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Seemantinee has over three decades of experience in the development sector, 20 years of direct implementation with NGOs, 5 years of bilateral aid and UN assignments and 7 years as Global Head for CSR with a leading wind energy company.
She has completed several professional assignments across various continents. Seemantinee is currently engaged at CHHAYA Strategic Advisors as Partner and guides a number of corporates for CSR and sustainability initiatives. She is also an Independent Director on the Boards of Prabhat Dairy Ltd, Sunfresh Agro Pvt Ltd, Anik Financial Services Pvt Ltd, and Cheese Land Agro (India) Pvt Ltd.
She holds a Master of Arts and Social Work degree from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. While at the peak of a rising career and on having completed a number of successful assignments in India and across the globe, Seemantinee chose to take a break.
Away from the city buzz, she finds peace in remote and greener surroundings, unconnected by mobile phones or public transport. Seemantinee enjoys working with her hands, experimenting with organic farming practices, cow rearing and mentoring local youth. She says growing 'poison free food' for family and friends is the most satisfying job she has ever done.
She could have continued doing international assignments, but is glad she opted for this new life. Now many young professionals are joining her group - 'Farmers by Choice'. There are IT professionals, bankers, technocrats and family business owners who are finding this as a liberating option.
ET: The need for 'work-life balance' is a term often heard in today's society. Why has this becoming a dominant need and gaining importance?
SK: The concept of 'work-life' balance is a term gaining importance for the following reasons:
- Stress at work: Jobs today are rarely the 9 am to 5 pm types. Coupled with this, net-connectivity never lets you off the hook and one is virtually connected all the time. One has lost privacy and work intrudes family life.
- Stress of relationships: More demanding and unpredictable, generation gaps are more with technology with less personal exchanges.
- Stress of social media: Spending more time with unknown people; reactionary and passive recipients both end up having emotional burdens.
- Stress of travel to work has become strenuous with traffic, time and strain of driving, traffic indiscipline.
- No full-time home makers which many are used to while growing up.
- Less stress busting opportunities: Conventional social nets providing solace and support are weakening such as joint families, visiting parental homes/distant family members. Traditional festivals have been replaced by expensive holidays.
- Financial stress: Materialistic life - money is never enough. There are so many more advertisements and online shopping with cashless payment options that can leave one high and dry before you can even realize it. This puts additional pressure to earn more.
- Stress of entertainment: Stressful TV serials make you believe that behind every good character there are five vicious ones.
ET: What could be the possible reasons as to why industry leaders and others are moving towards a lifestyle change and are opting for alternate lifestyle choices?
SK: More and more senior professionals and industry leaders are realizing how futile personal sacrifices for jobs can be. Senior leaders are learning that in being tied down for 10-18 hours at work, they haven't had a chance to spend time or their earnings for quality family time and other activities.
Health shocks make these professional re-think other life options and reflect on better ways of living. Moreover, since many professionals start early and have climbed the corporate ladder by the age range of 35-40 years, they feel that it is possible to come back to their respective mainstream careers if the alternative life option does not suit them. So they choose to step out as they know they can come back.
Some would like to enjoy stark lifestyle differences with their peers in the western world, while others want their children to get an exposure which they couldn't get for themselves. Getting married and having children late makes them more sensitive/serious and they feel responsible as parents.
Many of us would also like to adopt something trendy and a little off course which we can even flaunt through social media! Also, alternate lifestyle choices is not for the masses and is for those looking for creativity, self-realization or just to feel special. After all you just have one life, so live it fully!
ET: It is said that technology can be both, a boon and a bane. In your opinion, has technology helped in striking a balance while exploring alternative lifestyles?
SK: Advancement in technology has certainly helped in striking a balance while exploring alternate lifestyles. Money management through technology is a major enabler. You can be on top of your finances and smartly invest by accessing savings, insurance and markets products, portfolio management services, etc., so you know where you stand today and where you will be years from now, financially.
Further, with the Internet, you can be connected with who you choose to, even when you are physically away. You can create groups of like-minded people who provide mutual support. Mobility has become easy with various online bookings from taxis and flights to Airbnb.
ET: What is your suggestion to our readers who are on a quest to finding a balance between work & life? Could you give us examples of alternate lifestyle choices?
SK:
My suggestions to you:
- Manage your finances seriously and ensure that your dependents and you are taken care of.
- Consult your family and listen to them. If possible convert them, else prepare them!
- Keep a return route/option ready.
- Spend more time with yourself before you plunge - so you can listen to what you really want for yourself.
- Focus on your health. Your body is your only tool for any experience - take better care of it to withstand shocks and enjoy returns.
- Invest time in 'quality' relationships, not quantities. You will eventually need a support system.
- Most important do not be lazy. It can impact your health and mental balance. This is a sure way of becoming cynical!
I know of people who take to:
- Hobbies such as playing the piano, classical music, painting, photography, pottery, collecting artefacts, travel to less explored territories.
- Health pursuits: Power walks, cycling, trekking, etc.
- Start-ups: Opening theme restaurants, IT solutions, disruptive technology.
- Social work: Joining NGOs, adopting children teaching in schools, environmental work,
- Spirituality: Scripture studies, following gurus, etc.
It is amazing to see the sincerity with which people live these alternate lives!
ET: Could you please share more about your professional life and what led to the decision to seek an alternative life as a 'Farmer by Choice'?
SK: I grew up in small villages as my father got transferred from one sugar factory to another. After attending seven different schools, I started working at 16 to support my education. Later, I was engaged in activities related to the students union and in social work and rights based movements. Life was all about balancing studies, part time jobs and activism.
My professional life and marriage coincided. Also, my job responsibilities involved extensive travelling, with motherhood adding some challenges which eventually sharpened my multi-tasking skills. I continued travelling for 15 to 20 days a month for 31 years! Travelling to every corner of India, and under-developed countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, meant adjusting to different climates, cultures and food. I was also tasked with the responsibility of leading a multi-country team for UN assignments. It was particularly daunting as an Asian woman, with a non-technical background to work on technically oriented projects, in a male dominant environment.
In between my stressful and busy professional life, I lost my very supportive and loving life partner to a stroke. It made me reflect on my choices made in favor of work over life. In retrospect, I regret not having spent enough time with family.
I decided to correct it before it was too late. After making provisions for the necessities of life, I decided to slow down. Farming was a natural choice as I grew up on farmlands. Being away from a fast track life, the traffic, pollution and noise, the green pastures were soothing. Farm work tests your health and improves fitness. After working on intangible outcomes all your life, farming which gives tangible results is very satisfying. One can literally taste the fruits of hard work here!
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