Author: AIESEC India

6 Life Lessons That FRIENDS Taught Us

The beloved comedy sitcom “FRIENDS” first aired in September 1994, lasting 10 seasons and ending in 2004. More than 10 years later, it’s still warming our hearts and making us laugh until we cry.

The show and “the couch” have withstood the test of time, becoming a classic.

Not only does the purple window at Monica’s door and the setting at coffee house Central Perk incite a sense of nostalgia, but the characters have really come to feel like home for the fans.

Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Monica and Chandler have been able to inspire a few life lessons along the way.

Whether you were a Chandler or a Rachel, there was someone you could identify with. There were storylines that had you cracking up and ones that had you tearing up – but either way, you were glued to the screen.

Let’s see what lesson each character of FRIENDS has to offer us (careful, spoilers ahead)

1. Don’t be afraid to take a risk

As well as proving true love does exist, if Rachel getting off the plane to Paris to be with Ross taught us anything, it’s that taking a risk – for love, a job, yourself – is worth doing. It will teach you to live in the moment and not look back. And who wants to be predictable all the time, anyway?

2. Everyone has different opinions about things – and that’s fine

Consider this piece of wisdom from Joey Tribbiani: “It’s a moo point. It’s like a cow’s opinion. It just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.” While many of us like to consider ourselves fairly confident people, there’s no doubt that we all value other people’s opinions way more than we should. Like when Ross just couldn’t accept that Phoebe didn’t believe in evolution.

Everyone is going to have an opinion about everything, it would be positively dull if everyone had the same opinion about everything. However, you should know when to just agree to disagree – some things just aren’t worth getting all worked up about. Sometimes, it’s a moo point.

3. Dance, run and do whatever you love like no one is watching

Remember the episode when Phoebe runs like crazy in the park? How free-spirited is she?

Here is an important lesson to learn from her – do what pleases you and do not care a damn about society. The world anyways will talk, you just do what you feel is right. Phoebe did everything as a free spirit – had her brother’s triplets, sang unusual songs at the Café (remember “Smelly Cat”?) and held her head high always.

4. Keep it Real!

Ross is very misunderstood. Coming off as sad and judgmental, Ross is the one that keeps it real. When Phoebe thought her mother was reincarnated into a cat, he was the one who had to step up and say something. A lover of science, Ross is very learned and it comes through in his sarcasm. And oh! He definitely taught us the difference between your and you’re and UNAGI.

5. Always Stay Motivated

Monica, the mother hen of the group, doesn’t shy away from leading the group and taking responsibility for tasks. Someone has to do it and leadership skills take you a long way.

She has her quirks, and she’ll be the first to admit it. She likes her furniture arranged a certain way. She has 11 different categories for towels. You can’t eat in bed. She embraces all of these things about herself, and you should embrace your quirks too.

Perfectionist Monica taught us to take up a job that we love instead of doing something which we detest.

Pursuing your dream can get tough. You might have to do something you don’t like. Monica knew from very early on that she wanted to be a chef and open her own restaurant someday. In the bargain, she wore costumes and skates and danced and waitressed at diners. But ultimately, she was the head chef at her own restaurant.

6. There’s Always a Bright Side 

We all know that Chandler is emotionally unavailable and therefore turns to humor and quick wit to escape emotion. (I think a lot of us are with you there, Bing.) Chandler is easy to love because he is laid back and self-deprecates in such a way that you have to respect him.

Chandler reminds us that life isn’t all bad, and that sometimes you just gotta’ dance your feelings out; regardless of how silly you look. He taught us to never lose hope and find a person who will put a turkey on their head to say sorry and put a ring on it.

When times get tough, make a fort, watch TV in it and invite your friends over. Life is hard, but if you can find times to still be silly and act like a kid, 100% do it.

They are the spirit animals of big and small citizens alike, and their personality resembles many of us in this world. Whether serious or stupid, we can always count on them to yield the perfect piece of advice for most situations.

What are the life lessons you learned from FRIENDS? Do let us know in the comments section below!

