavlov'd into working.

This does not have to be big; mine includes a board and a desk with drawers. I have also added a calendar and a clock I fashioned myself out of an old vinyl record and a clock mechanism.

My board is 2-in-1 with a whiteboard and blackboard on each side. I usually keep turning between the 2. I write mostly in my notes app, but some days I plan on this.

I like to keep this place uncluttered and simple because then I can actually be productive. So all the stationery, tech supplies, and study material goes in the drawers after use.

So there you have it, 6 intentional nooks to build in your house so your space is not cluttered and messy and thus your thoughts are clear and structured.

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Basically books that you can curl up with in a bed and romanticise with. Books that you don’t have to finish in a go but actually just take your time with. Yes, most of them still talk about independence, colonial era, and the chaotic life in India, but there is nothing too intense or serious about it. These are books that quietly provoke thoughtful ideas, spread calm and reduce your cortisol levels.

Although, it did take multiple reads but eventually I found so many such books, and since I’m not a gatekeeper here are some of my selective picks out of the Indian slice of life/ iyashekai (healing)/ cozy genre of books to read.

I have selected them based on variety of genres, settings and authors, where some might be popular and some are hidden gems that you need to steal.

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Slice of life books, with a little heart or maybe a heart to heart or maybe a hearty laugh. Perfect to read when you are craving a little slowing down of life. Especially because slice of life can mean differently to all of us, for some its a cozy and slow-burn love story and for others its a hearty laugh to get over a long day and for some its just slowing down in a hectic life.

1. Maidless in Mumbai | Payal Kapadia

• Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Humor

• Setting: Mumbai, India, Modern times (~2015,16,17)

• Why read: This is THE slice of life book, because quite literally it takes a slice out of Anu Narain’s life and presents it in a comedic way. Anu Narain, is a career-driven journalist who finds that navigating the domestic help industry in Mumbai is harder than her day job. It captures the frantic, often absurd struggle of balancing motherhood, a career, and the search for the “perfect maid.” As this mother tries to balance her life within the domestic help world, it results in an unapologetically honest and funny “mom-com.” It’s relatable, witty, and perfect for a lazy afternoon.

• Link: https: https://amzn.in/d/0dzBQnvf

2. Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments | Hema Sukumar

• Genre: Slice of Life / Contemporary

• Setting: Chennai, India in the 2020s

• Why read: A quintessentially daily-urban-life based cozy book about neighbors in a Chennai apartment complex. It’s a gentle exploration of human connection and how small “disturbances” can bring a community together. Set in a Chennai apartment complex, this novel weaves together the lives of three very different residents: a protective mother, a lonely expatriate, and a man struggling with his past. Their small, daily irritations and personal dramas take a backseat when the apartment building itself is threatened by developers, forcing them to unite.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/04ZCj4U5

3. Oh Shit Not Again! | Mandar Kokate

• Genre: Campus Fiction / Humor

• Location: Pune, India in the early 2000s

• Why read: A cult classic for anyone who has survived Indian engineering college life. It’s chaotic, funny, and very relatable. A fast-paced, humorous “campus novel” that follows Raj, a college student whose life is a series of comical disasters. After catching his best friend with his girlfriend, Raj navigates a chaotic web of new crushes, engineering exams, and awkward social situations. It will fill you with nostalgia by giving you a slice of the early 2000s life and colonies in cities.

• Link: https://archive.org/details/ohshitnotagain0000koka

4. What a Loser! | Pankaj Dubey

• Genre: Satire / Social Comedy

• Location: Delhi, India in 2010s

• Why read: Another college based slice of life book which takes a sharp look at the UPSC coaching culture in Delhi. It’s funny but carries a strong social message about ambition and the “rat race.” A satirical look at the struggle of a young man from Bihar named Sandeep, who moves to Delhi with dreams of cracking the UPSC (civil services) exam. It’s a story about the “coaching center” culture, political aspirations, and the thin line between being a “winner” and a “loser” in modern India.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0dch8TVo

5. Lallan Sweets | Srishti Chaudhry

• Genre: Nostalgic Fiction / Rom-Com

• Location: Siyaka (Small-town in North India) in the mid 1990s

• Why read: If you’re looking for an all-inclusive cosy Indian book, this is it, thus, needless to say it is extremely popular. Everything at once- It’s a quest for a secret family sweet recipe that feels like a trip down memory lane ; A love story ; A comedy; A family drama. The book feels nostalgic and sweet (quite literally), set in the small town of Siyaka. Tara returns to her home to compete for the secret recipe of her grandfather’s famous “Lallan Sweets.” There is a quest-style narrative that explores family legacy, small-town charm, and the taste of home. Something kinda perfect for those who miss the simple, old days.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/03hFbF18

6. A House for Mr. Biswas | V.S. Naipaul

• Genre: Post-Colonial Literature / Dark Comedy

• Location: Trinidad in the 20th century after independence.

• Why read: When Biswa said, “ye kahan dark hai, ye toh zindagi hai” he had taken a slice of out Mohun Biswas’ life, an indo-trinidadian man who is struggling since his birth with the misfortune that follows him everywhere. Meaning only to avoid punishment, he causes the death of his father and the dissolution of his father. Wanting simply to flirt with a beautiful woman, he ends up married to her. But in spite of his endless setbacks, Mr Biswas is determined to achieve independence, and so he begins the gruelling struggle to buy a home of his own. Within the comic, it’s a deeper, more poignant slice of life that stays with you long after the final page.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0djCvPDu

Something about this season makes me want to just get invested into a murder mystery but enough with Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s time to get into some classic desi style mystery. This is slice of life for those who like their cozy books with a side of “whodunnit” and rich historical detail, nothing too gruesome or gory. Perfect to read in a single go on a rainy day.

7. Murder in Old Bombay | Nev March

• Genre: Historical Mystery

• Location: 19th Century Bombay, India

• Why read: A gripping mystery based on a true story. It takes you through the streets of colonial-era Bombay in a way that feels incredibly immersive. A historical mystery set in 1892 India. Inspired by a true story, it follows Captain Jim Agnihotri, an Anglo-Indian soldier recovering from injuries, who becomes obsessed with the “suicide” of two women who fell from the busy university’s clock tower in broad daylight. As he investigates, he travels across colonial India, uncovering a web of secrets that challenge the official police narrative. My suggestion to enjoy this would be with a cup of coffee, some biscuits and a monsoon saturday afternoon.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/08DWExV9

8. The Bangalore Detectives Club | Harini Nagendra

• Genre: Cozy Mystery / Historical

• Location: 1920s Bangalore, India

• Why read: An inviting historical mystery featuring Kaveri, a young woman who solves crimes while navigating the social rules of the 1920s. It’s “cozy” but intellectually sharp. Set in 1920s Bangalore, this cozy mystery introduces Kaveri, a young bride with a passion for mathematics and sleuthing. When a murder occurs at a local club, Kaveri uses her wits and social connections to solve the crime, all while navigating the strict social expectations of colonial-era India.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0hlcEdVA

9. The Perveen Mistry Series | Sujatha Massey

• Genre: Historical Mystery

• Location: 1920s Bombay, India

• Why read: A personal favourite within this entire list. Massey’s writing is detailed and atmospheric, making it a staple for anyone wanting the best Indian books to read. The first one in the series, The Widows of Malabar Hill, features Perveen Mistry, one of India’s first female lawyers in 1920s Bombay. Perveen investigates a suspicious will of Omar Farid, a wealthy mill owner, involving three widows living in purdah (seclusion), never leaving the women’s quarters or speaking to any men using, and she suspects their guardian is duping them. Perveen decides to investigate using her unique legal standing to enter spaces men cannot.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/02hIBjO4

Deep and thought provoking books that talk about a journey of discovery of self. It does take a slice of life but in a very Ghibli Movies kind of way, sort of how Hayao Miyazaki shows it, life isn’t always good but it is what it is, or maybe you just need to look at it differently.

10. 100 Little Flames | Preeti Shenoy

• Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Iyashekai

• Location: Kerala, India in ~2017

• Why read: One of those warm, healing books to read that explores the bridge between generations. Ayan is a young man who has just lost his job, is sent to a remote village in Kerala to look after his “grumpy” grandfather, Gopal Shanker. As they spend time together, Ayan discovers a hidden side of his grandfather’s past—including a long-lost love—and learns that there is more to life than the corporate rat race. Thus after moving to Kerala, he finds a much-needed slower pace of life, making this book perfect for when you are looking to slow-down and just ponder for a bit.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0bsG3F8E

11. Tales of Fosterganj | Ruskin Bond

• Genre: Short Stories / Slice of Life

• Location: Fosterganj (Himalayan foothills) in 1960s

• Why read: A book featuring a quaint village Fosterganj near the hills of Mussoorie, with quirky and slightly annoying characters. We see all of this through the journey of this writer from Delhi who lands up in the setting by chance but decides to stick around for the plot (or the view he gets from his bathroom). These characters such as Hassan, a hardworking baker, a pickpocket who couldn’t give up his habit of picking pockets, a mother and her son living in a haunted house, a bank manager, a drunkard who cooks up pity stories to earn people’s sympathy thus their money, etc. have weaved a strong plot along with the writer to form gentle yet quirky stories about the village—typical of Bond’s charming style, these vignettes are all observed through the gentle, nostalgic lens of a writer living in the hills.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/06w5kwhn

12. Motherland | Vineeta Vijayaraghavan

• Genre: Coming-of-Age

• Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu around the millenium

• Why read: A desi slice of life novel about an Indian-American girl spending a summer in her motherland. Maya, an Indian-American teenager, is sent to spend a summer with her relatives in a small town in South India. What starts as a “punishment” turns into a journey of self-discovery as she grapples with her identity, family secrets, and the cultural gap between her life in New York and her heritage in Kerala.

• Link: https://archive.org/details/motherlandnovel0000vija

For some, an atmospheric experience is all they need to detach from their life and enter into a literary journey that allows them to wander through the world. And what place to start better than this subcontinent? Trust that these deeply evocative reads will lead you to explore this magical land’s beauty all through a book.

13. The Latitude of Longing | Shubhangi Swarup

• Genre: Literary Fiction / Magical Realism

• Location: Various Places across times (Andamans, Himalayas, Myanmar)

• Why read: An epic, lyrical journey across the earth. It’s a stunning slice of life on a grand, geological scale. A sweeping, lyrical novel told through interconnected stories that span the Indian subcontinent—from the Andaman Islands to the Himalayas. It explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, following characters like a scientist who talks to trees and a geologist searching for ghosts in the mountains. No description can do justice to the vastness of this book, the author's perspective to see the world is so enchanting that you will forget everything about the outer world & will stick to this beautiful world. The author compared the geological & natural events with human interactions. The intense research is evident on every pages. Every single characters are created with so much passion. Its unlike anything we’ve ever read before, especially set in a relatively desi setting, a perfect definition of slice of life but with a little magic.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0heKNOxM

14. Nine Lives | William Dalrymple

• Genre: Non-Fiction / Travel / Religion

• Location: Across India

• Why read: Dalrymple explores nine different modern-day religious paths in India in 9 chapters (each for one path)— Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism, and others. And each chapter profiles a different individual deeply immersed into their faith. This grounded look at spirituality in the modern world, comes from Dalrymple’s ability to connect with his subjects on a personal level, allowing them to share their stories in their own words, giving the book an intimate feel, as readers are introduced to monks, mystics, ascetics, and other spiritual seekers. The authenticity and depth of these personal accounts make the spiritual experiences relatable and human. From a Jain nun to a Buddhist monk and a Tantric practitioner, Dalrymple explores how ancient traditions survive (or transform) in the face of rapid modernization. Thus this book takes out 9 slices of life from people whose days look extremely different, letting us see our life from a different perspective.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0fNpmIr0

15. An Evening in Lucknow | Suresh Kohli & K. A. Abbas

• Genre: Short Stories

• Location: Lucknow / Various

• Why read: Masterfully crafted stories that capture the elegance and ironies of Indian life with Ray’s signature cinematic touch. A collection of short stories by the legendary filmmaker. These tales range from the supernatural to the psychological, often featuring Ray’s keen eye for human frailty and the ironies of everyday life. The title story evokes the refined, fading culture of the city of Lucknow.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0bbQbvHq

Ever had a sensory explosion just by reading something and imagining it? Just the way these authors describe the atmosphere of certain places that it makes you immediately transport there and experience a slice of that life. I don’t even know whether all of these belong in the same category but the sensory experience is there in all. Sort of deeper books if you look into it, which can make this a little more intense compared to the rest of this list.

16. The Mistress of Spices | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

• Genre: Magical Realism

• Location: In 1990s Oakland, California (but with Indian heritage roots)

• Why read: A sensory explosion. The book follows Tilo, an immigrant from India, who runs a spice shop in Oakland. But she also heals her customers with accurate amounts of spices and the right words. Tilo is an immortal “Mistress of Spices” spices, a priestess of the secret magical powers of spices. To those who visit her shop, Tilo prescribes coriander for the restoration of sight, chilli for the cleansing of evil, fenugreek for the pain of rejection. But when a lonely American ventures into the store, a troubled Tilo cannot find the correct spice, for he arouses in her a forbidden desire - which if she follows will destroy her magical powers. Thus, she must choose between her magical powers and her human desires.

