Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal plans on embracing uncomfortable conversations and ditching the word ‘balance’, among other things, in 2025.
The post-Christmas haze is pretty much over. I’m moving out of that period where you lose track of what day it is, and into that less relaxing zone involving an avalanche of existential thoughts.
Without the structure of work or routine, my mind can spiral into overdrive, dissecting everything from career choices to the relationships I neglected and those that took up way too much mental real estate.
This year, my reflections led to an unsettling realisation. I’ve spent 18 years as a human rights lawyer advocating for others, but I’m terrible at advocating for what I want. Despite an outwardly glossy 2024, I was internally running on empty. And I wasn’t alone. Over Summer, several girlfriends echoed the same sentiment: We’re tired. Not just physically but mentally.
So, as I step into 2025, I’m shedding a few habits that drained my energy and dimmed my glow. Here’s my hit list:
1. Avoiding Confrontation
I know I’m not alone in admitting I’ve been a lifelong avoider of confrontation. From ugly texts left unanswered to biting my tongue at work, I’ve long prioritised harmony over honesty in the name of ‘being the bigger person’.
We all know avoiding confrontation isn’t peaceful in the long run. It’s draining.
Where my mind goes, my energy follows—constantly consumed by what I’m avoiding instead of focusing on what truly matters.
Small frustrations often fester into resentments and leaves me carrying the emotional weight of problems that could have been solved with one candid conversation.
In 2025, I’m embracing the discomfort of addressing problems head-on. Because the truth is, confrontation doesn’t have to be synonymous with conflict. It can pave a path to clarity, understanding, and, yes, actual peace.
2. The mythical race
I often feel like I’m running a race I never signed up for—a relentless sprint against time. Work deadlines, keeping up with a bulging primary school calendar, family obligations, and the ever-present pressure to achieve. It feels like a clock ticking ominously in the background. But here’s the thing: life is short, yes, but it’s also long. It’s a paradox we rarely stop to consider.
The moments that truly matter, where I’ve laughed the hardest and felt the most content, are those outside the race. Late night chats cuddled up with my nieces, my son’s hilarious antics to outsmart Santa, and supporting a friend to publish her first article. These are the times when life feels full, unhurried, and deeply meaningful.
In 2025, I’m stepping off the track. I’m choosing to move at a pace that feels right for me, finding moments of joy instead of constantly chasing the finish line. I’ll remind myself and others who push me that taking a pause doesn’t mean falling behind; it means valuing the present. Because when I stop racing, I can finally start living.
3. The Word ‘Balance’
This year a friend said to me ‘You just need to find balance’ which was like pouring salt into my deeply exhausted wounds. On the other hand, my colleague remarked, “We’re running a start-up—burnout is inevitable”.
Where do we draw a line, or do we?
In 2024, my need for work-life balance became another task on my endless to-do list, and I felt I was woefully failing. I felt guilty for prioritising work over family and stressed when socialising and not working, dreading the piling load. No matter how we turn, it often feels like we’re falling short, right?
In 2025, I’m ditching balance and embracing flow. There will be periods where work will take priority. Others where I’ll focus my own needs, friends and family. And that’s okay. Life isn’t meant to be perfectly compartmentalised. It’s meant to be lived, messiness and all.
This year, I’m not setting resolutions—I’m setting intentions. I want to be bolder, lighter, and when I choose between disappointing others or myself, I’ll choose others without hesitation. Prioritising my well-being and authenticity allows me to show up for others in a way that’s genuine and sustainable.
And most importantly, I’ll be leaving behind the habits that no longer serve me. What about you? What are you leaving behind in 2024?