Somy Ali: We need to have days off from our mobile phones the way we literally have days off from work

MUMBAI: Time management in today’s time has become quite a task. Somy Ali believes it solely depends on the individual in terms of how they manage their time and how disciplined they are in terms of being organised. The actor turned humanitarian, who now runs her NGO No More Tears, explains her viewpoint.

“Some people thrive in controlled chaos and I happen to be one of them. I like and can multitask perfectly well due to the nature and unpredictability of my work. Considering abuse doesn't have a specific time or days off, I am always on the go. However, there are days that things are calmer than usual so it all varies from day to day,” she says.

Everyone is occupied in their respective careers, yet those who belong to the entertainment industry often complain about shortage of time.

“We have all forgotten the value of giving quality time where it belongs and are too busy running around in the rat race to get ahead of others. We need to be more thoughtful of how significant and unpredictable our time is on this planet. This will help us become more disciplined and simultaneously live a more stable life while compartmentalising our time in an even fashion. We have to understand the value of time only then will we be able to use it wisely and stop chasing success as it will happen to you if it's meant to be no matter how fast you run. Gratitude should always take precedence over complaining about how little time we have to do this or that,” she adds.

Sundays or offs don't feel like holidays anymore. Thanks to communication tools like mobile phones and social media, we have forgotten where to put a full stop.

“That is not going to change because all of us are perpetually looking down rather than up which means looking at their mobile phones constantly. Social media and cell phones have changed our lives to an unprecedented level where not just our younger generation, but even adults are severely concerned with who is doing what and where they are heading. We need to have days off from our mobile phones the way we literally have days off from work. Unless we change our pattern of being obsessed with screen time, things will get worse than they are now. I respect many celebrities who choose not to have a social media account and do not scroll through others’ accounts either. They value their time and spend it in a proper manner by prioritising the important things and people in their lives. I must clarify that it is fine to have your presence on social media if you can control yourself and not let it control you. Being obsessed with anything is a vice, thus an unhealthy lifestyle is easily developed and we are caught in a bubble which is difficult to pop,” she says.

Sharing two management tips, Somy shares her own lifestyle and how it has helped. She adds, “For me, routine is very important and by that I mean a proper diet and exercise no matter how busy I am because if I don't have my health all else is meaningless. I urge people to develop specific routines and stick by them. This has truly helped me and brought stability to my life. If one prioritises what's good for them and their wellbeing they will habitually follow the necessary tasks on a daily basis. Thus being healthy by taking the time to eat well and exercise are the two most important tips for me and they should be for all of us universally.”