  There is a beautiful movie starring aishwarya rai as Tilo based on this story as well.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/06s1oUJh

17. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul | Deborah Rodriguez

• Genre: Contemporary Fiction

• Location: Kabul, Afghanistan

• Why read: Set in war-torn Afghanistan, this novel follows five very different women— Sunny, Yazmina, Candace, Isabel & Halajan, each with their own background, who find friendship and safety in a small coffee shop. As they share their stories and secrets, they form an unlikely bond, finding strength and friendship in a place where women’s freedoms are constantly under threat. It’s a story of understanding, resilience and sisterhood. A popular pick for a reason, this book is well deserving of all the hype. Although it’s not set in India, it is still within the continent and follows a similar slice of life in an intense backdrop structure.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/07GncqZQ

18. The Samosa Rebellion | Shanthi Sekaran

• Genre: Middle-Grade / Dystopian Fiction

• Location: Mariposa (Fictional Island)

• Why read: Okay yes it is a kids novel, but honestly, isn’t that also slice of life in a way? Just enjoying reading about the adventures of a boy and his friends who must rescue his grandmother from a relocation camp after their country’s descent into xenophobia. This journey that along the way fuels a fun, food-filled revolution! It uses the metaphor of samosas to talk about social justice in a way that’s accessible for all ages. Set in a dystopian land, Mariposa, where the government begins labeling and dividing citizens as “butterflies” and “moth”, the novel uses humor to tackle heavy themes of immigration and social justice.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/02moF9hP

19. Jaipur Nama | Giles Tillotson

• Genre: Non-Fiction / History

• Location: Contemporary times in Jaipur, India

• Why read: Honestly, I am not sure why this book felt like it belonged in this slice of life list, maybe something about the authors skill to weave the past and the present with his perception, or maybe something about what makes the “pink city” the “pink city”. A scholarly cultural biography of the city of Jaipur, this book traces the city’s history from its founding by Sawai Jai Singh II to the modern day, detailing its unique architecture, royal politics, and the vibrant arts and crafts that define the city.

• Link: https://amzn.in/d/0bc0u5C2

Remember- a good gift is always just multiple little gifts.

Now here’s the principle you follow- 4,3,2,1

4 things they can consume

3 things they can use

2 things they can experience

1 thing the can cherish

Wow, sounds difficult right? Nope not at all.

Step 1

You start with the basics, consumables are usually foods and drinks they’d love, so I like keeping a healthy mix of both.

For foods I usually go with something they have frequently and isn’t very heavy on my pocket- Ramens, chocolates, waffle/muffin premixes, muesli mixes, homemade jams, bento cakes, freeze dried fruits, fancy pasta or baking ingredients they wouldn’t get themselves.

For drinks I usually go with- their coffee order, cans of sodas they like, ice tea powders, unique teas and coffees.

Step 2

Usable things usually include the actual gift, but since these are not solo and a part of something bigger, you can actually opt for smaller things.

I’d suggest DIY-ing these and not shelling out the big buck here for someone who’s not very close to you. But for the very close people you’d definitely be able to estimate what they want and for them spend generously here getting them what they want.

My go tos are- flowers (even handmade ones), cute stickers, bookmarks, frames, journals, dream catchers, calendars, books, books are always great, crochet bags or plushies, keychains, polaroid books, etc.

Step 3

Now the next is the important one, experiences, usually these cost a bit so here’s where you spend.

These are the most dynamic part of the gift because whoever you gift things to might not like the physical gift, but would definitely love an experience they can customise. Props if you go with them. Usually I like mixing a DIY one with a more expensive one.

My go-to’s are: perfume making, pizza making, pottery workshops, amusement park coupons (hope they don’t expire), timezone loaded cards, self care kits with scrubs and bath salts and essential oils.

On the affordable end- you can gift DIY kits such as embroidery, paper making, clay keychain, crochet kits etc. You can also make one from scratch by collecting all the ingredients yourself and putting them in an aesthetic box or something. Other things you can do are- DIY coupon book which they can avail with you eg. watch a movie together, get a head massage or get you to babysit/housesit/pet sit for them, get you to cook a meal for them, drive them around, or go with them to the thing no one will go with them (like Barney and foxy boxing).

Step 4

Lastly, one thing they can cherish, usually something which is priceless.

Usually I go with- a heartfelt letter, maybe a handmade canvas vase, or a handmade clock, maybe seeds or sapling, a nostalgic photo book or frame, or any custom gifts like decor pieces or funny T-shirts.

Pro Tip-

But wait, what if I don’t really know the person that well and wanna gift just a small thing?

Yes I got you. You go with the 2:1 ratio. For that you pick up any 2 consumables/useables and 1 thing they’d cherish.

What if this isn’t their birthday? I still got you. use the 1:1:1 ratio. Here you pick flowers, one small thing expressing gratitude, and one consumable.

How To Wrap?

Okay even if you have the ingredients, how you cook is still important, so grab a large basket/box/cute bag, anything you have lying around at home, and sit down.

Wrap the box, add a tag to the bag, basket and fill the base with shredded or scrunched up paper.

Now start with the biggest thing on your plate, usually that’ll be the flowers. Don’t you dare put them just like that, spruce it up. Cut the leaves and stems, make a cute bouquet in a cute jar or just like that and then wrap that thing up nicely. Put this in one corner.

Next you take the consumables, usually that’ll take up the most space so put them out evenly through your carrier. Props if you can package these nicely as well eg. in a bouquet, or maybe with notes.

Take the usables next, put them on the other end of the carrier. They might require more paper support below so add some more here to prop them up. Wrap these up nicely too, don’t forget to remove all the labels and plastics.

Lastly, put the experiences and cherishables in an envelope, label that up and here you write who it’s for and from, best wishes and whatever else. put that thing like a cherry on top.

Here are some cute examples:

Here are some examples for the smaller ones:

My Favourite Timeless Things To Gift:

These are some of my current favourites which work for anyone on any occasion:

Pistabarfi, Project qaafi, Vintage headphones + converter to whatever phone they use, Magazine subscriptions, Chilli oil/other flavours, Chip and dip set, Beginner kits, Socks, Aesthetic Clips and Accessories, Mini digital camera, Stick on nails, books, card games, cute vases, office bags/laptop bags.

My suggestion is to always go with things people don’t usually get for themselves even if they can, because its too silly a purchase. Just give them something they’d have fun with.

Try to look for non-generic items because that’s what people don’t spoil themselves with and pairing them up with a few generic items which are unique and classy eg. get unique vintage headphones and pair it with some classic chocolates.

Something i’d try to avoid is things that need a personal taste to them- eg. perfumes, clothes, shoes, expensive jewellery, makeup (other than lip products and blushes) etc. unless you know the person really well it’s just good to gift these things as an experience rather than the end product. So you can take them jewellery shopping, or gift them a perfume making workshop, or a gift card at sephora, zara, uniqlo. You get the gist.

And that’s all. Now you are ready for giving an awesome gift.

Anecdote 1- May, 2025- The Set-up

The story starts with me trying to write an article. Mind you, I hadn’t been able to cough up anything “good” which as amy suggests in her article “is marketable and algorithm ready”. (by the way, a great read)

So basically, I was in a rut, not a writers’ block per se, but the laziness. I had the words coming to me, I just couldn’t take the effort to go and edit them in.

I had several raw pieces ready, I just couldn’t be asked to edit and rework them to make them more refined. It was excruciating to stress about something which was a hobby as if it was something that put food on my table.

So I naturally did what any youngster in today’s date would- I asked ChatGPT to do it for me. And…I kid you not. I was mad at the response.

Not because of anything, but simply because of the fact that THIS is the thing that’s taking away my job?!

I had asked it to “not change any words” and just “restructure the article” in a way that it goes in a flow. That’s all I wanted. I’d already done a lot by myself.

This AI decides that my prompt meant, I wanted it to put in bullets what I’d already written in short paragraphs (restructure) and somehow change all of my words into eerily similar phrases that they feel strange despite being my own (so much for “not change any words”, go figure).

So I decided to just take it upon myself. Do my research and write and format it all. Because honestly, you could see the difference. It was obvious. But that’s not the point.

What actually struck out within this incident was the fact that it made my words sound strange. I am so used to the content from AI - because I was working as a writer in a really high pressure jobs just writing meaningless SEO content to satisfy Google ratings that at a point it was too much to write two 2000 words (at a minimum) articles in a single day (40 a month). It was too much to research, write, backlink, and refine. So I started using AI to do some of it, AI wasn’t very good at research so I just had to end up doing my own (because I like finding niche particular products even if it’s a generic article topic, despite top articles quoting the same generic products). And after finding them, I’d ask AI to write a first draft piece for me, which I’d later format via combing through reviews and other articles. It was wrong of me, yet I was just so tired and needed it.

At that point, AI content had saved me in a way- I also wrote something (by myself) on it-

Thus, because I was so so used to reading the words of AI, I realised how cruel it was to see your own work being made generic by its words and infinite colons and em dashes and bullets.

I am sorry to every writer AI has ever done it to, because of my prompts.

But the story doesn’t end here.

Anecdote 2- August, 2025- The Rising Action

You see, one of my very good friends, is a cognitive science/machine learning major. And we have had tons of discussions on AI ethics and its limitations, and it was very enriching to say the least.

In short, the problem AI has these days is actually it’s a baby, now imagine without any human instinct, how do you tell a baby to do things?

Certainly not by prompts.

As my friend said, the idea can be conveyed via a small experiment-

If you tell AI to drive a car and reach a destination as fast as possible, it will crash through every safety measure because that’s the best way to reach.

So coders put in a reward system, amount of points it gets for not crashing, following signals, all the while picking the best route to the destination. The result? It was stuck moving in a circle because that was the best way to reward maximisation.

So coders now decided to have an instruction put in- it has to keep moving forward towards the destination, obviously with the previous reward system in place. This resulted in the car definitely moving ahead, but at such a slow pace that you’d run faster to your destination.

You see my point?

Until now AI has been built on mimicking humans, but how to you teach something that’s not a human to be one?

When it’s mimicking its following a ‘top-down approach’- basically taking your words from an article on Google and giving it to someone else, how self driving cars are functioning now, what a ChatGPT does when you ask it to generate an image- take an already preexisting art style and mimic it to your needs.

Needless to say, this isn’t enough because it’s not even close to the real thing- as I had previously noted in the difference of my 2 articles.

Which is why, coders now want a ‘bottom-up approach’- the stuck car. Bring up a baby without any human instinct, and thus a very fragile one. And they’re stuck at that.

Now I’ve seen a lot of complaints of people on why AI isn’t doing the laundry and dishes so we can do art and literature. So I want to answer that by saying, laundry and dishes are inherently human things, whereas if you gave a robot the instruction to do your dishes today, it’ll figure the best way to get it done is to smash all the plates and buy new ones. Same goes for the laundry, it would either shred all the clothes or just keep washing the same one again and again or something else which is hilariously stupid to us as humans.

Whereas there’s a lot that AI can learn from the preexisiting data, thus it can mimic Shakespeare but it’ll seem super eerie and weird if Shakespeare could read it, as the writing style tone and maybe phrase would be similar to his own yet if he’d have the same prompt he’d have not written that.

Same with the studio ghibli trend. I can bet Miyagi would never draw you and your boyfriend the same way an AI bot did.

Also, bear me, but for arguments’ sake- AI can actually do your laundry and dishes, you just need very latest smart dishwashers and washing machines with an included drier and an Alexa or a Google home where you voice your command for it to run a load of laundry or do the dishes as you paint a painting on birch wood panel. Yet, nobody has the time, patience or money these days to do that, save for a few billionaires who ARE using the time they save with their robots to invent and ideate new ways to keep their money while making you poor.

But the story also doesn’t end there.

Anecdote 3- November, 2025- The climax

You can bet even I was extremely pissed when I had the realisation that I cannot blame that damn Chatgpt for fumbling my article up. Because would you blame a toddler for slipping as it learns to walk on his wobbly feet? No.

So I cannot blame AI. Nor can I hold the billionaires accountable, because they are just the parents right?. So I joined the rebel against AI, writing my own content, doing my own research and taking more than a week to finish my work. It was exhausting, slow and really not productive. But as the trend is these days— we need to make things slow and boring in rebel against the fast pace of today’s life.

So I was slowmaxxing my life. As it should be. Slowly reading multiple research articles about napping which wouldn’t really stick, while avoiding studying for an exam.

P.S: It was all for this article-

Until the day when my professor started talking about this.

It was an otherwise normal lecture, our hardass professor wanting us to do loads of homework by 12 am that night itself. And then he said with a smile, “I know who’s going to do it for you, that cha….chat….something” we all echoed, “ChatGPT”.

“Yes that thing. It’s wild huh. But it’s okay, in fact I’m telling you to use it, at least that way you all will learn something from it, remember some content, maybe enough to write in your exams”

And that literally crashed my rebellious world view.

Because here’s this professor, whom I hold a lot of respect for, just telling me to use AI? For doing his assignments that I had previously stayed up doing till 4 am?

It was like a truck had struck me. I was stunned to think of anything else the whole night. Just thinking how easy it was for him to accept this. How easy it was for me to reject it.

There’s another part to this story- in the very same lecture, he had talked to us about the post-fordist era. Now, ‘fordism’ was an era of assembly line, which was credited to its inventor Henry Ford. And ‘post-fordism’ was an era of outsourcing- where different parts of a product would be made in different regions only to be assembled in a completely different one, maximising on the comparative advantage a country got from its specialisation. My question was, “Ao is AI the next era?”

To which my professor replied, “automation (AI) is just a faster way to run the assembly line”. It was like a catalyst to increase production- it wasn’t a completely new and radical invention like assembly line, it was just a way to speed up the process that was already there.

Hilarious. No wonder it was so easy for him to accept it. He has seen life and multiple such inventions come and go. If he were to be introduced to today’s tech- to him grammarly, scribbr(citation generator) and ChatGPT would all probably be the same thing.

Making life easy.

Optimising regular tasks enough to turn it into a better way of doing the thing.

Which is why influencers often say- AI will not take your jobs, but someone who knows how to work with it will.

The last anecdote- February, 2026- The resolution

This one starts with me doing my thesis.

I have never coded in my life before. I am a through and through humanities nerd (literature and economics), and with that you can also probably guess how I feel about AI. Like everyone else around me, when it released, I jumped on the ChatGPT hate bandwagon.

On top of this I aim to get into teaching. And from a teachers’ perspective your students using AI to learn is just an abhorring idea.

Until the day I coded. It wasn’t something major like building an app or something. I am an economist and I had to use R for data analysis for my empirical research. Basically analyse the patterns in loads of numbers. I used a software to do that. All I did was write 10 lines of code which analysed over 10,000s of numbers within seconds.

That got me thinking. This is automation as well. I am not manually sitting and analysing data myself. In fact even during finding and cleaning that data I had made so many mistakes.

The mistakes which surprise, surprise, were caught by a model.

