Youth: The Art of Balance
Money Matters
For students, money should be viewed as a basic tool, not a target. At a young age, when minds are still forming and values are still taking root, prioritizing money as the ultimate goal can dissolve one’s intellectual purity. Instead of chasing financial outcomes, students should seek meaning, growth, and understanding.
At this stage in life, money should serve simple needs: books for learning, sports for vitality, and small joys that enrich everyday living. Also, students should rely more on laptops than mobile phones. While mobiles offer mobility, they also carry distractions like endless scrolling. The key is mindful use of resources.
Time Management
Time is life itself.
What is life, really? It is time. If we do not use time wisely, we are wasting life itself.
Take, for example, our habit of watching television. We might start watching something to refresh the mind for a few minutes, but we often end up watching continuously, far beyond necessity. The original goal of stepping out of our mental zone gets lost.
Think of a bus journey: even drivers stop occasionally for refreshment. Earlier, refreshment meant walking in nature, but now, in metro cities, nature has been replaced with pollution. So, the modern version of refreshment has shifted to watching screens.
When considering students, we must reflect: being constantly surrounded by gadgets is weakening their internal strength. Today, even when there is no need, our hand automatically reaches out for the phone. There is so much content on mobile devices that it keeps us entangled, negatively impacting our health and eyesight.
One recommended practice is “Tratak”, an ancient yogic exercise for eye health. In this, you gaze at a fixed point until tears form, naturally cleansing your eyes of toxins. Practiced consistently, it’s highly beneficial for maintaining eye strength and focus.
Coming back to time management - True time management means knowing how much time to give to each task, and more importantly, discerning whether that time is being used productively, or merely passed.
Stress & Body Management
Goals are essential for youth - but obsessively clinging to them can generate constant stress. This is something not only students but also their parents must understand. Often, expectations from parents add another layer of pressure.
Consider this: if you must travel 500 kms, don’t fixate on the full distance. Instead, focus on the first 200 km, then 150 km, step by step. This mindset eases stress. Similarly, breaking down a big goal into small, achievable steps-interspersed with rest and reflection—makes the journey more manageable and less overwhelming.
There is also a yogic technique called “Jalandhara bandha,” which involves completely relaxing the body and releasing all thoughts. The body becomes loose and free. Regular practice of this can be highly effective for managing stress and maintaining bodily ease.
By making these small yet powerful changes in our thinking, we can create better balance in life, leading to a stress-free, well-managed, and fulfilling youth experience.
In essence, small shifts in thought patterns and daily practices can lead to a more balanced, stress-free, and well-managed life for today’s youth.
