Shubhangi Atre: We barely have time to catch our breath

Actress Shubhangi Atre says that it gets very difficult to take a break nowadays. She says that schedules are often very strict, not allowing any personal time as well.

“I feel that we rarely have the time for long summer breaks, or even short breaks, for that matter. Life has become so fast-paced that sometimes it feels like we barely have time to catch our breath. Our schedules are often packed, making it hard to take a break even when we want to. Long summer breaks now seem like something from my childhood. When I was a kid, I used to spend two months of summer vacation at my grandmother's place. We had so much fun, and my grandmother used to cook delicious meals for us. When it was time to leave, I never wanted to go back home. I always looked forward to the next summer vacation, when I could go back to my grandmother's house again,” she says.

She adds, “Many of us are hesitant to take long leaves, whether it's for weddings, pregnancies, or illnesses. It's not just actors; people in all professions feel this pressure. I've noticed that even pregnant women often work until their eighth month. Personally, I believe it's important for people to slow down a bit and carve out time for themselves, especially during challenging times. Even though life keeps moving forward at its pace, taking some time for yourself is important for staying stress-free in this fast-paced world.”

She says that a break is compulsory to rejuvenate yourself. “I believe it's really necessary to take a break for at least 2-3 days to rejuvenate and detoxify myself from the daily stress and problems. While a break won't magically make me stress-free, it does offer some peace of mind during those few days. In my line of work, where I often put in 10-15 hour days and sometimes work non-stop, taking breaks becomes even more important. So, regardless of profession, I see the importance of taking time off,” she says.

And, on these breaks, be away from technology, she says, adding, “In our profession, we need to be available on our phones, even during breaks, since anything can come up at any time. However, I agree that breaks should also include a break from the cellphone. In fact, I'm trying to reduce my cell phone usage in my daily life too because I feel like we're always glued to our phones. Just like everything else, cell phones have both positive and negative impacts. While we come across positive content, we also encounter negativity, so it's important to reduce phone usage a bit for peace of mind and to maintain a positive state of mind.”