Now, mind you, I use calculator everyday, I use excel, I use canva to design and even my phone and laptop constantly in my day-to-day life. And only that day, I realised that AI was just a tech, a development like the rest of these tools.

If we’re so dead set on not using AI then why do we use automations in production? Why do we use calculators or excel or your phones to send messages?

That was the day I myself understood the power of tech and innovation from the socio-economic perspective.

Look I don’t wanna get into why AI is harmful for the environment, I get that side of it totally.

But for a minute let’s talk about AI v/s the human mind, and why it is harmful when it comes to the use of it.

Let’s take calculator for example, why do schools only allow us to use it after a certain point? Why not when we’re in the 1st grade?

Similar to, why do we have gym periods or exercise times in school? And why don’t we just play e-sports at that age?

Just like that, AI is a tool, something you must learn in today’s age by not just depending on it, but rather mastering it while knowing the basics yourself.

And I know, we’re not supposed to use it to write our essays and do our art, but honestly, I have seen insane artworks created by codes and we must admit that it is kind of awesome that a computer can do that.

I know we don’t want AI to do our art and poems so that we can do our taxes and laundry, but rather AI to do our taxes and laundry so we can focus on art.

But what if I were to tell you that is gonna happen?

Think back to your childhood, or heck even just look at any kid around you now.

Would you trust them with doing your taxes? Or heck even handle the washer and dryer and do the laundry?

Or would you rather they sit on the floor with their colors and paper and make a piece of art. That is humanity, that is the way you teach a new human to be human, by getting it to create art.

Indeed there would be some exceptionally smart kids but we need to look at the average kid. And I know for a fact that I could definitely not do taxes or dishes as a kid.

And that is just the level AI currently is at. It’s just a kid trying different things and learning. And that too, much much faster than anything else because honestly, it is a bot at the end of the day.

Yes, it makes errors, but which kid doesn’t? And to be fair if there is an error it stems from human error within the code or the algorithm or the prompt, because after all, it is a bot just following your commands. So yeah, basically the instructions are wrong.

But one day, when the instructions have been perfected, the bot will definitely do your laundry and taxes and then you can focus on art and writing.

Because that’s what I did. As the code ran about 100s of regressions within seconds for me, I took the time to write this anecdote. Otherwise I still wouldn’t be done with my thesis.

As the calculator does the big calculations, it saves time. As the excel compiles years of data, it saves time. As canva allows you to design easy, it saves time. As you use your phones and laptops and cars, all of them save time. And then you choose what to do with that time. Run a side hustle? Busy yourself more? Crochet? Hangout with your friends? Or maybe just spend some time here on substack.

Final Notes- April, 2026- The moral of the story

You can do so much with AI now, get summaries of 100s of topics in seconds, organize your thoughts, or your data sets, or even look for research papers and just overall read about a concept, generate really specific images, and well the list is just shy of everything. All of which would’ve previously taken hours worth of reading Wikipedia, research articles, manual editing, and calculations.

I’m not saying AI should keep plagiarizing art styles like Hayao Miyazaki’s or your writing tone and style.

But I am admitting that AI is an update. A wild luxury to have in today’s date to find out about the latest research and summarise it. Like a wikipedia page that I don’t have to read completely and rather get focused points which are just relevant to me.

Yes, it’s true that there are certain political and business interests aligned in using this tool for a purpose that is maligned, but which tool isn’t used for personal profit these days?

I am not saying that lets generalise companies feeding us AI slops, exploiting workers, harming the environment, overstimulating amount of ads, hidden propagandas and what not, but with this we do come down to the ethics of it all.

Which brings me back to teaching, and how AI should ideally be embraced.

It starts at a young age, students should be taught on how to actually use tools powered by AI, essentially, the basic codes, what the prompts would lead to. (Yes, there is a question of misuse, but come on, kids would also type ‘80085’ on calculators)

We must teach them the ethics of it all. We must give the logic of how the way their body needs a workout even if they are not using it in any games, their brains need a workout even if they have tools to do it. How if they don’t use the muscle, it stiffens up.

Here’s are 3 posts that I think about a lot when it comes to all this-

1. On the ethics and necessity of learning & tech:

   

   This works similarly for literature which teaches communication, or even for AI or calculators or driving cars. At the right age when a young mind is given the access to sufficient knowledge, it makes their upbringing marvellous.

2. On getting savvy, being intentional and teaching well:

This. Get savvy with your tech. Improvise on systems. This was perfect. I aspire to be a professor and I’ll definitely abide to this. This is exactly what my professor does- an in-class test every week about the portion completed until then. Actually working towards teaching students. Not striving for marks, not giving brainless assignments but actually putting in systems in place to make sure a student learns.

3. Choosing where to use AI and how to do it:

Lastly, the ethics of it, knowing the difference in what is harmful and what is useful. The same way we were taught how physical activity is useful for the body and keeps you healthy instead of just sitting in front of TV, we not must teach the future generations on how actively thinking solutions is good for keeping your mind healthy and only using AI is like sitting in front of the TV.

Even though I embraced AI, I’m not giving up on my slow living rebellion either. I am just redirecting the hate towards who deserves it- not the wobbly toddler crashing the car, but the irresponsible operator who directed it to drive it in the first place.

Not the coders who built AI, but the people who are using it. Such as faceless YouTubers with the eerily plagiarised content and satisfying video backgrounds. Such as ME who asked AI to write an article to keep my deadlines of 40 articles a month. Such as all other websites that push AI to optimise their content via SEO in hopes of getting more traction.

Also- the billionaires. the people who got us here in the first place. Not by birthing the baby of AI but by letting it run amass in a serene world causing a chaos of culture and ideas into a melting pot spilling all over the place resulting in the basic AI slop that we see these days.

For them to keep on encouraging the workers to use it more and more to survive. For not educating the users correctly. For allowing access to one and all, even kids. For making the situation such that if I didn’t write 2 articles a day on ‘20 best shampoos to buy’ and ‘10 best fruits to try in south india’, I would not be able to make money to survive.

Also- the people completely hating on AI. Asking you to consume more and buy more to be analogue. Because currently, its like hunger games- both the factions, ones that are loving AI and ones that are hating on AI, are ultimately businesses, corrupted to make their ideology work for their own benefit. And it doesn’t matter which side you are on, ultimately, the people that are on the extreme ends always win by inducing that dualistic paradigm and aggravating it, and the people on the middle end of it always suffer and lose out.

There you have it- the story of me & AI.

Color Clashing

Starting with the most effortless. This season, we are gonna stop color coordinating and studying color wheels and complementary colors. Visible throughout Instagram pages of models and especially Prada shows, technicolor is the new thing. Colors that basically don’t go together. Lime with aquamarine. Dark blue and dark green. Stimulating primary tones and rich pure dark colors is the go to.

So dig out those colors you were avoiding in pastel spring fever and style it with even more pieces of color. Because pastels and neutrals after lasting for many Bridgerton inspired summers are finally out this year.

Remember that this does not necessarily mean being maximalist, it’s just a lot more use of bright colors, being hopeful and excited, as I said before, hopecore is trending and you don’t have to care about dressing in coordinated outfits.

Piece Of My Mind

how to keep being hopeful

I have been seeing more and more of hopecore aesthetic across Pinterest and Substack. It seems more and more people are trying to engage into being whimsical, hopeful and motivated as times get worse…

Read more

5 months ago · 1 like · Mahek

Bug Eyed Sunglasses/ Large Sunglasses

Remember when everyone was buying those rectangle small sunglasses? Yeah not anymore. We’ve moved into big bug eyed sunglasses this summer. Think Paris Hilton. Yeah, those ones.

I seriously cannot believe that someone wouldn’t have at least 1 oversized sunglasses lying around. But since we are DIY-ing here, let’s do this. Take any average sized pair, grab all the beads and charms you have and glue them onto it. The idea is not just going large, it’s going whimsy, like the early 2000s, it’s going bug-eyed.

Also, just for a little extra fun, add a chain to your sunglasses and make it a little something extra and special to you. Be soft and minimal or be wild and maximal, either ways, wearing sunglasses is a must for any spring/summer.

Cigarette Jeans

My first thought looking at this trend was, “Seriously? We did all that wide leg just to come back to straight fit?” On the second thought, I still love it. Especially the ones that have a slight bootcut-esque bottom.

Pick out your lengthiest jean (because you wanna look like you got long legs, like a cig), wear and mark what’s straight fit/cigarette fit to you, cut about an inch away from your markings, sew and hem. The most straightforward diy to do. Although avoid really tight fitting ones, remember it’s slim not skinny.

Pro tip: Wear it with pants or waist chains as that is trending too, or just go chique like the images.

Prints And Texture Maxxing

Seriously. Anything. Go full clown. Large florals, fringes, stripes, polka dots, fur, lace, soft animal prints (like deer instead of cheetah, cow, giraffe, zebra). This is best achieved with layers.

But if you wanna add it permanently to an outfit some of the best ways are to add textured sleeves to a normal top, adding printed patchworks to your outfits and lastly using both together. Incase you don’t wanna add it permanently, layer 2 textured pieces together, eg. a full sleeve lace shirt and a knit vest on top.

Honestly I love this trend in particular because I used to avoid texture on texture or print on print outfits but now i can freely wear them if only I paired them well. Some of my favourite ways to do this is by wearing textures skirts along with knits, printed and knit vests on lacey or striped shirts. Some of the easiest ways to add texture is using lacing, knit pieces, sequins or your classic denims.

Dressing in Preppy Academia

Especially with the whole going analogue trend that’s happening, people are wanting to dress more academia and preppy, actually combined. This is such a parisian/italian fashion core but incorporated into cool girl.

More than DIY-ing an item you have to focus on styling it right here. For building such an outfit think ties, sweaters over shirts, cardigans, coats, etc. but like make it all cool. Use brighter colours, layer minimal but smart, make it unique and personalised. I particularly love using interesting monochromatic color combinations for these.

Some recurring trending elements that I kept seeing are, bows, scarves, ties, preppy bags, cropped knits, jackets and blazers.

Silk Scarves

Go beyond your imagination here. Use your scarves as freely as possible wherever you can to follow into this summer trend. Ideally, you are sure to have some scarves lying around, if not then this is the thing you thrift.

If you still refuse to thrift then don’t worry, you can pick any old smooth fabric lying around (something which spills) and cut it into pieces. Hem the borders to stop them from fraying.

But the key here is styling. Wear these as tops, belts, accessories, ties, layering, hair ties, necklaces and not only that but also as accessory for your bags.

CBK skirts

All eyes are on Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s minimalist style with the launch of FX’s Love Story, and while many of her capsule-wardrobe pieces are worthy of being an investment in your forever wardrobe, none feel quite as timeless (yet timely) as the column skirt.

Make one by picking up any old maxi/midi skirt you have lying around, the thicker the material, the better. Alter it into a straight fitting one, crop it until it falls a little below your knee like an odd, school girl vibe. That’s it. Don’t make it curvy or fitted, make it more straight and awkward as possible.

Ideally style these with large bags and fitted shirts, focus more on the straight fit and the material rather than the beige colors. The length is also key here as this lies just a little around your knees, kinda awkwardly, which will not reflect if it’s a long or short skirt.

Vamp Heels And Ballet Sneakers

Okay you must be thinking is a trend that cannot be easily DIY-ed, HAHA. Fear not. You have me. Okay to be clear vamp heels cannot be DIY-ed. And you don’t even have to follow it. But if you find it as cool as I did, you can definitely thrift some really awesome vampires heels.

Coming to the second half of the trending shoes, a really cool way to DIY the ballet sneakers trend (and frankly, this being the only reason I like it) is taking beautiful ribbons, and chains and lacing them up your regular sneakers.

I would suggest taking some longer strands of ribbons/chains and lacing it up like proper ballet shoes for that extra flare.

Utility Jackets

Dad jackets are all the rage now. But it’s not just that, it’s more of a utility wear. So bring out your rainy weather clothes in the summer because everyone is wearing windbreakers, raincoats, sports jackets, etc integrated into their daily outfits.

This is another thing you thrift and style instead of DIY-ing. But if you really want some cool ideas, i’d suggest taking a little sporty jacket and changing the color of the zip. Another element that can be added is some extra pockets. A simple but effective trend that can be added is patchworks and pins. Lastly, adding a slight border along the whole piece in a contrasting color really elevates the piece. Rope laces, drawstrings and zippers are classic utilitarian elements you can focus on.

I’d recommend styling it with tons of comfort, making it fully techno-coded and utilitarian with cargo pants, crew necks or sports wears, fanny packs, and so on.

Piratecore

It’s the era of pirate core and as an ardent one piece fan, I am just too happy. Full of ruffles, laces and chunky belts and corsets. Imagine Elizabeth Swan, or heck any character from Pirates of the Caribbean. My theory is that, this year is following a trend of being free in all fashion and pirates are free-iest of them all. (one piece people will know)

Easiest DIYs are laces on all tops right at the centre, with the bow tied up at the chest. Layering tight fitting pieces on oversized and loose ones. Adding loads and loads of ruffles to all pieces. Scarves tied up around the waist under classic fits. Lastly adding multiple chunky belts and jewellery to any looks.

Add tons of ruffles, laces and chunky belts to any look. Add it with layers if not directly with such pieces. Imagine pirates of the Caribbean.

Don’t forget the accessories with hats and scarves tied pirate-style along with knee-length boots.

The Personalised Element

Lastly, do not forget to add something in your outfit that says you. Maybe a handmade tote bag, maybe a piece of jewellery. This season is all about expressing your own whimsy which renders these these trends to nothing without your personal touch to bring them to life.

That’s all the best spring/summer 2026 fashion trends us DIY-ers can root for.

if you are on the journey of avoiding big tech like me and being more intentional with your media consumption but still crave that daily dose of memes, pastimes and distractions, here are some of my favourite websites you should absolutely visit. (these are not all so comment below if you want me to write a part 2)

🎨 Websites With Weird Things To Do (Interactive & Absurd)

Pure digital toys for when you just need to turn your brain off. Interactive maps and random things you can track, and just random af things, honestly even I don’t know how to categorise these.