If you liked this post, you may also like 4 Leadership Lessons From Captain America.


Written by

Studying bachelor’s in biotechnology, Aayushi is a really passionate person, who loves to read and travel. She believes people, places, and stories have the power to change anyone and help them understand the purpose of life.

Choices, chances & changes – Three Cs that can change your life

Ever felt down in the dumps, absolutely sure that you wanted to transform your life but no idea where to start from?

Ever wondered what might have been?

Ever thought about where and who you’d be if only you’d done something differently, gone somewhere else, chosen something or someone else?

Probably yes, if you’re like most of us.

But, have you ever imagined where you might go and what you might still become, with the choices and chances you yet have left?

Choices, chances, and changes – The three ‘C’s of Life  

There are a lot of people who say that life comes down to the balancing act of these three things.

According to the saying “you must make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never change.”

But how do these 3 C’s affect our lives? How can we adapt them to create a life that we don’t regret? Let’s take a look 🙂

Choices

“Life is the sum of all your choices.” ~Albert Camus

Some say that every moment is a choice, while others say it’s every day. Many, of course, just wait until the obvious choices come to them, which is a choice in itself.

everything is a choice - choices

Every day we are faced with decisions – some large, some small.

The decision may be overwhelming at the time, but, the truth is, an outcome is going to happen regardless. Make the best of it. Choose what’s right and most importantly, go with your gut.

Life can be hard sometimes and the path is not always clear. But if we are making choices, either way, we sure would rather be picking the path that leads us closer to our vision than letting fear make the choice by default.

Chances

“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” ~Denis Waitley

By making a choice, it is by default taking a chance, which leads us to focus even more on the obstacles that surround us. We sure wouldn’t want to be that person who’d, later on, end up saying ‘I wish I had done this or been there’?

take a chance, you never know what might happen - choices

The point is if you want to accomplish something you have to take a chance.

For example: Like that guy/girl? You have to take a chance and ask them out 😉

Want to quit your job and chase your passion? You have to take the plunge, quit your job, and make it happen.

Changes

“It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.” ~Proverb

Everything changes, even as the saying goes: “The only constant is change”, so why do we resist it so much, why can’t we embrace it?

It’s funny how pretty much all I know comes down to just one thing.  Change.

"There is always a chance to change and make things right - choices

The most uncomfortable part of the equation, yet, the most rewarding. By embracing change, we open the door to opportunity. With opportunity comes success.

Maybe you’re stuck in a rut, or a situation where it feels as if you’re going nowhere. Change. Welcome new beginnings 🙂

C+C+C = Life

However many chances remain in our lives, we better make the most of them, right?

We better be prepared for them. We better be ready—not only to make the choice but to see it through.

Life is the sum of our choices. If our chances are short-lived, as they are, then there are but few choices left that may change us forever.

What will you do with those choices? Are you ready for them?

You may also be interested in checking our article “5 Myths About Being an Introvert“.

If you feel like taking a chance today that can change your life forever, check out our exchange opportunities at aiesec.in/students.


Written by

Studying bachelor’s in biotechnology, Aayushi is a really passionate person, who loves to read and travel. She believes people, places, and stories have the power to change anyone and help them understand the purpose of life.

4 Time Management Tips to Boost Your Productivity

“Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing” – Miles Davis.

In a fast-paced world that is fuelled by instant messages and social media, time is of the utmost importance and every minute counts. For this reason, an effective time management can result in better efficiency and productivity and enhance your workplace performance.

It helps you accomplish more in a shorter period of time. The additional time can be spent on valuable experiences, which opens up the horizons of learning opportunities and reduces stress.

Here are 4 time management tips that can help you save time and boost your productivity!

1. Establish a 15 Minutes Rule

The 15-minute rule calls for dividing your working hours into 15-minute sprints and allocating specific tasks within those time slots.

If you have six hours of work each day, you end up with 24 slots of  15-minutes each, and so on. A 15-minute time slot is taken because it’s long enough to get things done and short enough to easily fit it in your routine.

