I have always wondered what it would feel like to be working from the mountains, replacing corner cubicles with caves, lunch time Netflix surfing with a trek up the hillock, online fitness classes with a personal yoga instructor.
We all wonder, but most times our mind stops at that, giving us enough fears and reasons to not do something that even remotely puts ourselves out of our comfort zone.
I joined a remote-first company six months ago, determined to travel and work from wherever I want. Then I took ill sometime in November which derailed all my grand plans, made me physically weak, and left me anxious and restless . Working from the mountains became a distant dream, life felt like it came to a standstill, and I felt like a little girl watching out of the train window waiting for it to start the journey.
It took me a while to realize that restlessness was a reminder to be more kind to myself, and especially to my body that has undergone so much so suddenly. I was at my healthiest when I fell sick, and it was heartbreaking to lose all the strength, stamina and flexibility I had built before that. So I did what I do best—I became conscious of how my mind is attacking my body, the very same body that helped me survive a life-threatening disease. See how the narrative changed there? : )
That’s the power of awareness, friends!
And then, when I finally felt ready enough to be working from the mountains (to be honest, when my family felt I was healthy enough), I took the plunge and joined some friends who were travelling to Dharamshala.
You see the last time I visited the mighty mountains, things were not that great. Ladakh’s harsh winters can break you, and it definitely broke me. This time around though, I was better prepared mentally on what to expect, and also Himachal seemed a bit more friendly.
So we are here, and I have been extremely lucky to find a remote, beautiful studio away from the tourist crowd at Mcleodganj.
The moment I landed in this village, the feeling was one of Harry Potter touching his wand for the very first time at Ollivander’s. It was electric. All I saw were towering mountains on all sides, lush green trees, and rocky mountain steps that seemed to go to bright coloured houses.
I will write a separate blog on accommodation and where to find good food while working from the mountains. But today I just want to talk about how I feel at this moment, having spent more than half a month here.
Working from the mountains: It actually means the mountains make you work for everything
The thing about mountains is that they make you work for all things big or small. You want a cup of chai? Walk down or walk up to the Tapri. You want to do early morning yoga with the sounds of nature bringing you bliss? You gotta wake up in the cold and brace yourself for whatever is coming next. That’s the beauty of Himalayas don’t you think? It’s the freaking Himalayas, of course it is gonna make you feel small. Who are we, really in front of the majestic Himalayas. The sooner we grasp this, the better and more enjoyable our experience will be. I came upon this realization only very recently, and this has been one of the best trips of my life.
Make the most of working from the mountains: Grow through the discomfort
We humans are creatures of comfort. Our bodies today seek comfort of every sort, and we are not afraid to throw money at anything that even remotely threatens our comfort. But if you think about it, the more comfortable your body is, the more unstable your mind is. Your mind is a unique sort of a monkey that always fixates on a problem. Sometimes this is real, most times this is imaginary. It is my opinion that it is better to stay with real problems than let our mind cook up imaginary ones. That’s exactly what the mountain does. It gives you real problems—Cold, physical stress, lesser oxygen, limited access to choice of food, and very less human-made entertainment. This keeps you in the real world, keeps you grounded, and helps you grow through your discomfort.
Look for moments of impact while working from the mountains
Every time a mountain dog comes running at me, or I see the homestay aunty notice my hunger levels, or every time the cab driver who we call upon regularly nods at me without saying a word, I have this awareness of the unique beauty of that moment which is never gonna come again. We all have many such moments in our lives everyday, but we take them all for granted. Working from the mountains has helped me slow down, and connect better with these moments of impact.
Watch out this space for more stories about life, what it feels like to be working from the mountains, and a little about the people, food and the culture here.
Photo credits @subhankar_rj
A lovely narrative and so nice to read through dear. Make most of it. Enjoy
Thanks uncle. You should go on adventures too soon! : )
[…] Dharamkot food is, like many popular travel destinations, somewhat of a cultural melting pot. There are local dhabas who will give you simple hearty meals, and there are nice cafes with great music and indie bands that you can experience only in the mountains. […]