What is the long game?
It is cultivating your life focussed on long-term benefits instead of short-term gain.
Subconsciously, I began playing the long game in 2014 by taking small actions aimed at cultivating a healthy mind and body. At the time, I was volunteering as a Spoken English teacher in Lamayuru village, Ladakh—a remote, cold desert in India situated at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. The village lacked electricity and internet, so I had no access to 'news.' This absence allowed me to hear my thoughts clearly and calmed me, undisturbed by the noise that news generated. Upon returning to Bangalore, I stopped consuming news altogether, trusting that anything truly important would eventually come to my attention through friends and family.
In 2017, I deleted my Facebook account and refrained from joining Instagram. The reason was simple—I enjoyed looking at photos but did not wish to be consumed by them. Similarly, I avoided Twitter, having nothing to convey in 140 characters, nor any desire to absorb others' 140 characters. Thus, I was out of the self-sabotaging platforms, because I didn’t have the willpower to balance their good with their evil.
In October 2020, after the first COVID lockdown, my partner and I moved to Goa—a former Portuguese colony, and coastal state in India. We resided in a beautiful Portuguese villa with high ceilings, an L-shaped verandah encircling the house, and swaying coconut trees. This villa was unique; it lacked a large screen, and the thick walls impeded the internet signal in the bedroom. Each space was thoughtfully designed for a specific function. Evenings were spent in reclining chairs on the verandah or the living room sofa, engaging in conversation, listening to music, and reading books. The bedroom was solely for sleeping, while the workroom, furnished with a wooden table and chair, and graced by a window welcoming the afternoon breeze, was dedicated to deep work.
In 2021, we built upon this experience while setting up our home from scratch in Dharamsala—a rurban city nestled in the Himalayas. Every space was designed to foster a particular function, and this marked the beginning of sustainable, small, and consistent actions.
We stopped ordering food, opting instead to visit nearby cafes once or twice a week for a hot meal.
We took on household chores—washing dishes, cleaning, and cooking—tasks typically handled by house help in India. This investment in our home life reduced screen time and relaxed our minds. Next time if you seek a meditative experience, begin by peeling a kilo of peas, washing dishes, or plucking methi saag (a green leafy vegetable).
Our routine solidified: sleeping by 10:30 PM, rising by 6 or 7 AM, and exercising daily. We vigilantly monitored and restricted each other's screen time to 2-3 hours per day, which increased our reading time and reduced the constant craving for engagement.
The impact of these changes is evident in our increased self-awareness, which is crucial for focus and creativity. In the long term, I foresee this leading to a mentally and physically healthy ageing process. Playing the long game is a slow journey toward a life rich with flavours.
What has been your long game?