Hello, this week we talk about an interesting 4-way strategy of dealing with burnout, coal crisis in India and the biodiversity summit.
The Burnout
Overworking, hustling, chasing productivity seem fascinating but the idea of pausing for a while or taking a step back is considered to be a violation of hustle culture. Burnouts are common, it's just that the awareness is recent with the growing discussion of mental health during the pandemic. Feeling less energetic, lacking efficiency makes a person close to witnessing burnout. In a recent article by Harvard Business Review by Kate Northup, she has shared 4 strategies on how to dial it back a bit and permit yourself to do so.
What story are you telling?
If you find yourself working after your working hours, responding to email on your day off, just pause for a while and maybe understand why you are doing this. Northup suggests taking 5 minutes to write down the story you are telling yourself and dig deeper. Interrupt the flow of your automatic thoughts, instil your boundaries and see a change.
Share your goal to dial back
As per American Psychological Association, whenever you share your goal with someone you are more accountable to it. Share it with a family member, a mentor whom you trust and respect.
Note what matters, your wins and your goals
Give your best. Give your 100% to the things that matter. Measure your strengths and note how you used those strengths previously in achieving the tasks at work. Once you know this, you can devote most time and energy to the things that matter.
Jump on the time machine
Brown Warre’s book, The top 5 regrets of dying shares that common wish among people on the deathbed is that they wish they had not worked this much. Whenever you find yourself going in circles, zoom out and get a long-term perspective. Whether the 85-year-old you would like this and what should she/he wish for.
(Source: Harvard Business Review)
The Biodiversity Summit
This month is crucial for climate as 20,000 global leaders pace themselves for the climate summit in Glasgow. One significant high-level meeting (15th United Nations biodiversity conference) is happening now focusing on the biodiversity crisis. This meet is set to tackle the rapid collapse of species and systems that collectively sustain the earth.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the executive secretary of the convention, highlighted the meeting aims to adopt a pact of nature similar to the Paris Agreement.
The Draft of the conference includes 21 targets that focus on controlling biodiversity loss. The targets focus on creating a plan to make smart and right decisions about the regions to be allotted for farming activities. Along with, ensuring that wild species are hunted safely, and sustainably; reducing agricultural runoff, pesticides, plastic pollution. The measures are concrete, measurable, and attainable.
Is biodiversity important?
There is a reciprocal relationship between biodiversity and climate change: Biodiversity loss leads to an increase in temperatures. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), biodiversity is of supreme importance for safeguarding global food security. Along with this, it contributes to both the health and wealth of nature, which strengthens human survival.
(Sources: United Nations, Green Policy Platform, Times of India, The Ecologist)
The Infamous Indian Coal Crisis
India, the world's second-largest coal producer, ironically is facing coal shortages impacting different facets of economy and power production.
Reasons for the shortage-
Power consumption- India consumed 124 billion units of power in August 2021 compared to 106 billion units of power in August 2019. Moreover, power consumption in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat also grew by 14 & 21% respectively.
Unprecedented Monsoon- Continuous rainfall in coal mining areas has disrupted the production and delivery of coal from coal mines.
Price hike- There is a 12 per cent fall in imports of foreign coal due to the high prices, which lead the Indian companies to shift to domestic coal.
Impact of the Coal Crisis-
With the unlocks nationwide and opening of the economy this shortage can bring a setback. To add to the crisis, power plants that use imported coal have shut down due to an increase in prices.
Measures by the government-
A joint ministerial team, including officials of the Power and Railway Ministries, Coal India Ltd., and Power System Operation Corporation, are observing the supply of coal to thermal energy plants. The Ministry of Power is trying to smoothen the supply of coal and production from the mines which already have requisite clearances in place.
(Sources: Indian Express, Hindustan Times, NDTV)
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