‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ is a proverb we are all too familiar with. It is, therefore, quite ironic that our lives revolve around our work. We have forgotten this gem of a proverb in a bid to reach for the stars.
Radhika Garg, part of the Rajdarbar Group’s Board of Directors, is a lady familiar with the rigors and stress associated with a professional lifestyle. She has grown up in the system and knows how exacting jobs can be. “Knowing when to take a breather is important,” she says. “A small break can make a world of difference.”
A critic of the system where putting in long hours, often at times without breaks, is expected of employees, Radhika Garg begs to differ. She is a vocal proponent for taking breaks as and when necessary. The confines of an office desk and work cabins can be suffocating and plays havoc with a person’s mental health. Even a few minutes of escape from such surroundings does wonders for a person’s mind, allowing them to re-channelize their energy.
Nevertheless, Radhika Garg acknowledges that sometimes “the pressure to be productive often interferes with the best-laid plans to recharge and take some time for yourself.” Therefore, she advises that sticking to your plans is the perfect way to by-pass this trap. Putting yourself before everything else is something that she advocates. “You are the best judge when it comes to you,” she says. According to her, the duty to put yourself first before everything else falls on your shoulders.
She encourages young professionals to take advantage of the leaves that are afforded to them by their companies. And it is not just these leaves she means.. A trip with loved ones and family or with friends to relax and wind down is what she suggests. “. Music, food and celebrations are the perfect ingredients for a good time according to Radhika Garg.
Hidden behind a veil of professionalism and business prowess, another side of Radhika Garg exists. “I let her out once in a while,” she quips. “It is definitely challenging to maintain the perfect work-life balance but I love challenges. I say bring it on.”
What works for someone will not necessarily work for you, she observes.. Take breaks when you need it and come back recharged, focused and raring to go, she says. “I rather have an employee who takes multiple breaks yet delivers on time and comes up with innovative ideas than an employee who slogs throughout the day with zero accountability.”