Dear person,
I hope October is bringing you sunny thoughts and a lot of warmth. I, on the other hand, am struggling to make friends with the season.
Anyway, I wanted to share a great news with you. I recently started hosting live sessions where I teach Morning Pages (which is a writing practice for healing). I do it every Mondays at 11:00 AM IST (. CET) but I will try move it up to 8:00 AM IST. So far I have had two sessions and response has been immense. I wasn’t expecting so many people to show up and interact. I might be doing something right. If you’d like to be a part of our little, growing community, you are more than welcome, of course. Here’s how you can join.
By the way, did you notice the makeover of the Postcards? I spent about an hour (or more, I think) figuring the right size for the header image and it looks sooooo delicious! I am a sucker for great design.
I am a big advocate for slow work, but this mindset didn't come out of nowhere. It developed after enduring years of working under difficult bosses at ad agencies. Those experiences made me realize two things: I would never work for someone else again, and I would never adopt the unhealthy work habits that seemed so common in those environments. In retrospect, I’m glad for those torturous days because I am way happier now.
I don’t believe that our lives should revolve entirely around work. Too often, work becomes the center of our existence, with everything else forced to fit around it. I’m fortunate enough to love what I do, and I have to admit, my work has been a lifeline for me during difficult times. It has brought me hope and inspiration when I needed it most.
For me, work feels like play, which is why I enjoy it so much. That said, just because I love what I do doesn’t mean I want it to consume my entire day. I have the freedom to pursue other interests—whether it’s meeting new people, going out, or simply exploring life beyond my desk. I believe that creatives, in particular, are lucky in this sense. They often find joy in the process of bringing ideas to life.
I genuinely believe we don’t need to work long hours to be productive. Personally, I’m still figuring out how to master the art of working for a few focused hours a day while maintaining my freedom. I consider myself a great boss, but sticking to deadlines and routines can be a challenge when you have the freedom to set your own schedule.
One day, I’ll figure out the system that sticks, and when I do, I plan to share it with others so they too can work efficiently and enjoy the rest of their time doing what they love. Until then, I’m navigating.
My family doesn’t always understand my work life. They see my lifestyle and think I don’t really work or that I’ve got it easy. To them, I only work a few hours a week in meetings, but the reality is that I’m always working. Building a brand isn’t something you turn off. My mind is constantly buzzing with ideas, even when I’m not in a meeting. My aunt, in particular, tends to mock me, laughing whenever I mention work.
This probably stems from the times I’ve been at home, taking meetings under a cozy blanket with my camera off. After seeing me like this a few weekends in a row, she—and the rest of my family—seems to have dismissed the seriousness of my work altogether.
I’ve laughed along with them for the most part, but recently it’s become a problem. People no longer recognize that I have a job with real responsibilities. Every family call ends with them expecting me to drop everything and come visit, as though I’m not juggling five different projects. Just because I work online and often from bed doesn’t mean I’m not working. In fact, I’ve even gone so far to have pretend in-person meetings, just to avoid the constant pressure.
It gets even more entertaining when they ask what I actually do. Strangers are easy—I can just say, “I’m a teacher”. But with family, they’re so curious. To them, it’s fascinating that I travel every few months, rarely leave the house, and work from bed. And when they ask probing questions, it’s hard to explain. I mean, how many of them are going to know what Insight Timer is, or why I’m so invested in creative brand-building?
So today, I’ve decided to clarify things for myself and for anyone who asks: What do I actually do? Why am I always working, yet never “busy” in the traditional sense? It’s time to answer those questions, not just for others, but for myself as well.
September was aggressive, high-powered, and on edge. I’ve always been afraid of deadlines, but I’ve realized that I need a timeframe to actually finish my work. So, I’ve started to buddy up on projects with others, and that seems to be moving the needle. Having accountability makes all the difference.
Projects from September
Insight Timer:
A lot happened. I hosted several live sessions (super fun!) and received my first donation—yay! But I’m also stuck with rejections for my premium audios. I can’t seem to figure out how to get them approved. In October, I plan to release more free audios, host more live sessions, and (hopefully) crack the mystery of premium content approvals. Fingers crossed for a revenue boost!
Substack:
I published my old work on Substack. It was refreshing to see my old writings finally be out there in the world. In October, I want to experiment with new writing styles—no pressure, just trying new things. I’m inspired by Meera Lee’s weekly reflection pieces, and I might try something similar. Also, Stripe isn’t available in India, so I need to figure out the payment situation for my future Substack earnings.