Men checking the time - time management

For example, when scheduling a meeting that would typically take an hour or more, start it about 15 minutes past an hour and end it when the hour ends. This theory was created by Workplace Performance expert Jason Womack. He states that people can accomplish in 45 minutes what they think they need 60 minutes for.

It compels you to be focused on the important things, and the extra 15 minutes can be utilized to complete other tasks!

2. Eliminate Distractions

Distractions creep into your day without you even noticing. The best way to deal with them is to identify them first, and then strategically avoid them.

Assess how you spend your time. You might notice how minor distractions – such as a chatty coworker – can eat hours of our valuable time every week!  

Distractions can also be very basic and unnoticeable, such as a cluttered desk or a phone that buzzes too loud whenever there’s a new text. Distracting, right?

Hence, identifying your distractions and minimizing them is a great way to get the most out of your time.

team working on laptops - tome management

3. Sort your priorities

Raking your tasks in the order of their priority is a great way to reduce the amount of time that is wasted when you mix up tasks of varying importance.

Go through your to-do list and sort tasks that are urgent or heavy in terms of workload. This helps you to take your time away from non-important tasks that you might have considered important otherwise.

This will slowly reduce your urgent priorities in number, and will also reduce the amount of stress and tension that you might face due to the same 🙂

notebook with a to do list - time management

4. Schedule, Schedule, Schedule!

Scheduling is, perhaps, the most effective way of time management.

You need to schedule your time, record that schedule (so that it can be followed) and actually stick to it! Determine the time of day when you are most productive and do the most important tasks at that time. This is a great way to improve your performance.

Scheduling gives you a clear direction and a certain amount of confidence because you know what you are doing and when you are doing it.

Don’t forget to keep some buffer time in your schedule for unexpected emergencies and add breaks at regular intervals. This will help you avoid mental and physical exhaustion.

calendar - time management

Time Management isn’t merely an impressive skill that you can present in your resume.

It has a wide applicability that spans even outside of your workplace and improves other aspects of your life! But like almost everything in life, you can only develop this skill with practice and discipline. The best way to learn is always with a hands-on experience.

If this blog helped you in any way or you know any more time management tips, let us know. We would love to hear from you 🙂

If you liked this, you may also like How to prepare for an internship interview!

5 Myths About Being An Introvert

A few months ago I attended the most beautiful conference in 20 years of my life.

A conference full of the most passionate and energetic youth from all over the country, and some foreigners too. We danced, we shouted, we played and we worked. We were sleepless for 6 days straight, yet we were full of energy.

However, there is one thing that I heard there that really bothered me, and I wanted to talk about it ever since. “I was an introvert before I joined the organization, and now I am an extrovert. I love how I am able to communicate with people now.”

The responses came flooding in with appreciations. I sat myself down, thinking that it might put somebody’s energy and confidence down. But inside, I kept asking myself: “Why? What’s wrong with being an introvert?”.

Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Marissa Mayer are all remarkable leaders – and introverts. Being an introvert is not a bad thing.

Although we tend to think of leaders as loud, extroverted and confident, the opposite might be true.

What is introversion?

An introvert is someone who prefers calm, minimally stimulating environments. These people like spending time alone and they get drained by enough socializing.

The opposite of an Introvert is an Extrovert.

An extrovert is a person concerned more with the socializing and physical environment than with inner thoughts and feelings. These people love making new friends and parties.

Yet, there is so much more to introversion than this.

So, let’s break some misconceptions about introversion 🙂

1. Being an introvert is not the same as being shy

People say that “shyness” is the trait that helps us recognize whether a person is an introvert.

No, there’s a difference.

Shyness means getting nervous and self-conscious in social situations. Even extroverts can have this trait. It’s not like extroverts just run around chatting with strangers all the time.

Introversion is when socializing wears you out. You might not be nervous or shy at all. In fact, many introverts like meaningful socializing, but it just tires them out. That’s why they avoid extra socializing.