• Ocearch Shark Tracker (ocearch.org): Follow real, tagged sharks as they migrate across the oceans.

• Flightradar24 (flightradar24.com): See every airplane currently in the sky in real-time.

• Cat Bounce (cat-bounce.com): Exactly what it says—physics-based cats you can toss around.

• Window-Swap (window-swap.com): Peer through any random video in any corner of the world (like a bus window, or some persons window) for a moment of absurdly stalky zen.

• Weird or Confusing (weirdorconfusing.com): Its like “amazon products” video but like a list of the most absurd and wierd ones.

• Paper Toilet (papertoilet.com): A digital toilette paper roll you can just unroll. I like doing this when I am tired and overstimulated, so I get a breather even if I am using my phone.

• Scream into the Void (screamintothevoid.com): You know that moment when you wanna text someone but you dont, or you just wanna rant like really aggressively? Yeah, on this site you can type your frustrations and watch them get sucked into a black hole.

• This is Sand (thisissand.com): Okay so this is more of a game but still weird. Have you seen those videos where they make beautiful art in bottles using sand? Similarly, on this website you click to drop sand and build beautiful, layered landscapes.

• Falling Falling (fallingfalling.com): An absolutely trippy, hypnotic, never-ending visual boxes “collapsing.” Seriously, it is a really trippy website to visit.

📺 Memes & Media Websites (Pastimes & Curation)

The antidote to doom-scrolling—curated, funny, and community-driven.

• Mental Floss (mentalfloss.com): High-quality trivia and deep dives into pop culture. This is totally like buzzfeed but like just a little more nerdy than popcultural, although it still is trendy. This is a website you visit when you want the silliest deep dives.

• Bored Panda (boredpanda.com): A hub for wholesome art, funny photography, and “listicles.” Honestly, this and 9gag is what I visit to get my daily doses of memes when I am off of social media.

• 9GAG (9gag.com): The classic repository for internet memes and viral videos.

• Reddit (reddit.com): I am pretty sure everyone knows this one, but incase you slept on it, reddit had niche communities of people discussing every single thing imaginable.

• The Oatmeal (theoatmeal.com): A website where you can freely access, hilarious and often educational comics by Matthew Inman.

• GIPHY (giphy.com): The ultimate web library for finding the perfect GIF you need for any moment.

• Listverse (listverse.com): On this site there are “Top 10” lists covering the bizarre, the historical, and the creepy. I know we’ve kind of had enough with the list websites but like, you can never have enough listicles can you?

• The Great Discontent (thegreatdiscontent.com): A website full of long-form interviews with iconic artists and designers.

🧠 Educational & Skill-Building Websites

Productive distractions and useful sites.

• Supercook (supercook.com): Input the leftover items in your fridge; get recipes you can actually make.

• Google Arts & Culture (artsandculture.google.com): Take high-res virtual tours of the world’s most famous museums, places, arts and games. Its my favourite online date idea, you visit this website on a meet while having amazing conversations and dinner with your beau.

• Khan Academy (khanacademy.org): Free, high-quality lessons on everything from macroeconomics to biology. And honestly, I love the way they teach.

• TED-Ed (ed.ted.com): Short, beautifully animated videos explaining complex concepts. I just love going to sleep to their videos. I am distracted and a little smarter each time I leave this website.

• Big Think (bigthink.com): Articles and videos from experts on the “big” questions of life and science. I know, it’s a bit nerdy, but genuinely such awesome and curated reads.

• The Exploratorium (exploratorium.edu): This website is of San Francisco’s museum of science and art, where you can visit online exhibits, read articles and my personal favourite, conduct experiments/activities that they suggest. (another really cool date idea)

🛠️ Websites for Creativity & Tools

Essentially productive websites with toolkits that help you build, design, or manipulate digital media.

• Bookwiz (bookwiz.io): A great website for all authors and writers, this is an AI-powered co-writer to help brainstorm and structure books. It makes a mind map for you, helps you write and edit your book and just all in all makes the process easier and smoother.

• 10 Minute Mail (10minutemail.com): A temporary inbox to avoid spam when signing up for one-off sites. It doesn’t really come in use until you want to access that one website which requires you to sign up first.

• Sketchfab (sketchfab.com): A massive library where you can rotate and view 3D models of anything. Perfect for artists who want to view and practice objects.

• Color Hunt (colorhunt.co): A curated collection of beautiful color palettes for artists. My favourite one to visit when I am designing anything, from ppts to posters.

• Dribbble (dribbble.com): A “show and tell” site for digital designers and illustrators. Imagine like a Pinterest meets Instagram scenario, but like just for designers.

• Question AI (questionai.com): An AI tutor that breaks down homework problems step-by-step. This is kinda just a cheat sheet, but hey, this is what helps me spend so much more time reading listicles instead of doing classwork :p.

🎮 Game & Quiz Websites

Testing your knowledge or exploring the world through a little play, because all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy ;\

• Little Alchemy 2 (littlealchemy2.com): Start with Earth, Air, Fire, and Water; mix them to create 700+ items. Seriously. I’ve spent hours immersed into this game. It’s like the coolest way to learn how the world works. Just cannot stress how cool this one is.

• MapCrunch (mapcrunch.com): Teleports you to a random Street View location. Play “Find your way to an airport.” I’m sure you might’ve seen a couple influencers excelling at this, but it is actually really tough, it’s like an online escape room.

• Quick, Draw! (quickdraw.withgoogle.com): You draw an object, and an AI tries to guess what it is. It’s like playing scribble.io but with your computer.

• Draw a Stickman (drawastickman.com): Draw a character and watch them go on a scripted adventure. It’s kinda really silly, something you can do when you’re bored.

• Sporcle (sporcle.com): The “mentally stimulating” quiz site for geography, history, pop culture and sports. Just like random quizzes you can play to test your knowledge. Or challenge your friends.

• GeoGuessr (geoguessr.com): Guess where you are in the world based on a single Google Street View image. Similar to the airport one but here you walk around and guess instead of finding your way out.

• Playbuzz (playbuzz.com): Buzzfeed-style personality quizzes and interactive polls. A kinda fun website to visit when you have someone else doing the quizzes too.

• Jigsaw Planet (jigsawplanet.com): Thousands of free online jigsaw puzzles. My fav fav one. I just love solving jigsaw puzzles.

• NYT Crossword (nytimes.com/crosswords): The gold standard for daily word puzzles. But like if you want other slow games, check this article out:

🎵 Music & Sound

Tools to make noise or understand how sound works. I am not saying these replace the actual feeling of an instrument but like it’s a good place to start instead of doomscrolling.

• Virtual Piano (virtualpiano.net): A realistic piano you can play with your computer keys. It was great to figure out whether I actually wanna learn the instrument or not (actual keyboards are kinda expensive)

• Chrome Music Lab (musiclab.chromeexperiments.com): Experiments that make learning music theory visual and fun.

• Pixel Thoughts (pixelthoughts.co): A 60-second meditation where you watch a bubble disappear into the stars.

• Patatap (patatap.com): An insanely cool website where you can tap your keyboard to trigger colorful animations and synth sounds and legit feel like you are a total DJ as you visit the site and type your name.

• Radio Garden (radio.garden): Rotate a 3D globe to listen to live radio from any city on Earth. My favourite locations to visit anytime are any japanese and indian ones.

• Radiooooo (radiooooo.com): Okay so this is kind of like the other radio website but totally different. On that site you only get to hear what’s playing this very moment, but in this one you choose a country and a decade (e.g., 1970s India) to hear what was playing then. They even have an option for future radio.

• Classic FM (classicfm.com): The world’s biggest classical music station and discovery site. But this website is more than just a radio, it’s like a magazine with news, podcasts and many more things.

So there you have it. Legit 45 things you can do before you indulge in big tech and doomscroll and get influenced and bombarded with 1000 ads. It’s full of timepass things, media you can consume and genuinely explore the internet being the way it was meant to be and not some giant firm influencing you into consuming more and more with ads.

There is conflict and war happening amidst half the globe, environment is degrading, there’s no jobs, people are being laid off, the rich are getting richer and the poor is getting poorer and it seems we’re all stuck fighting in a reels’ comment section.

In such times, it’s important to hold out hope. To be happy and hold your own against the giant corporations that suggest otherwise.

That is what hopecore is, being whimsical, original, going against the trend, helping old people cross the road, making funny faces at little kids on the bus, donating, volunteering, reaching out to your friends even if they don’t reach out to you as much, making popsicles and sharing them with your neighbours, playing games, and spreading smiles. Feeling hopeful and spreading that same hope and joy within the people around you.

One way to start is to have hopecore all around you, in your house, in your outfits and in your day to day lifestyle. Being hopeful and whimsical will constantly keep reminding you to keep being motivated in these uncertain times. To keep holding out for the better, and being the better one.

So that even if you’re crying, you’re crying in your own whimsical wonderland.

Here are some ideas you can inculcate in your daily life:

1. Jars full of paperstars, paperstar curtains just anything made out of paperstars. Something cute to always remind you to look at the stars (even if we can’t see them in the sky anymore)

2. Flowers displayed in unlikely ways— old shampoo bottles, tin cans, alcohol bottles— to remind you of how beautiful things can be found in the most unlikeliest of places.

3. Wearing whimsical patterned scarves as hair bands, on your waists, as a bandana, on your neck anywhere to always be the napkin to wipe your tears or protect you from too much sun. (Source- Trust me, one day I wore a scarf and I was like a completely different person.)

4. Putting happy memories on a post it wall. Just a corner, a small nook in your house which is filled with your happy memories, that time you made a baby laugh, that time you got a free drink, anything which stirs up a happy memory in you to always keep reminding you that life also has good times.

5. Opening your curtains up. Or having sheer curtains, I know I know the sun can be annoying at times, but there’s nothing more hopeful than a room full of natural light.

6. Sticker covered binders(props if they are childhood stickers). Just use your stickers man. You can make or buy more. Decorate your laptops, phone cases and binders. Don’t postpone joy.

7. Growing herbs in your home and then giving goodies made of them to your neighbours. Focaccia, infused teas, oils, flavoured butter what not. Herbs are the easiest to grow and the cutest to gift.

8. Listening to August by Taylor swift just to hear her tell you to live for the hope of it all.

9. Having nature and happy quotes as your wall paper or having the poem “orange” by Wendy Cope as your wall paper like me. Or just any poem. Or any quote that makes you happy.

10. Clicking pictures of things that make you happy- flowers, sunsets, shadows in the sun, beaches, random signs, cute cats and dogs, beautifully baked dishes. Make a folder out of it titled “things to live for”. Just fill your gallery out with a 100 happy pictures.

11. Eating tons of fruits and vegetables. No seriously. Eat as many fruits as you can. They’re natures sweet treats for you. On that note also eat many sweet treats.

12. Always carry a bottle with you to help you be hydrated all the time and refill your body whenever you cry. It’s even better if the bottle is filled with ice tea or your favourite juice instead of plain water.

13. Buy. A. Bubble. Maker. I don’t care how childish it Is. Buy a bubble maker and blow bubbles on your friends or animals or babies. Make them smile.

14. Not knowing the latest trend, just being out of the loop like an old person and being okay with not knowing the latest news or trend that everyone’s talking about. Just for a while, only if you’re too overwhelmed.

15. Wearing colorful clothes that don’t even coordinate. It’s okay, as it is color clashing is a trend this year. People need to see that it’s okay for something to not be completely aesthetic and symmetrical and coordinated.

16. Buttons everywhere. Seriously. Buttons are the thing. People don’t just say “as cute as a button” it’s real, buttons are adorable. On that note, here’s my article on the same:

17. Whimsical lamps. That’s it. That’s all of it. Whimsical lamps, not just one, many. That will totally solve all the problems trust me.

18. Call your friends over and make strawberry desserts with them.

19. Not ordering matcha/lattee/capuchino at a cafe, just nothing with caffeine that makes you hyperactive. Slow down. Get some hot cocoa or ice tea. And always get a pain au chocolat or croissant with whatever drink you’re getting.

20. Carrying around a childhood favourite book with you. Reading it all the time. For me it’s famous five.

21. Doing like fun makeup. Like really unique things you’ve always wanted to try. And then somedays just letting people enjoy and soak in your natural beauty. Yeah you’re a sunflower and you’ll never be too much.

22. Watching only sitcoms and refusing to watch any other drama/popular show people are talking about.

23. Not worrying about lists or things being even and complete, just doing them imperfectly. (Like this one)

Just remembering every day that it’s okay, you are allowed to cut yourself some slack, you’re cute and awesome.

Also don’t forget, you’re smart.

And lastly, you’re awesome. Oh wait did I say that already? Well you totally are.

(Talking to yourself like that is number 24)

Okay now I am done. You get it. Keep holding on, it’ll get better 🫂.

and as much as people would like to think, maintaining a journal is not monotonous, boring or strict at all. infact it’s the most fluid, easy and fun hobby to have. and also something which uses up the aesthetics books I bought for journaling, in a cool way.

more frequently than not, i am often out of ideas as to what to do in a new book and junk journaling, task lists or writing about my day just seems boring or overdone. which is why i decided to come up with as whacky an idea as possible on what journals i could do which are not boring.

through the process its important to remember that these are not to be published, shown or displayed anywhere. it doesn’t have to be perfect or extremely aesthetic, you are a mere mortal who is documenting their daily life in 2026, that too, in a rarely found these days — paper and ink way. which is a thing to be discovered by a futuristic thing in a post-apocalyptic world.

Buildings You Come Across

journaling is all about noticing the mundane things, the typical that you might see everyday but miss. buildings are just like that, in a civilisation which is constantly changing and developing it would be cool to maybe doodle a building you saw, why? maybe it was too small or too tall, maybe it had an interesting color or shape, maybe your friend lives there, who cares? doodle it, maybe write down its area, pin code, prices of the apartments in the building, what amenities it has, as if you are house hunting lol, it just seems pretty cool that one day someone will find a book full of detailed observations on just buildings.