Freelance:
I’m currently working with a beta client to help her launch her online business. This month, I have big plans regarding this, including building my website. Creating my own website has always been a dream of mine, so I’m super excited to finally make it happen. Also, I am really desperate to find my new clients through this work as I have plans to travel for the coming 6 months. I really wish this works out.
Podcast:
I’m toying with the idea of starting a podcast. It’s in the very early stages, but I’m excited about where it might go.
Teaching:
Teaching is always chill—it’s autonomous and fun. I teach for about seven hours per week, mostly on weekends. Some days it can be hard, but most days are great. I get to meet people from around the world and get paid for it, which is a win-win!
Spiti Travel Guidebook:
I published my Spiti Travel Guidebook! It’s something I’ve been working on because people always ask me for travel tips. So, I thought, why not turn my knowledge into something valuable and share it with others? I haven’t done a big promotion because this is an experimenting phase. I will do a big promotion after my East Asia trip.
Poetry Book:
I also published my poetry book in both paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon. However, it turns out I can’t sell it in some countries, so now I have to sort out the payment errors. Admin work is the worst. The moment I can afford an assistant, I’m hiring one.
LinkedIn:
Oh my! I gave my LinkedIn a fresh look. I’ve already helped several students improve their profiles, but now mine looks super polished too. I’m proud of how it turned out.
Apart from Projects
It was a very satisfying reading month. I finished reading Midnight Library, The Kite Runner, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (this was my favourite). I had devoured myself in non-fiction over the years that I forgot how fiction felt like.
Two of my friends visited, which was so much fun, as it always is with friends. My friend S and I have this tradition of watching crappy movies and then criticising them. P and I always dive into deeper conversations, though she’s been ditching our sleepover plans. I’ll leave it at that.
And then, September ended with a bang—or rather, with me getting sick. I came down with dengue fever and spent the last stretch of the month lying in bed, contemplating life. So, yeah, that was September in a nutshell.
October Desires
October is already half over, but I’m determined to get more outdoor time. I’ll probably attend a Cubbon Park meet (a Bangalore thing where people meet in the park and talk about books), maybe go for a swim, or hit up a trampoline park. Anything that gets me outside more. If I need a change of work environment, I’ll head to the Writer’s Café. Yes, it’s really called that.
Also, my sister is visiting after months, and I’m really looking forward to hugging her. I even wrote her a short story for her birthday in December. I’ve never gone this long without seeing her, so her visit feels like a festival to me.
Now you know— my work is serious and a lot! And if anyone else asks me what I do, I’m sending them these monthly work reviews so they can get the full picture.
I hope October has been kind to you. There have been days when I’ve woken up thinking, I can’t do life anymore (not in a dying way, just in the general figuring it all out way, which is sad because most days I love figuring things out). I’m blaming it on being sick—it’s changed my usual lively spirit toward life. Or maybe it’s real, and then I just need to hit the beach. Plus, I hate this transition into winter. I don’t like the shorter days with less sunlight, but I’ve been enjoying hot bowls of soupy ramen to make up for it.
I hope to meet you all in a more peppy mood in the next postcard, but if not, it’s alright too. I don’t always want to display my cheerful side and keep my blues to myself. I’m a whole human, and you get to see all parts of me—the best parts, the sullen parts, and everything in between. Honestly, I don’t feel guilty about not always having the greatest days. I know a lot of people get uncomfortable with the feelings but I am not. I am learning to embrace them as they come. All of them. And I hope you do too.
I hope you’re enjoying Kaus’ Postcards. I started this publication to cultivate a writing practice and connect with people through my writing. I’ve decided that after my 100th post, I will open the publication for monetary support (meaning: a few posts will be reserved for paying members) until then it remains free - in hopes that this objective will push me to write consistently.
Currently at 57/100.
However if you wish to support my writing, you can make a donation here: Donations but Substack paywall will remain turned off. I don’t know how this intention will pan out but I hope it does because that will mean: us spending more time together. This space has started to feel sacred and special even though I do not turn up as often as I would like to.
I am immensely grateful for being able to connect with you through this space and my writing. I am grateful for your inspiring messages that give me butterflies and fill me with so much love (every single one of them). I see you and I love you.
Thank you immensely,
dear person.
Dear person: How is your work life? How do you like to work? ❤
Thanks for keeping this going! ❤️