You can be an introvert and shy, or you can be an extrovert and shy. One thing is not directly connected to the other 😉

If we compare socializing to running, then extroverts are marathon runners, and introverts are sprinters. Does it mean they don’t like running? No! It just makes them really tired after a while, and they need to conserve their energy.

2. Introverts don’t dislike people

They hate spending all their time around people, they don’t hate people. They just need a good amount of time to recharge themselves after some socialization.

Everyone is born with an innate temperament — a way that you gain energy and prefer to interact with the world. Introversion and extroversion are temperaments.

Introverts just need alone time to gain their energy and go back to interaction.

3. Introverts are not poor public speakers

Introverts generally spend more time preparing for their presentations and speeches, rather than just flying by the seat of their pants.  

Many introverts are naturally gifted speakers. They have excellent communication because of their amazing listening abilities. But anyone can work on communication skills, either being an introvert or an extrovert.

4. Introverts don’t need to “get better” just for being an introvert

Yes, if an introvert is completely out of social energy, they start getting a little crabby or simply zoned out. It doesn’t mean that they’re trying to be rude.

In fact, they’re a lot more friendly if you give them some time to recharge themselves.

Being an introvert is part of who they are, and it can be a source of excellence. We are at our best when we embrace our nature and use it as a source of strength.

5. Introverts can’t become an extrovert

There are plenty of introverts out there who wish they could be more outgoing, but this isn’t the same thing as becoming an extrovert.

First, there are no drawbacks to being an introvert.

Introverts, like everyone, can improve their social skills like communication and become more capable in social situations. But it won’t change the fact that those interactions, after some time, will start to drain them.

Many people falsely believe that introverts can (or want to) “unlearn” their quiet and silent tendencies.

Introversion is an inborn personality type, it cannot be altered. Therefore, an introvert can’t become an extrovert.

In fact, when it comes to leadership, introverts are confident leaders who are particularly effective at managing a lot of extroverts because of their listening abilities 😉

Being an Introvert is a gift. Today the world is in need of people who go deeper, think before they act, and look at things in new ways.

The world wants people who value meaningful relationships over meaningless small talks. And the world is welcoming thoughtful and contemplative people, who bring calm and wisdom to a room.

If you think you are an introvert, here are two easy methods that can help you with better socializing 🙂

  • Stretch the limits of your comfort zone:

It is always said that great things come out from your comfort zone. So, gather guts and talk to people.

Start with introducing yourself to everyone. Most important is, to start with the low key. Talk about things you’ve already experienced. Don’t hesitate to say yes to the outing plans.

It doesn’t happen in one day, but working on it helps you a lot.

My personally experienced method is volunteering. When I volunteered, I met a lot of like-minded people. We all were there to work for the same cause and improve our own selves by stepping out of our comfort zones.

Which made it easy for all of us to communicate with each other.

  • Learn to get involved in a conversation

By being involved I don’t only mean is to listen. your skills should be balanced in both the ways.

Sometimes, mere listening creates an awkward silence. It can be interrupted only by your talking. Thus, it is very important to develop conversation skills.

Being able to talk gives you confidence in various social situations. With practicing, you can definitely overcome your fears. You may also check 4 ways to improve your communication skills 🙂

Let us know how you feel about it. We’d love to know your views and what skills would you like to develop in yourself 🙂

We at AIESEC have many projects around the world which helps you to overcome your fears and gain confidence, apart from contributing towards world issues.

Check them out at www.aiesec.in/students

 


Written by

Anisha Bhawanani is graduated in Marketing and Finance and loves writing. She is a happy go lucky girl with a head full of dreams, very passionate about traveling and exploring different cultures. One day she wants to win a man booker prize.

AIESEC delivers World Cleanup Day in partnership with Let’s Do It! India

World Cleanup Day (also known as WCD) is a global social action program aimed at removing plastic and other types of waste from the world’s coastlines, rivers, parks, cities, and trails.

On 15 September, a large number of volunteers and partners throughout 150+ countries came together to clean the Earth of trash.

