1st day of every month has a pleasant surprise waiting. I get to read 3 Medium posts for free. Medium is an online publishing forum. Most of the posts are on self-improvement, the titles of the articles are so enticing that you can’t resist the urge to click and see what nugget of wisdom follows.

Giving into the temptation, I subscribed to Medium for $5 a month; but the the magic was lost. There is only so much reading that you can do every day and the articles seem to be repetitive; maybe the algorithm notes what kind of posts you click on and then suggests more of the same. I reached a saturation point and did not renew the subscription.

As a click and bait, Medium offers three posts for free read. Every month, you have to choose the three from the hundreds and it’s fun. This month, here’s what I picked:

[1] Your morning routine can change your life tomorrow by Dr Jeff Livingston

The title makes a huge promise and I bite the bait. The author writes about getting up at 5:15 am and going through the acronym SAVERS – Silence, Affirmation, Visualization, Exercise, Reading and Scribing. That seems like a lot of work before starting on the actual day’s work itself. So I just pick one sentence from the whole article that I liked and will carry it with me…

“We all work so hard to create an amazing life for ourselves, but we never stop and take the time to enjoy the life we have created.”

[2] 14 Kitchen Hacks Every Adult Needs to Know Now by Stephanie Thurrott

What does she have to offer new? Bitten by curiosity, I click to see the list of common kitchen wisdom. Nothing new. But I still pick one..

“Have a plan for the food you buy.” 

Usually I shop with a list, but sometimes the produce looks so fresh and good that I buy on impulse thinking I will figure out later what to do with it. Doesn’t work.

Sometimes it’s something small like a spice or herb that I probably know how to use in one dish and it continues to remain on the shelf/ fridge forgotten till it’s time to throw it away.

For example, the bundles of fresh green fenugreek leaves are very difficult to say no to. I pick a large bundle knowing that they are packed with nutrients. But how to cook them? There were times, when I have left the leaves in the fridge, thinking I will find a way later. The leaves were ultimately thrown out.

They are difficult to clean as the leaves have to be individually plucked from the stems and washed in running water to get rid of any soil. But now I have learnt to make methi paneer and methi paratha with them. So unless I plan to buy paneer too with methi or plan to make methi paratha twice in the week, I try to keep away from fenugreek leaves.

[3] Ikigai – The Most Misunderstood Secret to a Happy Life by Amardeep Parmar

Ikigai, Hygge, Fika – these three are some concepts often thrown about in the self-care columns. Though tempted, I have not read in detail on any of them. I remember the kid’s school announcing the PTA meeting as Fika time !?

Who doesn’t want to know secrets? I click on the post. The author has many lines of wisdom to offer, but I can’t carry all with me at once. Again, I pick one…

“Stop seeking to do what you enjoy, instead enjoy what you do. It’s a simple mindset shift, yet so powerful.

What is the task you hate? How can you make it more enjoyable?”

The free reading quota for this month is over. And I have got some food for the soul. Till same time next month.

Till next post, take care !!