Abandoned Construction Sites

similar to buildings, there are wayy too many abandoned construction sites today, maybe if you find a detail on why they were abandoned, what happened, a cool deep dive into the smallest kernel of history, just 1 page a site, maybe a doodle of what it looks like, where is it, at what time was it abandoned, etc

Public Parks Visits

its a simpler one. it will maybe encourage you to get outside and get some fresh air more. there are tons of local puclic parks in each area, maybe draw the entrance to each one, write down what kind of people frequent the park, maybe draw a plant or a person you see in detail over there. if it has a history maybe write that.

Books I’ve Read In A Page

this i have seen a lot on pinterest and it would be so so cool to have a master book of all the books i have ever read. every page should contain a plot summary, maybe a detail on characters or what the book says. maybe some really cool quotes and pages you love.

Movies I Have Seen As Comic Strips

similar to the books one but this one is slightly more of an artistic challenge, the idea is to make it funny or minimal, like a comic letterbox

Favourite Medias In 2026

just writing down all you liked and loved online in 2026, whatever is the video saying, the post etc all in one book.

The Documentation Of Worldly Slang

a sort of dictionary of current memes, phrases people say, trends etc. just keeping track of evolution of etymology. it’s not about learning something new each day but rather just a track list. you can also add doodles and images of the iconic sources that these slangs came from, like vines, memes, TikToks, etc.

Drawing A Different Plant Each Day

i used to follow this awesome creator who used to draw these plants aesthetically everyday and its pretty cool to learn more about nature. might just save your life one day lol. these are basically called botanical illustrations and more than drawing doodles it’s like more of a diagram of it. you can even stick the plant if you don’t want to draw. write the plant family, parts of the plant, or maybe different plant of the sand family in blocks. here quite literally, the universe is your muse.

Twitter Thoughts/ Unhinged Thoughts

gina once said, when i die turn my tweets into a book. and i agree, when you feel that itch to tweet something unhinged or just get a shower thought, why not make a book out of it. or maybe a book out of your favourite tweets lol. note the timestamp, device and username as well.

World Leaders I Hate/ People Who Should Never Have Ruled

looking at the current global scenario, there are tons of leaders i see which never should have ruled. these are the people i wish to write about in a perspective where they dont go down in the history as heroes because of their local media influence. this will also encourage you to learn more about global geopolitics and be a more worldly individual.

Weaving Books

this is something cool i saw on pinterest. there are various weave patterns that you could make with some of your favourite junk, just cut them into strips and weave them out, every page is just that, your junk item displayed in a beautiful weave.

Foods I Ate

collecting bills, sticking them in a diary, especially for the new dishes you try. although this requires a bit of doodling skills, you can refer to pinterest for it, or just wing it. i love the ones with “what I ate today” or “new foods I’ve tried”.

Imaginary World Tours

create your own imaginary world, something which has a map, a currency, different types of living beings, trade, travel, tech etc. build this imaginary world up in a diary as if you are a mere explorer touring these lands.

and there you have it, journaling is not boring. it is the most fun way to express yourself and track your life, or others lives, or lives of things, or just any damn thing in the world. please be obsessed with journaling and use that aesthetic book you bought that you’re saving for something special.

And the way to do it? Buttons! Which makes perfect sense because buttons are small, cute, somehow available in plenty in all homes and easy to DIY with.

To pay my respects to this trend, I am here with a list of 17 DIYs you can do with, 🥁🥁🥁🥁, yeah you guessed it, BUtToNs!

1. Buttoned bag - THE whimsy core thing to do. I saw this creator on YouTube do it and it’s been on my project list since then, and I cannot wait to whimsyfy my wardrobe like her. Too cute. All you need to do is just make a shape or organize your buttons, maybe pick the ones coordinating most to your bag and just sew them up, you can also glue them with fabric glue if your bag is made out of a very thick material.

   

2. Buttons on hair clips - Honestly a very practical addition to a whimsy wardrobe. My favourite is the button claw clip, because I have too many clips with their enamel coming off. You just need any hair accessories, some buttons and some strong glue which doesn’t easily come off.

   

3. Button belt - It’s quite particular. If you have the tools to make one with all the loops and chains you can, you can also make one by threading it but I am not sure if it’ll give the same look. For the ones who have a lot of time and jewellery making supplies on your hand, all you need are some pliers, silver/golden mini loops, a chain and some buttons to make something so unique that no one else’s wardrobe can ever mimic!

   

4. Button mini photo frames - They are a super adorable gift or a perfect home decor addition. Use up all those cute and fancy (and I know I’m saying it a lot but), whimsy buttons you have. Then just stick it around a cardboard cut out and add your photo behind it. Props if you can add a magnet behind to make a fridge magnet out of it. You can most definitely upcycle those old frames you have lying around as well.

   

5. Buttons on paper clips - TBH it’s the easiest and kind of the most rewarding one. You can use them as fun bookmarks, just whimsical paper clips and use up those buttons which aren’t exactly flat and go everywhere.

   

6. Button curtains - Okay only if you’re bored, instead of doomscrolling do this. It’s one of those big projects you take up when you’re stagnating and looking for some craft to do, but this? It barely requires any crafting skills, all you need is a thread and way too many buttons. Keep threading through and making a knot after each button to secure it until you have a long enough string of buttons, make multiple of those and there you have it, a button curtain.

   

7. Button earrings - Albeit this require some more tools like these loops (jump rings) and the earring hooks, you can still do it with some little purchases from your local craft store or online. And then all you have to do is loop them through and make an earring of buttons. Similarly you can also make ear cuffs.

   

8. Button keychains - Really similar to the earrings, but with a key ring instead of the earring hook. Although this might seem difficult it’s really not, just keep in mind to make it aesthetic. You can also use threads instead of proper key rings.

   

9. Button flowers - These look so absolutely cute, especially the ones stemming from the salt and pepper containers. Totally a cute decor to have which you can make at home with some felt paper, buttons and pipe cleaners or wires.

   

10. Its button o’clock - This is my favourite one. You do need a few supplies for it but this is the ultimate AliceInWonderland-core decor you can have. You’d need a clock mechanism, an embroidery hook with some fabric or a canvas. Use some of those old geometry tools to get the places for the buttons exactly right and sew or glue them in place, and lastly add the clock mechanism to make your own clock.

    

11. Custom napkins - Its an obvious thing but needs to be said, embroidering buttons on napkins is adorable and really cute, especially if you gift it to someone. Customise the hell out of these and make themed napkins for guests or gifting.

    

12. Elastic bookmarks - Easy, quick and affordable; this one is for all the readers who frequently forget where they stopped reading. Why? Because the button makes for the perfect line marker, besides that all you need is a hair tie or any other elastic band and some ribbon. Sew the button on one end and the hair tie on the other, and use this one size for all bookmark to never lose your line again.

    

13. Crochet coasters - As complex as it looks, its just weaving the buttons together using a cord or thread into hexagonal or circular patterns until you have coasters as cute as a button ready. In a similar manner, you can make phone mats, wall hangings and what not.

    

14. Thumbtacks/pins - A whimsical decor item to have for your pinboard, instead of a simple thumbtack you’d have a button one which adds an extra element of personality to the whole board in general, just stick em onto regular thumbtacks and that’s how easy it is.

    

15. Games - A surprising addition for me but these are such simple and elegant solution to extra buttons and whimsical homemade items. You can make X and O, othello, and others.

    

16. Button phone case - Not a very wild idea like some others on the list. Just take a cute phone case (preferably transparent) and stick your cutest buttons on it, and voila! Here’s a cute and fun button diy.

    

17. Button blazer - Okay, so this requires a tad bit of sewing but nothing too difficult. Just pick up your buttons, and sew them along the edges of any blazer/jacket. You pick the edge of the lapels and collars, the pocket liners, and the sleeves and bottom if you can spare the time. Or the same with any other piece of clothing. Make fun patterns or just really fill it up with an overwhelming amount of buttons.

    

I could go on forever but at this point you probably get the gist. It’s really just all about having fun, being whimsy and careless about perfection. Thats all there is.

• Make custom Easer stamps, always carry it and a stamp pad with you. Stamp people wherever you go.

• Make infused gins at home, mulberry, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, what not. if you have restrictions then make infused teas.

• Immortalize your berries. No for real. Take some sugar, a jar and your berries. Just layer sugar and berry in the jar for at least 24-48 hours. Separate the juice and pulp. Make jam from the pump and syrup from the juice.

• Visit your local wonder. Carry a backpack, be a tourist. Stuff like caves, forts and temples. Die in the heat and then drink overpriced touristy ganna juice or coconut water. Eat cucumber and keri. Buy a keychain or magnet as souvenir.

• Visit your parent’s friends. Drag your parents with you. Plan the whole thing. Your parents probably did that when you were a kid. Now do it to them. Lol.

• Make a custom wall clock. Out of an old vinyl record, or a CD, or an embroidery hoop and some buttons. You just need the mechanism which you’ll get at any watch repair shop.

• Make a custom card deck out of a regular one, paint fruits or characters or flowers on it. Cheat with it at games later.

• Buy whatever these net sheets are called and cut 10x10 squares out of them. Use yarn and make motifs and then connect them to make an embroidery bag.

• Make a day long adventure map. It should have multiple stops, one treasure you get at the end, and arduous tasks like eating street food and then buying a particular trinket from that particular shop. Go around in the heat that day. End the day with sunset at that local point and have coffee later. Cold coffee.

• Go to your local Timezone on their cheapest day. Seriously tuesdays or wednesdays or something. Play atleast 2-3 games of bowling but also later get stubborn and play that grab a gift thingy. Save up to splurge here. Have a McDonald’s or dominos later. Like your mom would treat you at a mall.

• Make a leather flip phonecase. No I kid you not. Become an aunty/uncle. But do it cool. Buy a brown leather flip phonecase. Put stickers on it. Put a charm. Open the case and play with the magnet all the time. Close it with a flair to answer calls.

• Wear shorts, T-shirts, sunglasses and bandanas a lot. Yeah no caps. Scarf summer it is. Definitely wear socks and sneakers and wish you wore flip flops and then complain about the sun hurting your skin.

• Drink waters drink juices drink ice teas and refreshers. Drink chhas a lot. Coconut water also. Even ganna juice. And a shit ton of aamras. Just drink.

• Eat gola. Just eat gola. Too much gola.

• Eat mangoes, eat watermelons, eat muskmelon, eat strawberries, devour all the fruits you can, challenge yourself to eat atleast 15 different fruits through the season

• Prank call your friends again. Pretend you’re a school kid and say lame shit. But like be cool about it. Be like Jake Peralta or Barney Stinson. Be awesome.

• Play paper games like name place animal thing, bingo, raja rani chor police, bollywood in the noons. Switch on the ac and play all day.

• Visit your cousins, just do it. Visit older relatives and bring fruits. Tell them to come to your place. They’re not that bad for just one day. And gossip about the ones who didn’t come.

• Get really tanned. Like tanned enough to make your mom ask you to rub some homely cure on your body to detan again.

• Get at least 1 manicure. Preferably before a trip. Just get one. Even if you have to save up for it. Summer nails are the Shiz.

• Do some classes. I don’t know what. Yoga, Pilates, tennis or whatever. Anything that makes you have to wake up at 6/7 am. Before the harsh suns.

• Always carry a bottle, put stickers on it, add charms.

• Make at least 1 summer top/dress/thrift/upcycling DIY thingy to wear. Wear it a 100 times with pride that summer.

• Buy a cute jar. Fill it with flowers. Make it your duty to refresh the water and then later the flowers through the summer. Get baby’s breath, hibiscus, periwinkle, whatever.

• Finish at least 1 book. (series, I mean). Okay no even just 1 book is fine, just read like you used to in summers.

• Start all your mornings with smoothies. Watermelon, mint, honey, lime for one. Or mixed berries, greek yoghurt, milk, honey.

• Go to one waterpark. It will be crowded. Its okay. Wait in long queues for rides. End the day at the Wave pool dance party. Do not miss that. Seriously. DONT. Also do the lazy river. Don’t feel grossed out or self conscious.

• Rent a bicycle one evening. Maybe go out at like 10/11 pm. Just a ride through your neighbourhood. Feel the cool breeze. Go to a juice shop nearby and have mango milkshake, or whatever other fruit shake you like, get one with an icecream, or just get an icecream.

• Take your parents for a weekend trip to a local hillstation. make it your treat. go all out. book in advance. do what they did for you as a kid.

• Do a skincare day. or maybe just a mask one day. that whole cooling aloevera cucumber thing.

And anything else. Whatever will bring the summer magic back to your life. Dont forget that summers are a fun vacation time. Even as an adult.

“I cannot make you understand.

I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.”

Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis

A lot of people read The Metamorphosis by Kafka and immediately developed a love for the inexplicable overwhelm of life.

I, unfortunately, was not one of them. I just couldn’t seem to understand the appeal of such ‘depressing literature’, as I used to call it.

Admittedly, I was only forced to read it after the booktok hype of Kafka, and failed to understand the hype completely. Eventually I had to study this genre for a class later, forcing me to read more of Camus, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky and the likes.

I had despised the concept of “negative capability” in class, which is the artist’s ability to appreciate beauty and truth within mystery and doubt, without forcing a logical resolution.

That’s the moment where kafkaesque as a concept clicked for me!

It indeed took me a minute, but somehow I finally understood what these authors were trying to say, as I felt like one of their protagonists. Those who have futile struggle to find meaning or control when trapped within a surreal, nightmarish, and illogical system.

So I feel if you like these works you’re a slight bit of a controlling individual who likes having everything understood and clear, like me. Obviously I still have some sort of love-hate relationship with the genre, but in good faith I do accept it now and definitely don’t hate on it (a lot).

It took a lot of readings but I was able to develop a list of some such Kafkaesque works which I suggest everyone who likes this genre should read.

The list has some hidden gems, but it also has a couple popular pieces incase you have debated whether to read them or not. I have also tried to keep the list diverse between different kinds of prose incase some of you like different writing styles or just cannot read a whole novel at times.

P.S- these are not ALL kafkaesque works some of them are just something you can read post reading Metamorphosis or The Trial.

1. Edgar Allen Poe- Ligeia

I would start with Poe purely because he’s a personal favourite writer. I believe no one else can express the emotions of anxiety and excitement better than he does, thus he has immense relevance to this conversation of emotions which are immensely present in kakfaesque.

