These are rules I try to live by and it's an attempt at simplifying different aspects of my life.

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I keep expanding this list and read it every few days to remind myself to practice what I preach. I've written these for no one but me, if you find something useful, awesome :)

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Life

• Nobody owes you anything

• Assume good intent

• If you agree with someone, learn and move on

• If you disagree with someone, learn and move on

• Things are usually not as bad as they seem

• Be over optimistic. Prepare for worst-case scenarios

• Be honest with yourself and others (without being mean)

• Don't complain about things you can't change

• Say yes often when you're getting started, say no often after that

• Knowing something is not the same as internalizing it

• Realize your privilege, don't take it for granted or feel guilty about it

• Be nice because you are, don't expect anything out of it

• Both good and bad things you think you don't deserve happen, accept it with grace

• Both good and bad things take time to happen, course correct and be at it

• Know what you're compromising, be fine with it

• It's okay to not have opinions

• Don't put labels on yourself, and others

• If you feel exhausted, pause. If that doesn't help, endure. If you can't endure, quit and be fine with the outcome

• Don't judge others for their choices, feelings or opinions

• Don't be offended on other's behalf

• Be curious about everything

• Take your time to process extremely happy or extremely sad situations before reacting

• Know yourself better - learn what makes you happy, sad, angry, anxious or overwhelming

• Don't pretend to be what you are not

• Don't project yourself as superior in any situation

• Don't confuse luck with smartness

• Not getting what you want is a good fuel for getting what you want

• Don't let rejections of any kind make you feel inadequate, but learn from them

• Introspect when something offends you

• Define what success means to you

• Be an independent thinker

• Listen well: be genuinely interested, ask questions and don't be distracted

• Be more virtuous in actions than in words

• Don't think about what others are thinking of you

• Be okay with the outcome of your conscious choices

• Be aware that you have blind spots in every aspect of life

• Avoid self-pity

• Avoid ‘I told you so’ behaviour

• Figure out the root of your insecurities and gradually work towards feeling secure

• If people can benefit from sharing it, share it

• If you notice an act of kindness, acknowledge and appreciate it

• If you don't ask, the answer is no

• Have fun, however you define it

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Relationships

• Go out of your way to make your loved ones feel special

• Remember and remind people of small things (and big things)

• Check in on how they're doing often

• Express gratitude often

• Express genuine praise and compliment often

• If you love someone, tell them

• Love unconditionally

• Respect people, let it show in your words and actions

• Don't share your problems while hearing theirs

• Over communicate

• Say people's names when talking to them

• Don't expect people to change

• If you expect something out of them, tell them

• Show genuine support for the work they do

• Everyone has imposter syndrome, hype them up, be their biggest cheerleader

• If you trust them, don't question their integrity or intent

• If you know someone's unwell, check in if they're feeling better after a few days

• People like being taken care of, do that if you can

• Assume everyone has gone through unexplained trauma, because they have

• Make people feel comfortable during uncomfortable situations and conversations

• Acknowledge and apologize for your mistakes

• When you need to apologize: Explain intent, empathize with what they're feeling & don't give excuses

• It's okay to lose arguments with people you love even when you're right

• Buy presents for your parents, friends and loved ones

• Write letters (or use other art forms to express yourself better)

• Don't fake indifference

• Don't be passive aggressive

• Don't hold grudges

• Don't deal with people who are always angry, complaining or conflicting your thoughts

• Be conscious of other people's feelings

• Don't invest in one-sided relations, they drain you. Do what you need to process it, acknowledge your feelings and move on

• The only way to know if you can trust someone is to trust them

• Everyone (including people you love) is a combination of good and not-so-good things, you can't pick and choose, accept them as they are

• If your mom is a housewife: top up her bank account (create one if it doesn't exist) and ask her to mandatorily spend on something for herself every month

• Be conscious that women generally have a harder life in many ways, put effort to make it better for them

• Put active effort in nurturing relations you care about

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Work

• Don't work with people you don't like

• Work hard to attract opportunities, work harder when you get them

• Setup time to do deep work

• Constantly upskill

• Learn more about the industry you work in

• Interact professionally with people who don't belong to your industry

• Pick your battles

• Set ambitious goals, then figure how to achieve them

• Try re-framing problems if you can't solve them

• Ask specific questions

• Give credit, take blame

• Praise in public, criticize in private

• Don't indulge in office politics

• Don't be mean or rude towards your colleagues

• Giving good feedback is an art, spend time mastering it

• Seek active feedback to improve yourself

• Over communicate

• Get extremely good at written communication

• Do what you said, by when you said you'll do it. Proactively communicate if you aren't able to do it

• Punch above your weight, go beyond what you're expected to do

• The reward for good work is more work

• Don't complain about having too much work

• Manage your energy, not your time

• Back young folks

• Actively look out for and get into opportunities that have unlimited upside but limited downside

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Health

• Exercise and meditate daily

• Go on walks

• Know what you're eating and be okay with what it does to your body

• Do yearly body checkups even if nothing's wrong

• Breathe from your belly

• Take frequent deep breaths

• Focus on breathing consciously when you're not feeling normal

• Hug people

• Pet animals

• Smell nice

• Stand often, stretch often

• Do whatever it takes to help you sleep well

• Learn to rest well

• Anxiety affects you both mentally and physically. Know the triggers, symptoms and gradually work towards solutions

• Know what affects your mood and do more of what makes you feel good

• Label your feelings and understand their roots

• Write about what you're feeling (or express yourself in other self-fulfiling ways)

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Finance

• Invest in index funds

• Don't interrupt your investments

• Don't confuse insurance with investments

• Don't confuse speculations with investments

• Never bargain with those at a lower economic rung than you (vendors, service workers, etc)

• Always negotiate with those at a higher economic rung than you (companies, jobs, gigs, etc)

• Figure out the monetary value of your time

• Money can give you more time if you use it smartly

• Optimize money for sleeping well at night

• Take active bets with money you're comfortable losing, but know that they're bets

• Spend without thinking on things you care about, cut down on other things

• Work towards getting fuck you money

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Misc

• Keep all phone and desktop notifications off by default

• Keep your phone silent on all times

• Rate & review things you buy online, it costs you nothing and helps others

• Use keyboard shortcuts

• Give generous tips to service workers (surprise by giving 10x once in a while if you can)

• Don't argue on the internet

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Lastly..