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Finding a balance between work and self-care is essential for overall well-being. When we prioritize self-care, it helps us recharge and maintain our mental and emotional health. Taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in activities we enjoy outside of work can help reduce stress and prevent burnout. By making self-care a priority, we can improve our work-life balance and enhance our overall quality of life. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked to three different individuals with different backgrounds to know more about their personal balance between self care and work life.

Sneha Shakya, Student

As an architecture student, the workload is intense. We often find ourselves working overnight, leading to stress and weakness that affects us mentally. At times, it feels like quitting is the only option. In today’s fast-paced world, my entire life revolves around college. For me, self-care means finding mental peace to stay motivated and centered. I prefer spending time alone and treating myself to outings. 

In my first year, we had a final presentation coming up, and I didn’t sleep for a week. I had this intense craving for brownie with ice-cream but due to group work and my own presentation, I couldn’t find time to satisfy my craving. However, I make it a point of sparing some time for my peace of mind. 

Moreover, self care also means physical health so I go for morning walks /rides, or sometimes hang out with my school friends. This is where I find my peace.

Glamslick, Make-up artist

Being a make-up artist may appear easy, but it requires a significant amount of hard work, something I love doing. Personally, I always make sure to take some time out of my busy schedule just for myself. Honestly, there isn’t anything specific that I do for self-care, but when it becomes overwhelming, I prefer to be alone and reflect on my actions and who I was yesterday. I contemplate how I can improve myself. Reflecting and striving to be better is a form of self-care that has truly helped me find peace and become the calm person I am today.

Rakshya Thapa, Actor

Self-care, to me, encompasses anything that promotes my physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Prioritizing self-care in my daily routine involves several practices. Firstly, I ensure to stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet. I occasionally indulge in junk food for emotional satisfaction. I also take care of my skin and hair, often enjoying long warm showers to feel fresh and relaxed. To unwind after a hectic day of work and college life, I watch movies and series for entertainment. Additionally, I treat myself to head oil massages every 2-3 days, which greatly helps me stay calm. When feeling anxious, I turn to music, and sometimes I take myself on rides to clear my mind.

Above all, keeping myself happy is paramount. The work I do is something I love, so even working feels like self-care to me. I make a conscious effort to ignore negativity, staying optimistic and positive in every situation.

The Book of Healing

Najwa Zebian

Poetry

Perfect for readers looking to overcome pain, heal from trauma, and rebuild a strong sense of self, The Book of Healing contains Najwa’s favorite pieces from her three bestselling books—Mind Platter, The Nectar of Pain, and Sparks of Phoenix. Beautifully packaged with foil stamping and a ribbon marker, this gift-worthy selection of poems gets straight to the heart of Najwa’s message. A keepsake or a broad introduction, The Book of Healing is a worthy companion for anyone looking to cultivate emotional resilience.

Mr. Wrong Number

Lynn Painter

Romance

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshal. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing. Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

The Brothers Karamazov

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Classics

The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the ‘wicked and sentimental’ Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three sons―the impulsive and sensual Dmitri; the coldly rational Ivan; and the healthy, red-cheeked young novice Alyosha. Through the gripping events of their story, Dostoevsky portrays the whole of Russian life, its social and spiritual striving, in what was both the golden age and a tragic turning point in Russian culture.

All these titles and more are available at Bookverse, 4th floor, Civil Mall, Sundhara, Kathmandu. You will get 10% off on four or more books and 15% off on Nepali books.

Nepali cooking entails a heavy use of spices. These are what give aroma, flavor, and texture to your food. If you have an arsenal of spices in your pantry, you can turn the most basic of dishes into a gourmet one. The right spice can not only elevate the taste of your dishes it can also cure common ailments like cough, cold, etc. Though most spices are available in dried form, they won’t necessarily last forever. Their strong flavors and aroma will dissipate over time, especially if they are stored improperly or exposed to light and air. 

If you have the option to do so, always buy whole spices and grind them yourself. This ensures they retain their aroma for a longer time. Ground spices tend to oxidize more quickly than whole spices due to their large exposed surface area, and will lose their flavor within a few months, while whole spices can last up to a year. You can use ground spices if you want to disperse the flavor throughout the dish, else you can stick to whole spices allowing them to pop and sizzle in hot oil before adding in the other ingredients. 

Here we will run you through some basic spices and how to use them. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to make subtle enhancements to dishes you regularly make at home. 

Turmeric

Known as besar in Nepali, turmeric has an earthy flavor. Of all the spices used in our food, this one packs in the most benefits. A small pinch of it is enough to color a dish for one, whereas you will need up to half a teaspoon to make a meal for a family of four. For added health benefits, you must put in a dash of black pepper as this enhances turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties. 