Ligeia is a short story about the metamorphosis of a woman after her death in the eyes of her husband, who’s the unreliable narrator. This story’s obsessive and unreliable state of mind elements are what you might find attuned to kafkaesque works. Although the bleak reality of human nature type writing is not present in this romantic and metaphysical work, it’s quite gothic and for Wednesday fans, this might just be the perfect blend.

2. Albert Camus - The Stranger

We cannot have a conversation about existentialism without Camus so here it is, the most popular post-kafka book recommended out there. The reason I added this book to the list is that it talks about the very familiar fundamental conflict between humanity’s innate need for meaning and the universe’s cold silence.

The novel follows Mersault and his emotional detachment upon his mothers death and later committing a murder and being on trial for it in the second half. The part you will like is the whole benign and absurdist theme of the novel where this guy refuses to invent meaning for anything- he just accepts the world, illogical as it is without any explanation, thus also getting alienated from the rest of the society around him. So if you at all love the whole idea of stoicism and existentialist philosophies, this one is for you.

3. Milan Kundera- The Unbearable Lightness Of Being

Milan Kundera is one of my hidden gems and is a personal favourite. It is the book that made me fall in love with this existentialist style. Although this is a little bit of a romantic drama with the philosophical reflection of each of the character’s struggles using their choices and perspectives to explore the freedoms and burdens of being. This also has elements of political oppressions (since its set in 1968 Prague with soviet invasion) and how it crushes individual freedom and the life long human desire to find spiritual longing within physical desires.

Imagine a kind of philosophical commentary with a politically charged Gossip Girl vibe- the gossip being on the intertwined lives of two couples- Tomas (a promiscuous surgeon), teresa (his complex wife), Sabina (Tomas’ mistress) and Franz (Sabina’s lover).

4. Emil Cioran- The Trouble With Being Born

Another hidden gem. If you’re too deep into a kafkaesque bleak world then this one is something you will definitely relate to. A collection of Aphorisms such as- “It is not worth the bother of killing yourself, since you always kill yourself too late”, are what make up this misery of a book.

Dark and beautiful prose, brilliant dissections and savage pessimistic honestly are something that did keep me going but like a 100 trigger warnings before you jump into it as it only talks about the nihilistic despair of human existence with topics like; burden of self-awareness, futility of action, misery of being born and ultimately- the seductive nature of suicide.

Although, its not something I’ll reach for again and again as I cannot get its intrusive words out of my head- recommending this only for the strong hearted.

5. Friedrich Nietzsche- Beyond Good And Evil

I know, I know, quite popular these days, especially on substack. But for those who are slightly unaware of it like me- here’s a short tl/dr on what the fuss is all about.

Essentially he dives into a philosophical dissection of what we all feel regarding the world around us, similar to all kafka characters- its arbitrary and meaningless- which is all in all a defiant philosophical response to the search for meaning.

To which, Nietzsche suggests “perspectivism”, a philosophy where there is no absolute fact, just interpretations, and the creation of self-mastered individuals who define meaning for themselves. A lot like us substack authors who reject social media influencers, ads, AI and algorithms and try to create our own small platform expressing our own small interests, lol.

This book is a lot of philosophical discussion, something sort of a long rant of a guy which we all can relate to (also like substack authors :P). So incase you cannot read something without a story to grip you, avoid this one.

6. Jean Paul Sartre- Nausea

Its not exactly a book but rather presented as a diary of the character Antoine Roquentin (so we already have an unreliable narrator, great) who is a historian living in the french town ‘Bouville’.

The diary gradually depicts his experience as he gets more and more disgusted, or Nauseated by the sheer meaninglessness and arbitrary of his own existence. The more he gets nauseated, the more he is isolated and and the existentialist contingency of this this novel increases. The anxiety inducing prose is what made me love-hate it, but should definitely interest all Kafka fans. The visceral nature of humans ‘being condemned to their freedom’ is what gets to you in this novel.

7. Plato- The Symposium

Plato? In a list of Kafkaesque works? A surprising entry in this list don’t you agree? I felt the exact same recommending this one. Its one of those things, you just had to be there. Once you read it you will get why its here.

For those who are still on the fence let me elaborate- this one is about finding that meaning and resolution. I know as much as we love the negative capability of our authors there is just something about a clear resolution that comes after a symposium, listening to experts talk about what they know best. It was a sort of a therapy session for me.

It recounts a dinner party held in Athens where Socrates, Aristophanes and other prominent Athenians deliver speeches on various topics all culminating in Socrate’s account of the hierarchy of love and beauty. Thus resulting in the platonic ascent of finding true spirituality. A must read POST-KAFKA so as to not lose your sanity completely.

A Small Bonus- 8. Samuel Beckett- Waiting for Godot

Its a play that drove me crazy while reading it. So why suffer alone? Which is why a small bonus recommendation along with all other works of this playwright.

This play details the adventures (if that is what you can even call them) of 2 characters (Estragon and Vladimir) who are waiting for their 3rd counterpart Godot. All absurd things are happening because the setting is such. Or maybe just normal things are happening and the expression of it is absurd. Or maybe I am absurd for thinking its absurd and everything is normal. I don’t know anymore.

That is exactly how you will probably feel waiting for godot with them. Without giving anything away, happy reading :)

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I hope you can do these and it helps you make your day better too!

Step 1- I hate taking a bath before bed, it almost wakes me up, but I do like to wash my hands legs and face, just to feel clean in a humid and dusty environment that I live in. With this I also wash my face, apply acne medicine and some moisturiser. This is essentially a micro face care routine of whatever works for you. Alongside you can also brush and braid your hair.

When I wake up, its nice to wake up with smoother skin, lesser acne (maybe its those droopy eyes) and unknotted hair. This immediately makes you feel good about yourself and not scrutinise yourself too hard and set a mad mood for the day right in the morning.

Step 2- Change into separate clothes- theres just something about fresh clean clothes that are breathable. I like keeping a few sets which I only use as a “Nightdress”. It smells good like my detergent and helps me sleep easier.

I don’t instantly feel dirty the next morning and somehow always just sleep better because of this.

Step 3- Drink some water. If you usually tend to eat meals right before sleeping (like me) then its a good idea to get some water in your system. I usually like doing this while watching cartoon or low stimulating videos or talking to my boyfriend.

I don’t wake up thirsty at night, and thus am well hydrated in the mornings too, and don’t have that dry morning throat because of this.

Step 4- Maybe this one’s just for me, but my parents made it a habit since I was a kid to “drink water and pee” before going to bed its still stuck with me. Something good about not waking up in the middle of the night and getting in a full night’s sleep.

P.s- I saw it in a TedED video that apparently its not good for your kidneys to have the bladder be full of water at night. So yeah. Pee before sleeping.

Step 5- Emptying the brain of all thoughts- you don’t necessarily need to journal, maybe you can work on an article, or just write a rant down in notes, or also journal.

It needn’t be done everyday but when your brain is full it helps you empty it and get some direction as to what is to be prioritised the next day, or just get whatever is in the system-out.

Step 6- Playing some daily games on your phone- instead of going cold turkey on using phone before bed (which I admit to have an unhealthy addiction to) prefer doing low-stimulating things instead of doomscrolling. Games like: sudoku and crossword are the best. Not having the latest news/trend/post in my head as the last thought before I fall asleep makes me just feel better in general.

I put my phone down here. Or sometimes just fall asleep to this.

Step 7- (My favourite one) Visualise my next day. my next week. my next month. my next year. the next 5 years. Remember as a kid how we didn’t have phones and used to just create dream scenarios in our heads and fell asleep to our imagination? Well exactly just that.

My mom used to prompt this when I was a kid, “try to remember what all you did today, what all things will you do tomorrow?” And doing these made my next days just 10x better.

Why? Simply because instead of waking up with a blank mind and checking my phone, getting distracted and losing track of time, you will have a game plan.

Just like how, I know I need to wash my hair, eat breakfast, write a lil more for substack, and similarly go by my other tasks for the day.

I mostly fall asleep here, but incase I am having a lot of anxiety or overthinking something in general, I like to add one last step to these nightly rituals;

Step 8- Watching TedED videos on low volume. These are just the perfect recreation of the calm of those classes as a kid where you’d just put your head down and fall asleep on the last bench. Somehow distracts me, gives me interesting facts, and allows me to fall asleep easily.

Thats it. This is the mini ritual I follow to make myself have better next days. Nothing too extravagant. No 20 steps for skincare alone. No everything showers. Something a lazy person like me can do everyday like a ritual, religiously.

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The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

- An aphorism dedicated to Percy Bysshe Shelly

Ever been frustrated with the fact that these days only the rich seem to be making more money whereas everybody else just keeps struggling to make ends meet?

Generally, we all picture of a utopia where everyone is making money and progressing simultaneously. But these days the actual concept of capitalism and wealth accumulation has become very skewed, creating a dualistic economy where the returns disproportionately favour the rich, contradicting the true idea of capitalism in itself, but that’s a conversation for another time.

Now, we talk about the problem that we have today, wealth accumulation, creation of generational wealth and essentially, “rich getting richer; poor getting poorer”

In a way, we can think of that as money hoarding- where this wealth is put into holdings and investments that are just stagnated wealth growers while actual society does not progress.

The core issue here lies in moneys current design as the perfect store of value as an asset, which encourages hoarding over exchange. To fix this we’d need a currency that acts more like a tool than a permanent asset.

What kind of currency, then, could be aligned with the living world so that it promoted regenerative investments rather than pursuing endless accumulation?

One possibility is a currency bearing demurrage, first suggested by the German-Argentine economist Silvio Gesell who advocated for demurrage currency as part of the Freiwirtschaft (translates to- Free Economy) economic system in his 1960 book The Natural Economic Order.

Demurrage is essentially a small fee incurred for holding money, so that it tends to lose rather than gain in value the longer it is held.

Keep in mind it is different from inflation- this causes your money to lose its purchasing power, giving the idea that currency is naturally depreciating. This currency will loose its value at a constant interest rate, such as 1% a month.

The fact that demurrage is an unfamiliar term shows how accustomed we are to the ever-rising financial escalator that we ride – like knowing the idea of ‘up’ but not ‘down’, ‘more’ but not ‘less’. But demurrage is a word worth knowing because it could just feature in the financial future.

But what exactly does this depreciating currency mean?

Money, as a concept in itself has a few functions- it is used as a medium of exchange, store of value and to maintain accounts.

The function that will be in limelight here is “store of value”, it means that an asset can be stored and it will have a greater use and value in future as well.

Now that in itself doesn’t sound very problematic does it?

But if you consider an investment which gives 10% returns every year for an already wealthy individual- that gives him the power to beat inflation while not having to work as his money does not loose value (because of 10% interest he’s gaining on his principal amount)

This is what would be considered as wealth accumulation.

If you’ve ever dreamed that many Billionaires and Trillionaires should just give everyone 100,000 dollars as they have so much money, you might just like this concept.

We don’t have a wealth ceiling as such, so we cannot tell a rich individual to just give up his/her money.

So, what if that money were to loose its value?

Proponents of demurrage currency believe that the function of store of value- is completely contradictory to its function of being a medium of exchange.

Why is that? Because if something is made to store, people will focus on storing it rather than exchanging it, and soon it becomes the next “gold”.

Thus with a mind to prevent that, Gessel, suggested introducing a paper currency accompanied by stamps that must be bought and periodically affixed to it to ensure its continued validity. But this is not just waste money, it’s a fee for holding the medium of exchange which might have some social utility, such as the collected fee could be used to build a basic income fund or other social infrastructures like homeless shelters.

Speaking in layman terms, this means that- we get a money which is perishable. Sort of like a loaf of bread which has an expiry date attached to it, and you have to keep buying it fresh to use every time. And the buying fee goes to develop the bread factory for the better (better quality flour, or machines).

In The Natural Economic Order, Gesell wrote: "The power of money to effect exchanges, its technical quality from the mercantile standpoint, is in inverse proportion to its technical quality from the banking standpoint."

This implies that money that is great for storing wealth, but is bad for functioning as a medium of exchange, even though the latter function was the prime reason why money was created in the first place.

Since demurrage currency is deliberately designed to be bad at storing value, it is therefore great at functioning as a medium of exchange, which Gesell believed to be the only legitimate function of money.

Only money that “goes out of date like a newspaper, rots like potatoes, rusts like iron” would be willingly handed over for objects that similarly decay, argued Gessel: “… we must make money worse as a commodity if we wish to make it better as a medium of exchange”.

Demurrage may seem quite alien to modern financial markets, but it is not so far removed from negative interest rates, which effectively charge those who are holding money in savings. These negative rates have become part of the contemporary financial landscape, being used for emergency measure by Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the European Central Bank since 2014. These countries’ aims have been diverse – to resurrect GDP growth, to manage exchange rates, and to raise inflation – but between them they have bust the myth that interest rates cannot fall below zero.

In today’s date, this would imply a currency that would depreciate rather than appreciate, solving the problem of “savings” as a leakage in the circular flow of income, as people would invest rather than holding money in their savings accounts. And you might say cash is outdated anyways and everyone invests today, but remember investments make you focus on quick short term gains rather than long-term maintenance. And not all investments promise future monetary gains, thus those could also loose value unless it’s government bonds or securities. Thus most focus will be on productive investments that are regenerative.

How does it exactly make the world better you ask?

By assigning a currency to be depreciating in nature, it causes money to increase its velocity. Where,

Velocity of money = number of times that one unit of currency is used to purchase goods and services within a given time period

This functions in line with Gresham’s law “bad money drives out good”- predicting that this money would suffer a more rapid circulation than other currencies.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, as a faster velocity would only boost economic activity. In real-life experiments during the early-to-mid 1900s, demurrage on money was demonstrated to significantly increase the velocity of money in circulation, even incentivising people to pay their taxes in advance!

This also holds true in line with the concept of dishoarding. In economics, this refers to the reduction of one’s asset holdings of money. People may hoard for safety, expected returns, irrationality, or to diversify assets, rather than simply using money as a medium of exchange for buying goods and services.

