A black and white picture of a young woman wearing a striped t-shirt and a pair of jeans relaxing on an outdoor slatted wooden recliner. This photo by Ashkan Sadeghi is symbolic, in the context of this blog post, of the underrated luxury of boredom.

POSTMARKED

The Quiet Luxury of Boredom

In small doses, boredom is just the thing we need.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Feb 133 min read

THE STACK

A sailboat seen in the distance on the vast and seemingly endless waters. In the context of this post, this image signifies vastness of the Universe and Time and the smallness of our efforts and lifespans. Image by Mari Duarte.

The Triad of Talent, Effort & Reward

Is talent more crucial to success than effort? Is there a deadline for hard work to be rewarded?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jan 93 min read

One person's hand being held between another person's hand on a wooden table, in an act of empathy and compassion.

What Makes a Person Empathetic?

Tough times can fuel empathy but not for everyone. Why is that?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Dec 5, 20254 min read

A delighted Amol Mazumdar, head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team, holding the World Cup trophy. Photo Courtesy: JioHotstar

Amol Muzumdar's Watershed Moment

World Champions are seldom forged in comfort and good times. Neither was their coach.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Nov 7, 20254 min read

A handwritten letter lies half-covered by a post-marked envelope, a pink ribbon and a vase with a few mauve flowers. Image by Debby Hudson.

You've Got Mail: The Age of Letters

Finding old letters in a shoebox is like being sprinkled accidentally with stardust. It's nostalgic, kind of magical and the shimmer sticks.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Sep 12, 20253 min read

A metal shopping basket with a mix of fresh food and canned goods on a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth against an orange background.

Honey, I Shrunk the Goods: The Story of Shrinkflation, Skimpflation & Excuseflation

Are you aware that sneaky forms of inflation are manipulating you away from getting your money's worth?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Aug 8, 20253 min read

A desktop computer displaying the text Do More in bold white letters against a black background. The computer is placed on a desk with the usual office paraphernalia next to a shelf with notebooks, boxes and a plant.

Simple Productivity Tips to get Stuff Done

Smart hacks to boost productivity without missing out on rest and joy.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jul 4, 20256 min read

An illuminated sign saying 'this must be the place' on a clear glass plaque on a wall with a brown, blush and green geometric pattern.

Do you have a Third Place?

If not at home or work, where would you be on a regular day?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jun 6, 20254 min read

Popcorn in a red-and-white striped box, a bottle with red liquid labelled Love Drunk next to two wine glasses and a string of coupons against a red and pink backdrop.

The Resurgence of Romantic Comedies

Are Rom-Coms and Feel-Good movies making a comeback? Spoiler Alert: I think so.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

May 2, 20254 min read

An audio tape lies unspooled against a bright yellow background. In the context of this blog post, it symbolises planned obsolescence.

Planned Obsolescence: The Open Secret that Endangers Us

Are we being manipulated into buying more than we need? And who's paying for it?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Apr 4, 20255 min read

A young woman and a young man sitting by a campfire on a beach at night, the woman holding a bottle. A calm sea and hills in the background create a peaceful mood of genuine conversation and relaxation.

Conversations to Know People Better

Late night conversations can be trump cards when it comes to revealing hopes, fears and character.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Feb 14, 20253 min read

The Most Popular Blog Posts of 2024

Like, comment and share your favourite post of 2024!

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Dec 27, 20245 min read

An image of a man carrying a laptop and notebook in his hand. The text 'what they don't teach in school' is super-imposed on the pale yellow background beside him. The image relates to workplace tips one doesn't learn in school.

Workplace Tips: What they don't teach in school

How to enjoy your work while not allowing its rough and tumble to take over your entire life.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Nov 15, 20247 min read

Mr Ratan Tata leans against a car parked under a tree. Photo: Ratan Tata's Instagram

Why Ratan Tata's passing feels like a Personal Loss

Bidding adieu to India's jewel and why it made me tear up.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Oct 11, 20244 min read

Little Legacies

How do quirks get etched into our personalities? Do we carry some of them as souvenirs from the people we've known?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Sep 13, 20243 min read

Books stacked in a shelf in a fashion that allows for the creation of a circular peep-hole.

The Book Business: Will the medium dictate the message?

E-readers and audiobooks have changed how we read. Now they may end up changing what we read.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Aug 2, 20245 min read

Celebrity cook and author of many a cookbook, Nigella Lawson cooks in an aesthetically pleasing kitchen. Photo: Nigella Lawson's Instagram

Comfort TV shows that help me Unwind

A long day calls for some couch therapy! This is my list of what never fails to soothe.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jun 28, 20243 min read

A man handing over cash to a woman in a food truck. Both are smiling.