In India, the action worked on cleaning up litter and mismanaged waste from beaches, rivers, forests, and streets. It was officially organized by AIESEC in India and Let’s do it! India.

The Let’s do it! Foundation has initiated several clean up actions across different countries throughout the last decade, with over 15 million volunteers taking part in total.

A world changing idea with a humble beginning.

The movement began in the small Northern European country of Estonia in 2008. 50,000 people came together to clean up up their entire country in just five hours.

This year the Let’s Do It! India and AIESEC not only focused on cleaning up the trash and mismanaged waste, but also created awareness among the individuals regarding the issue of having a clean and green Earth.

“Simply stopping the blood spilling out will not heal the wound”, said Anneli Ohvril, the head of the managing board of the Let’s do it!.

“With cleanups, we aim to draw attention to littering, trash blindness and general mismanagement of waste. Cleanups are not meant to replace regular waste management. Civic action must be followed up by effective waste management reforms, with waste collection improvements to be established everywhere.

We also need to look at what we are throwing away – it’s not waste until it’s wasted. We should see that we are throwing away resources and recognize their potential again,” added Ohvril.

World Cleanup Day

What next?

World Clean up Day is being seen as a commencement towards Oct 2nd, 2019, the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

The 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth marks a target date to largely improve the access to clean water and flushing toilets.

With an estimated 600 million people lacking access to clean water and flushing toilet in their own homes, might be a challenge. But this could be the biggest landmark in history as it provides a critical route in eradicating poverty and unhygienic conditions in the world’s 2nd largest nation.

world cleanup day

The fastest-growing grass root movement in history.

This grass-roots movement inspired people worldwide to follow suit with the same ambition ‘one-country, one-day’ formula.

In India, more than 1,30,000 people from 95+ cities, from Leh to Pondicherry, took an initiative and contributed to the movement.

But the effort of the millions of volunteers united needs to be matched with more sustainable and long-term solutions. Not only from society, but also from business and governments.

“Through this action, we want to support and connect a new generation of community leaders, who are ready to act together to find lasting solutions. Our leaders in different countries are very determined people. They will to work against cultural prejudices, ignorance, climatic challenges, corruption and other very challenging circumstances. All to bring forth new perspectives, and bring their vision to life,“ Eva Truuverk pointed out.

people holding the poster of world cleanup day

How to keep it clean after the World Cleanup Day?

We also need to look at what we are throwing away – it’s not waste until it’s wasted. Reducing your waste is the best place to start.

With cleanups,  attention is being drawn towards littering, trash blindness and general mismanagement of waste.

Cleanups are not meant to replace regular waste management. Civic action must be followed up by effective education and waste management reforms, with waste collection improvements to be established everywhere.

There are a few simple things that we can actually do every day to keep our cities clean. We all would like a saaf-sutra desh to live in.

It won’t even take much effort:

  1. Don’t litter. Dispose of your trash properly and carry it until you find a bin;
  2. Choose to reuse the hotel towels to save local water or take your own towel instead;
  3. Take a reusable or filtration water bottle;
  4. Take reusable bags when shopping;
  5. Avoid disposable products: cups, plates, spoons, etc;
  6. Prefer to buy refill products, instead of having new packages every time one is over;
  7. You can also reuse bowls, bottles, and jars as lunch boxes or to keep your food, instead of throwing it.

girls cleaning the street on world cleanup day

One of the biggest challenges for India is the lack of truly efficient waste management and recycling system throughout the nation. Much of the waste is simply abandoned and left mismanaged for years because of the lack of a collective responsibility.

It’s about time that we started considering the fact, that we, as the future of the nation, should focus on keeping our country clean and help to establish a disease-free India!

What role will you play in the fight against pollution?

If you also want to get a hands-on experience to support actions like these, check out our Volunteer Exchanges.


Written by

Studying bachelor’s in biotechnology, Aayushi is a really passionate person, who loves to read and travel. She believes people, places, and stories have the power to change anyone and help them understand the purpose of life.