Imagine everyone decluttering their financial holdings like their closets. Donating all they don’t use and then only keeping as much as they need!

Another major concern in economic cycles- RECESSION, could possibly be ended by this demurrage currency. Simply because in economic downturns, people are holding money as prices keep falling (inflation= a gradual rise in prices, recession= a fall in those prices). Thus the economy cannot revive itself as no one is ready to spend money as everybody is scared of prices falling further. And in future everybody who hoarded this money is rewarded with their money which has gained value by doing just nothing. Instead, if the money were also to loose value in recession, people would try to rid themselves of it faster, thus either spending it or using it to buy future promises of money (which doesn’t loose its value) like government bonds or stocks. Since people are spending money even in recession and there isn’t any economic slowdown, recession would have ended. Crazy right?!

These ideas sound outlandish and impracticable on first hearing but they have proven very practical in the past.

Paper-based demurrage was successfully used in city-scale complementary currencies in 1930s Germany and Austria to reinvigorate the local economy, and it was almost introduced across the US in 1933. But in each case, the national government shut the initiative down, evidently threatened by its bottom-up success and the loss of state control over the power to create money.

John Maryard Keynes, a big shot economist, however, was impressed by Gessel – who he called ‘an unduly neglected prophet’ – and was drawn to his proposal because of its proven ability to reboot spending in the economy, the priority of the Depression era.

What a utopia it could create, right?

Picture this new currency as a plant, which has to be consistently pruned and watered, that gives you returns in the long run. A truly regenerative system that would help us all be as mindful of money as we try to be of our social media consumption.

Imagine, then, if a demurrage-bearing currency could be designed so that, instead of boosting consumption today, it boosted regenerative investments in tomorrow.

Keep in mind that not all investments PROMISE future monetary gains like government bonds, thus only investments which are promising that they will have long-term maintenance of that currency value instead of quick short term gains will be favoured (like a farmers produce, or an NGO cleaning a river)

It would transform the landscape of financial expectations: in essence, the search for gain of more and more money would be replaced by the search to maintain value of that money by spending it mindfully.

And one of the best ways to preserve the long-term value of stored wealth would be to invest it in long-term regenerative activity such as a reforestation scheme.

Banks would consider lending to enterprises promising a near-zero return on investment (such as MSMEs or SMEs) if that were preferable to the cost of holding money: that would bode well for regenerative and distributive enterprises delivering social and natural wealth along with a modest financial return, such as NGOs and think tanks.

And it would, crucially, help to release the economy from the expectation of endless accumulation, and hence the financial addiction to growth.

A currency that would boost investments into SMEs and NGOs, recover recessions, promote more donations against savings, allow you to exchange it for goods and services, sounds like the dream currency compared to what we have now!

But of course the idea of designing demurrage into currency raises many challenging questions for a financial system, such as its implications for inflation and exchange rates, for capital flows and pension funds, and its balance between stimulating consumption and boosting investment. But these are just the kinds of question that are now well worth exploring in today’s date where income inequality is increasing drastically and only the very few wealthy are growing as the world regresses into a barren, war ridden land.

A currency that would be in service to thriving – rather than ever-growing – economies. And, as the use of negative interest rates has shown in recent years, it is striking just how quickly the unfeasibly radical can become the feasibly practical.

And especially in today’s date, the same effect could be achieved far more simply with electronic currency that incurred a charge for being held over time, so curtailing the use of money as a store of ever-accumulating value.

Inspired by: Wikipedia- Demurrage Currency, Book- Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth, YouTube- The Silvio Gessel Foundation

Dear teen fangirl,

I know you’re busy with reading fanfics on Wattpad and AO3 and trying to delve into discussions on various headcanons, but I’d like to ask for your attention for a couple of minutes.

I want to say I miss you. Cherish this time as much as you can, devouring your Percy Jackson, mortal instruments and wimpy kid books in weeks. Because soon you’ll be lost in a frenzy of “grown up literature”. Having to read for classes and tests. Having to read not for pleasure but for sounding smart and philosophical. Having to read not for the curiosity of mythologies and escape from reality but to die within Camus and reflect with Kafka.

Too deep right? I know. You definitely don’t like such writing at this time. Although you’ll grow to like it soon. Non-fiction will be your jam and you’ll be as pretentious as Ted Mosby reading Inferno in original Italian (you’ll do that too don’t worry). And learn Latin. And French.

How’s reading for fun been though? Are you excited about the upcoming 3rd series in the PJO franchise?

….yeah…..you’ll never get to reading them…..I’m sorry to break it to you, and it crushes my heart to say that….you won’t be a fangirl for much longer.

So cherish those smutty fanfics and shipping your favourite characters. Ignore all the hate you have in real life for being such a nerd and losing your friends because you’re reading, and just cherish it as much as you can.

Fall deep into those Enid blyton mysteries (they’ll evolve into a love for Dan brown later).

Go crazy about the Greek mythological Percy Jackson (they’ll help you ace in Romantic Literature, which is full of allusions to it).

And absolutely allow yourself to go wild over the hilarious Wimpy Kid series (they’ll help you save your sanity and keep laughing as you grow up)

I know you’d like to exist with these fictional characters more than exist in the real world. Don’t worry though. As they’re taken away from you with age, you’ll find your tribe.

You’ll find places to express your love for them and how they saved you. You’ll find amazing friends that don’t judge you when you nerd out on how hot Alec and Magnus are from Shadowhunters, or how No Game No Life should never have been cancelled. They’ll even watch some episodes with you, or even binge the whole show because they love it too.

Most of all, keep doing it for me. Because one day, you’ll grow up and realise how amazing that time was and how badly you wish you could indulge in all these fandoms for the very first time once again.

Because one day you’ll grow up and realise how much your favourite books, shows and anime cultured you and how you have so many niche interests to bond over others like you with.

Don’t pay attention to those friends who bully you for it. Focus on indulging yourself more as over time you’ll lose it slowly.

And don’t be embarrassed. It’s literally the crux of our personality. And keep reading huge works, because soon you’ll get a phone and Instagram and your attention span of reading books within days will completely be destroyed. So enjoy it. As much as you can.

And I miss you, so so much. I miss your capacity to read and your excitement to get books. I miss the value you had for literature and how despite not being able to buy these books, you’d rent them from the library 2 at a time and read as many as you could within the month because subscribing was also expensive (not as much as buying it tho).

I have a surprise for you.

You’ll own a huge book collection as you grow up. Although you won’t have much time to read it all- you’ll try your best. And when you can’t, you’ll be sad and miss your old fangirl self who was super excited about all these books. And then maybe write a letter to her.

All my love,

Your future literature major nerd.

Happy reading. Or Watching. Or binging.

PSA- i switched to month instead of weeks because I was not feeling very good previously and had not much to write, as soon as I realise my weeks are again pretty full of cool creations, i’ll switch back

1. I finished reading half of the books out of the 8 I had started this year. I also made a list of all the books I had left in the middle to finish and read. Although I am terribly wanting to read the whole famous five series from Enid Blyton right now and nothing else :(.

   

2. I finished a cute zine I had started a while back, although it caught some fungus due to the monsoon moisture we’ve had, but it’s still what I wanted it to be, weird.

3. I completely rearranged my library, decluttered and took out books which I didn’t need to trade/give away, made a list of books missing from sets, just all in all a complete record of my books

   

4. I scored the highest in this test of a professor I revere

   

5. I have been following a proper night routine for a while now and well it shows the difference!!

6. I finished making 2 book game boxes (and gosh they look amazing to me) I just need to label them nicely I guess!!

   

7. Participated in all the festivals that came and went- I fasted during paryushan, went out the whole night to look at ganpatis during ganesh chaturthi, honestly some of the best time this year!!

8. I captured this beautiful video of the moon being eaten up by clouds

9. I spent tons of time with family and friends!!

10. I colored this page in my coloring book:

    

11. I cooked quite a lot of times this month, although I don’t have any pictures of it :(

that’s it

That’s all the victories I had this month

This series is not for anything. It’s my digital repository for things I make. I tend to make a lot of random things. I want to keep a record of all of them. With that I also wanted to keep a small note of all the happy memories through. This does not mean that I had a straight up positive week, I had my lows too, I just wanna remember the good stuff. I’d love for anyone who reads this to share their victories through the week or month too.

Thankyou for reading this.

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I am too wierd for the normals but too normal for the wierd,

I am too rich for the middle class I’m too middle class for the rich,

I’m too dull for the bright and I’m too bright for the dull

I outshine myself within a width but I cannot bide my own win.

With this stick that I have I cannot even suffice my own vice,

The great, the better, the worst all of them are some extremes, but I am only good—

I am only good in my doing, but what can I do within that field;

I try try till I succeed but I am only average even in my dreams.

What I am mid at just comes to me, like in a spur of a sporadic zeal;

It’s not my own,

I feel a ghost has possessed me as I’m not the truth,

I am only the imposter that has just fessed’ in.

My only saving grace are my words,

Not whole, just empty theories without a goal.

My words, the ones that are so minor they cannot even have a differentiator,

Something with which even a computer can come up;

Made of numbers, binary and symbols, another thing to which I cannot catch up.

Words that can’t even get a penny on their spell,

A fire with which only a few can get,

The brand deal to their content.

Such are the times of today’s feat,

Feet are more to value than someone’s defeat.

I write, I learn, I paint, I yearn

Isn’t that enough? Oh tell me Gods of the burn;

Isn’t it enough for one to just love, why does the money, the system need to constantly churn?

As someone before me said,

An artist can make or destroy, yet in today’s reality, the good artist can only make a marketing ploy.

I crave for a pure art, untouched, unbothered by the newest faad,

I look for a compadre, a friend, a fighter in this war;

Someone to be with me and write about these tarts.

As I feel like giving up my life, the life which is purely my latest love,

I see a rising star, another paid PR

With that I hasten the pace of my deleting all my scars,

Just about to give up on upholding the standards with my mediocre bars—

When I fall to rage against yet another incorrect, inaccurate and terrible TikTaak;

Only to pick up the mighty keyboard again to type up my rant on today’s works of art.

I’m not much of a gamer. Have never been into video games or games that require you to learn a lot about it how they work. But playing games is something I constantly needed to do, maybe to fidget, maybe to just keep my brain running. Whatever it was, playing these daily, slow, thought provoking games genuinely changed my life.

These games stimulated my hyperactive brain but at the same time their UI was not as addictive or overstimulating as a Subway Surfer or anything. Most don’t even require net and can run completely offline. These became a sort of daily ritual to solve and play while having my breakfast and just starting the day out. Playing them helped me slow down and just be more present, and I hope these help you the same way too- if not then these are just some fun games you can try to challenge yourself!

Sudoku On The New York Times-

Something about the tricky repeating number patterns in this one helps me slow down. Also people are never not amazed seeing me solve these. I absolutely enjoy solving all 3 levels (easy, medium, hard) on the NYT app and in the past 2 years there might’ve rarely been a day where I’ve missed them.

The game is basically where you solve a 9x9 square which is sorted into 9 boxes each of 9 squares and you have to arrange numbers from 1-9 in a way that no row, column or box has any digit repeating. It’s a great thing to do in the mornings, noons or genuinely all day where you just wanna play a grandma game which doesn’t take a lot of energy and impulsivity like subway surfers.

P.s: I am slightly proud to say my highest screen time is not any social media but the NYT app precisely because of my addiction to playing all 3 sudokus each day.

Here is the website which you can add into your home screen or bookmark- https://www.nytimes.com/puzzles/sudoku

(you can also download their app, and you don’t need a subscription to play this one)

Crosswords On The LA Times-

Just solving one every day is super enriching, I have learnt so many things I never knew. It required a lot of time, sitting down with a pen and just slowing down without a screen is somewhat of a daily ritual to me. Now it has become my morning ritual- wake up in the morning, have some breakfast and then sit with my cup of coffee and crossword. Without any entertainment or external stimulants, just racking my brain incessantly for getting the answer to “capital of poland”.

A crossword is where you solve cryptic clues to fill in words in a tricky square where different answers to different clues overlap- and all should match and fit in together.

My favourite sources are my daily local newspaper and a classic crossword book. For NYT you can play the mini crossword w/o subscription but for the daily one you need to buy a subscription (sadly I don’t have it). The alternative I’d recommend is TOI daily crossword and LA times daily crossword.

Here is the website which you can add into your home screen or bookmark- https://www.latimes.com/games/daily-crossword (LA Times)

Squardle-

It’s not wordle, it’s squardle. And unlike the other games on this list, it has its own website. This has been one of my biggest source of expanding my vocabulary in the past few years. This is more of a challenge than relaxing but sometimes you need a whole lot of stimulation and that itch to solve a thing which this game scratches perfectly.

Its your classic word search puzzle. Everyday they have a new square of letters which need to be connected to form words, sometimes 20 or sometimes 60 (you’ll get the gist once you play it).

Here is the website which you can add into your home screen or bookmark https://squaredle.app/

Location Guesser on The Times Of India-

It’s small and quick like worldle but really engaging and makes me feel excited to solve. And you can even compete with someone on your scores which makes it all the more engaging. I like to play it solo because of my lack of knowledge of worldly spaces, but this helps me improve it. Its a good break on those crazy busy days where you need a quick brain refresher.

It basically shows you a video clip of a location and then you have to take a guess what location it is. The more closer you are to the actual location the higher the points you get. You have 3 chances to get the highest out of 1000 points possible and guess the exact location.

Here is the website you can add to homescreen or bookmark- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/games/location-guesser/today

Daily Jigsaw on The Washington Post-

Woah, this one was a gem of a find. I agree, its a little tricky to adjust to solving a jigsaw on your screen rather than physically but after you get used to it, the puzzle is one of the best daily games to play.

TWP daily uploads a jigsaw puzzle on 3 levels- easy, normal and expert, which is actually challenging. You have couple tools like clean up and see the picture but the crux is that you have to solve it within a given time limit or you lose. What a fun take on the otherwise slow Jigsaw puzzles!

P.s: I still cannot solve the expert level on this one.