The Cost of Money: Cash or Card?

Your mode of payment - apps, cash or card - affects how much you spend and even how you perceive frivolous expenditure.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

May 10, 20244 min read

Against a pitch black backdrop stands a man in a dark hoodie, half in shadow. He holds up a white mask which covers half his face concentrating the focus on the piercing expression in his eyes. In the context of this post, he signifies how it feels to suffer from imposter syndrome. Photo by Sander Sammy.

Rising above Imposter Syndrome

Do you worry about whether people think you're a fraud? Or feel like you don't deserve to be where you are? Well, you're not alone.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Apr 12, 20244 min read

A man stands atop a jutting pile of rocks on a cliff, overlooking a large body of water. A galaxy of stars glitters in the night sky. This image is being used to symbolise the Universe's role in our experience of synchronicity. Image by Evgeni Tcherkassi.

Seeking Synchronicity

Einstein called coincidence 'God's way of remaining anonymous'. Which is why a random happenstance can sometimes, be far from random.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Mar 22, 20245 min read

A single palm leaf in a small glass of water against a greyish-white background. On the table, next to the glass lie six scrabble tiles spelling out the word simple.

The Allure of Simplicity

Is simple just another word for basic or does it hold deeper secrets?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Feb 23, 20243 min read

A woman sits alone at a table in a dimly lit cafe. A coffee cup is placed in front of her as she indulges in people-watching.

One Coffee, Please. And a Portion of People-Watching

Do try this in public and report back!

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Feb 2, 20243 min read

A bespectacled garden gnome seated on a wooden railing looks into the distance. A quote by Bob Goff is printed on the out-of-focus backdrop. It says, "It's whimsy that spreads hope like grass seed in the wind."

The Charm of Whimsy

The whimsical adds sparkle to everyday life. From literature clocks to quirky fashion choices, embrace the enchantment of whimsy.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jan 5, 20243 min read

An illustration of two human heads talking about the ideas in their brains. Signifies the idea of brainstorming and the importance of collaboration.

The Collaboration Credo

Working with others can spark innovation, creativity and lead to groundbreaking achievements. It can be fun too!

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Dec 8, 20234 min read

A woman is seated at a round table though we can only her forearms and hands since the photo has been clicked from a top angle. One of her hands is placed over the keys of her laptop while she lifts some noodles with chopsticks with her right hand. Her cellphone lies close to her laptop signifying multi-tasking. Image by No Revisions

The Myth of Multi-Tasking

Does multi-tasking aid productivity? Or does the appearance of doing everything all at once mask the fact that we're not getting very far?

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Nov 17, 20235 min read

A graphic background partitioned horizontally into orange and bluish grey backgrounds with the outline of a banner over it. Within the lines of the banner are written the words Life Lessons in bold.

11 Life Lessons I learnt from the 2008 Recession

Why waste a crisis? I used it to introspect and figure out what's important, what's not and what's got to change.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Oct 27, 20236 min read

It took buying my first car, a red Chevrolet Spark (decorated here with ribbons), for me to learn driving.

Driving Me Crazy: How I Learnt to Drive

Sometimes, driving is the destination. At least, it was for me. And so, I took the long, scenic route!

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Oct 6, 20236 min read

A map of the world with bank notes of many currencies scattered around the edges. Symbolic of the inter-connectedness of the global economy shaken up by the 2008 Recession. Image by Christine Roy

The What, How and Why of the 2008 Recession

A cautionary tale of corporate greed, political corruption and the decline of good old common sense.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Sep 15, 202312 min read

A laptop playing Netflix's Persuasion, a copy of Jane Austen's novel, a notebook and glass with a pink drink on a glass table overlooking a garden. Photo by Ninay Desai.

Netflix's Persuasion: How not to adapt a classic

This film is a prime example of what is lost when the spirit of a story comes third to audience appeasement and cashing in on market trends.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Aug 25, 20237 min read

Friends spelt in scrabble tiles amid a clutter of small toys, lego and crayons.

On Friendship

All friendships are important but not equal. What it means to have friends and also, how to be one.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Aug 4, 202310 min read

A booklet with the text 'My brain has too many tabs open' lies on a cable knit blanket beside a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream, a small decorative pumpkin and a couple of cupcakes.

Memory: What we need to remember

Despite information that can be retrieved within seconds and infinite cloud storage, human memory is irreplaceable. It allows us to think.

Blogs

Ninay Desai

Jul 14, 20234 min read

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