Fenugreek

This is the spice that gives curry its distinct smell. Fenugreek (methi) seeds are quite bitter but they have a lot of health benefits. It’s known to slow sugar absorption in the body as well as promote hormone health. Fenugreek has been used in alternative medicine. It’s often taken as a supplement as well. It has a slightly sweet, and nutty flavor. Fenugreek leaves are often added to curries, sauces, and vegetables, while the seeds are used to flavor pickles and chutneys.

Cumin

You basically can’t cook Nepali food without cumin or jeera. It has an intensely warm and earthy flavor. Cumin seeds are best used whole. It can be fried in oil at the beginning. But since they will turn brown quickly, don’t leave them unattended. They are done when they start to pop. Ground cumin powder is also an essential spice used in a variety of dishes, especially spice rubs, stews, and curries. But it will give a dark color to your food so don’t use too much of it. A teaspoon should be enough to cook a meal for four. 

Coriander 

Coriander is a fragrant spice made from the dried seeds of a Mediterranean herb. The seeds have an earthy flavor while the leaves have a sweet, tart, lemony flavor. It’s rich in antioxidants and thus has many health benefits. It can help lower your blood sugar, fight infections, and promote heart, brain, skin, and digestive health. Ground coriander is best for dishes where you want the spice to be flavor, but not texture like batters, doughs, smooth sauces, marinades, or drinks. Coriander seeds work great in chunky sauces, sizzled in soups, stews, or dals, or in pickles. 

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice that is made from the seed of the nutmeg tree. It has a warm, slightly sweet taste and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It’s popularly used in baking, to bring out the flavor in pies, cakes, cookies, and other desserts. It can also be used to add flavor to savory foods like soups, stews, curries, and sauces. It’s said that those with heart conditions or high blood sugar levels can benefit from this spice. It has a lot of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage. 

Asafoetida 

Asafoetida, or hing as we know it, is one of the most powerful aromatic spices in the world. Many don’t know this but hing must always be added to the frying pan when the oil or butter is hot. Let it sizzle for a few seconds before adding the onions, garlic, or ginger. You only have to use between a quarter or half teaspoon of hing to make a dish for a family of four. However, make sure you store it in an airtight container. 

Garlic

Garlic has a pungent flavor yet it’s used in many cuisines throughout the world. Garlic powder is a form of garlic that has been dried and ground into a powder. It’s a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, from pizza and pasta to meats and vegetables. For a milder flavor, add it at the beginning when you start frying the onions. For a sharper flavor, add it after the onions are soft, giving the garlic less time to cook.

Ginger

‘Aduwa’ is an essential ingredient for most curries. It makes for one-half of the recipe for ginger garlic paste which is used in most of the food we cook at home. Ginger is a great additive for black teas, lending them a nice fragrance, and warming you up. You can use the spice in dried form too. Simply dry ginger in the sun and grind it up. If you don’t want to do that, you can cut an inch of raw garlic and grate or mince it to use in your food. Add it after you have let the onions turn brown in hot oil. 

Books, movies, and TV shows have the power to inspire people in various ways. They can spark creativity, provoke thoughts and emotions, and even motivate people to take action or pursue their dreams. Whether it’s through relatable characters, gripping storylines, or thought-provoking themes, storytelling in all its forms has the potential to deeply impact and inspire audiences. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked to three people to find out which book or movie has deeply impacted them.

Ravi Shahi, Managing director, PRV entertainment

I read a book by Jim Blyth called ‘100 Great Marketing Ideas’ and it taught me a lot of things. The book discusses the real ideas implemented by big organizations and it’s inspiring. Marketing ideas should be relatable, and consumers should be able to connect with them. This book has marketing ideas extracted from some of the world’s best companies. Reading the book affected how I approached things. It changed the way I broke down my ideas and thoughts.

Pragya Shrestha, Photographer

Stand by Me is a coming-of-age film by Rob Reiner. It’s a universally appealing film that people of all ages can relate to. Even though we may not have experienced similar outdoor adventures or grown up in a small town, the plot transports us back to a time when we were learning new things about the world and defending our friends when they were in trouble or running with them when we were caught playing in our neighbors’ gardens. Stand by Me focuses on these memories and it’s not just about the adventure in itself but the timeless bond between friends.

Sravya, Singer/Artist

I’m not much of a reader but two books ‘Karma’ and ‘Death’, both by Sadhguru, have been life changing for me. Karma is a book about karma, not the so-called karma from the West that we are used to hearing about. Karma in the East has always been defined as action. As Sadhguru describes karma is action. And our life is our karma. So the book karma is essentially about the intricacies of how karma works in our life and how we can learn to take charge of it. And Death, as the blurb declares, is ‘a book for everyone who will die’. It provides a lot of insights into death that can help you navigate the complex emotions that come when you think of it.