Here is the website which you can add to homescreen or bookmark- https://games.washingtonpost.com/games/daily-jigsaw

A tip I’d give is instead of downloading all these apps and subscribing to them (even for free), just bookmark their websites and open them whenever you wish to play, to avoid clutter and unwanted emails.

And of course, the best solution is to just directly buy a book of puzzles and solve one each day in your own time, best to be off-screen for a while. Even local newspapers are fun sources of such games.

These apps also have other daily games which you can try and see what suits to your liking and then download or subscribe to maybe one of them.

So there you have it- 5 daily games you can play to slow down and stimulate your brain at the same time.

I have more recommendations, so incase you guys want a part 2 definitely let me know!

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Why get rid of what you already have, only to create a void that companies eagerly fill with more new products? It feels like a cycle that doesn't quite make sense.

I don’t mean, don’t purge at all, but why be so hard on yourself and go cold turkey all of a sudden. Why not take it slow? Step by step.

Doesn’t decluttering in a purge seem like not moving on from an ex, but just acting out to release that anger. With the only difference being; while decluttering you’re acting out to release the overwhelm of things.

My suggestion is to deal with it like you’d deal with your emotions- feel it out, accept it, work with it.

My journey of this process began just like anyone else — when I realised I simply had too much stuff (like 10 jackets in a city where 20 Celsius was our lowest temp).

One day, I saw this documentary on Netflix called Buy Now. And it had a huge impact on me. After this I just couldn’t feel happy consuming more and more (stick with me it’s still as much about decluttering as much about consumerism).

That thrill when you buy new things? It had completely vanished. The only excitement came from snagging heavy discounts, and even then, I wasn’t feeling completely satisfied. Most of what I bought sat unused.

This January, I just decided to stop. I committed to a year-long buying freeze to see what would happen. It wasn't easy, to be honest. There were so many times I wanted to buy something, only to remember I already had a perfectly good version at home.

Which is why, the basic rule was, from stationery to clothes to makeup : if I already had it, I wouldn't buy it.

And through this I have learnt a lot which I felt could help others too. This? It changed the way I looked at a lot of things completely. Here are the 7 steps I would’ve followed after learning what I have learnt:

1. Noticing everything I owned:

Honestly, this isn’t meant to be a major step with cataloging, labelling and organisers. All I mean is, notice more. Try to remember all you have.

It helps motivate your brain when you know how much of what you own (like me and my 10 jackets). Just adjusting to the idea that you do have too much. I also found that a little bit of guilt about my unused purchases helped, although it maybe triggering to some.

It will come in handy when you’re about to buy something new- as it should ideally click in your mind, I already have this/ something like this when you have mentally noted all that you own.

2. Sorting what I regularly used and what I didn’t:

Now this wasn’t a sit down purge of my whole closet being emptied and sorted- like most of us I didn’t have time or energy for that sort of thing, especially in this economy.

What I did have? A liberty to declutter softly, over time. And that’s exactly what I did. Over a couple months, as I noticed more and more, I kept realising more and more of what I did not use- maybe a pant that didn’t fit anymore, some expired makeup, a couple of broken zips and torn fabrics here and there, or just things I didn’t like and want anymore.

All of this, went into what you’d call a “purge box”. For me it was a large empty suitcase, but you can also use a cardboard box or an empty cabinet or something, anywhere you’d notice these things but not make a mess, you know what I mean, right?

So for a few weeks after that, I kept piling all of my broken and unused possessions into that box. From hobby supplies to winter clothes, everything you’d remove should be in there.

3. Here’s the crux- Hoard everything

It’s the most nonsensical and abnormal way to declutter but I didn’t give away everything I didn’t use- I hoarded it. This stemmed from various reasons:

• An orphanage caretaker once shared with me on my annual birthday visit, “We don't always need more old clothes, broken toys, or unhealthy food because people keep sending an overflow of such items, most of which we can’t even use. We usually just need people to spend time with the children or provide financial assistance to pay the bills you know.” After that, I felt extremely guilty, for I had given packets of unhealthy chips and a box of old clothes along with some money feeling like “wow I am so amazing for doing this”.

• There's ample research and documentaries highlighting how donated and “to be recycled” items often end up in landfills, polluting underdeveloped countries’ natural pools for a minimal fee and burdening our environment. Not recycled nor used.

• For me, "Marie Kondo" decluttering, if it simply leads to buying more for a "capsule wardrobe" while discarding a perfectly good one, isn't helping anyone beyond making us feel better about ourselves being more organised. And as Anita Roddick once said, "If I can’t do something for the public good, then what the hell am I doing?!"

So now, extremely old or unstylish clothes that I wouldn't wear myself feel inappropriate to donate. Instead, all the money I save by not shopping goes into a dedicated donation fund, which I give on my birthday along with spending time and cutting a cake with their residents.

Additionally, I’ve put a large restriction on inflow of things until my current supply dwindles (we’ll get into more detail on this later). And I have followed Anita Roddick into doing my minimal part for the public good and stopped supporting overconsumption as well as discarding and wasting of things which end up in landfills.

To summarise, I just hoarded my broken and unused old things instead of throwing it out and kept a large suitcase full of it which kept growing over time as I recognised more and more things I didn’t use.

4. Understanding the Buyerarchy Of Needs-

Now, to keep the suitcase from overflowing due to constant buying of more new things, we have to understand the buyerarchy of needs. It is a pretty self explanatory pyramid, but heres my 2 cents on it:

• Prioritise using what you have over everything else.

• And remember, making is pretty far up the pyramid because it is time and resource consuming- recycling included. A quick up cycle is fine, but projects which require time are something which need to be well thought about and planned ahead.

• I’d also put repair before borrow in the graph as most things just need a small fixes to be used again.

• And lastly using what you have also involve getting thrifty and finding alternative uses for it.

5. Go on a Buying Freeze:

Now, armed with a thrifty brain and a bunch of stuff I wasn’t allowed to rid myself of, I went on a buying freeze.

I needed the suitcase to stop growing (because I didn’t have another suitcase and of course it was too much stuff). So I had to stopped the inflow, as I said above. That meant- A COMPLETE BUYING FREEZE.

The reason this step wasn’t first but came in 4th was - motivation factor. Most people go on a no buy only to cave into the overwhelm of it (me almost included). So, if you went on a no buy, you aren’t about to give into silly wants. I wanted it to be completely cold turkey on buying, which needs loads of motivation and mental prep to defend against those 3am cravings of amazon purchases.

It worked. The guilt of a whole suitcase as well as a brain brimming with ideas, resulted in something truly remarkable.

I just started using my things more- literally everything.

Here’s something I wrote recently about micro trends and why I love them, not to buy but to style which is exactly what I mean to say:

The basic logic behind was that if I needed something, I’d find a way to use what I already had. I’d mostly use things directly, but there were some indirect uses.

Those unused diaries became my notebooks for classes. Old clothes I hadn't worn in ages were up cycled into new pieces I needed to keep up with trends. Broken earrings? I fixed them for wanting more accessories. That same boring makeup? I experimented and learned how to create different looks. The quilling strips I'd never touched transformed into a beautiful paper star curtain for my plain wall.

Even old hobbies I'd abandoned suddenly found a dedicated spot on my calendar. I was constantly making and using what I already possessed.

Slowly, (by which I mean over the months) the suitcase of things I initially thought I couldn't use began to shrink.

If a pair of pants no longer fit, it became my next project to extend them. While some items were perfect for donating to my household help, others were more "permanent" – broken keychains, old drawings. And that's where the real creativity kicked in (the next step). These became my intentional decor. Old drawings were bound into a unique coffee table book. My keychains morphed into a large charms chain, incorporating other pendants and pins from broken jewellry. Even the basic keychains on my actual keys got an upgrade with my unused keychains. Everything, sooner or later, found a purpose.

So the idea is, if you want something, you have to make it. And to make it, you have to use up what you already have. This naturally led to a form of decluttering (for example, two unfitting pairs of pants became one perfectly fitting, extended pair). And this, along with a complete pause on inflow, actually did help me declutter, reduce and reuse old things without wasting anything.

I’d even go as far as to say— this is the most sustainable form of decluttering.

6. Ideate and get crafty-

Now the suitcase of unused items full of clothes, trinkets, broken bits, old canvases was formed. But this box wasn't for immediate disposal. It was a tool to understand what I used and what I didn't, and then to brainstorm ways to bring those unused items back into circulation.

Here is my master list of everything I have done or discovered until now,

but this list not exhaustive (google these keywords to get what I mean). Get creative and come up with as whacky ideas as you can! As the whole idea is to use up as much as possible, you can try from various sources what all you can do with things you don’t use anymore.

For me, every single thing found a use; everything I had "grew up" with my journey into a beautiful, upcycled creation. The excitement was immense. All those old things I wasn't using seamlessly integrated into my life, rather than being discarded or donated.

I started to see my possessions not just as static objects that are cluttering my home, but as things that could mature and evolve, just like me.

I even imagined myself living in an apocalyptic world, having to make do with limited supplies. It was a crazy, fun, and surprisingly effective way to declutter. Drawers I'd never looked into became my suppliers – even the random trinket drawers, old clothes, and jackets. And today, my room boasts three empty shelves in my cupboards, and I couldn't be happier using more and more of my things.

Honestly, my biggest wish is that I had more time to sew, make jewellry, and create art! The more old supplies I use, the more my room naturally declutters.

It's not as fast as a traditional purge, but I truly believe it's a more sustainable and meaningful way to live. When you stop the inflow of new items, what you already have will naturally dwindle over time.

Of course, at the end of the day I still had items that were beyond saving or repair and needed to be discarded, but it wasn’t a purge and the loss was minimum. So don’t forget, you needed hoard everything. Rather, just don’t rid yourself of everything under the label of “decluttering”.

7. Too much of anything is bad

This step wasn’t in my cycle for the initial phase where I was completely motivated into not buying, but eventually I had to add it.

As the step says- too much of anything is bad, and its important to remember that it works both ways. Where too much of buying and hoarding is bad- too much of not allowing yourself the joy of new things is also bad.

I realised this when I was really wanting an aesthetic book for making notes and I ended up breaking down because I just couldn’t get it as I still had plenty unused books at home? Which is completely correct logically.

But it completely defeats the purpose of supporting your emotions better by decluttering- of reducing overwhelm, feeling excitement for buying things again, and less of a guilt. All of which I was feeling when I didn’t allow myself to buy that aesthetic book.

Which is why it is important to recognise the difference between when you “really want something” and “just want something’. So after you know the difference between these 2 kinds of wants, get yourself the things you really want.

Similarly allow yourself to purge things when you feel the need for it, when its occupying your space and mind too much or maybe its just beyond repair.

Anything is bad when its in too much including this method, but for a softer approach to decluttering, it works. Just remember, good things take time, even decluttering.

So here it is, my softest, slowest way on how to declutter without doing an instantaneous purge. These 7 steps to decluttering hopefully help you with your journey and help the planet, one person at a time being sustainable. I hope it also helps you slow down instead of having everything done instantly, a slow process where over the time your shelves are emptier and your heart is fuller.

That ends me trying to be helpful :)

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The only victory I had this past week was rest, as most of my lectures just coincidently got cancelled. I binged watched loads of shows, treated myself to a very nice meal and had loads of celebrations. I was feeling very overwhelmed and low this week but I still somehow managed to get out of it alive and that is a huge victory for me. Also all your love to make this newsletter reach over 50 subscribers! I couldn’t be more happy.

But just like the above picture, I had a chill week, celebrated Rakshabandhan (a festival where a sister ties a beautiful band (rakhi) to her brother and gets a nice gift in return :p. Although now a days all siblings tie it to each other regardless of whether they are sisters or brothers. Its one of my favourite festivals and I absolutely love being with my family around this time.

Other than that, I had my complete rest week which means soon it should be better for me schedule and plans wise where i’ll be able to be a lot more active here. Until then.

This series is not for anything. It’s my digital repository for things I make. I tend to make a lot of random things. I want to keep a record of all of them. With that I also wanted to keep a small note of all the happy memories through. This does not mean that I had a straight up positive week, I had my lows too, I just wanna remember the good stuff.

I’d love for anyone who reads this to share their victories through the week too, I want this particular article to be a place where everyone can come and share all that they’ve been feeling through the week, how it went, what were your smallest victories, etc.

Thankyou for reading this.

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1. I made a book game box

   I completely made this from scratch. nothing but 2 shoe boxes, a blade, fevibond and loads of mental designing. I feel it turned out it to be pretty cool, perfectly closing and opening. It is perfectly functional, the slots, the opening and closing, the softly-curved back like a vintage book, the structure is effing beautify. Of course I will paint over it or beautify it with a nice aesthetic cover to make it look better but the functionality is real cool. It took a lot of time to figure out how to make em exactly like this without spending ₹5000. It was a super fun project.

2. I wrote 4 articles on Substack

   

   This is pretty cool because I was super excited about some of these topics.

3. I spent 2 nights with family

   I spent 1 night staying at my aunts place which I used to do a lot when I was young but over time I stopped, after a very very long time I spent a night there again which was really cool. Another thing I had stopped doing was staying with my cousins, we just started to hang out till late and then go home but after a long time we had a nice sleepover.

4. I found a new favourite way to drink

   I am not someone who loves the taste of alcohol or drinks very frequently, but when I do I expect them sweet and tasty cocktails. But when we’re not drinking at a bar, its tough to get a sweet and tasty drink. So this is my 2nd cocktail mixture discovery after various test and tries- 700ml Peach Ice tea + Miniature Gin (Jaisalmer) It was pretty tasty. And sweet. The 1st one was 250 ml PeachBerry Rio+ 90ml Gin (Blue Riband), surprisingly this was not very bitter or burning.

That’s it I guess, it was a pretty simple week with not much to have done, just ponder over start of August and end of July. But I am glad I had a slow week. :)

This series is not for anything. It’s my digital repository for things I make. I tend to make a lot of random things. I want to keep a record of all of them. With that I also wanted to keep a small note of all the happy memories through. This does not mean that I had a straight up positive week, I had my lows too, I just wanna remember the good stuff. I’d love for anyone who reads this to share their victories through the week too.

Thankyou for reading this.

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If you had any small victories through this week, please:

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