By Praveen Chandhok
In today’s fast-paced world, this question feels more relevant than ever. We, as human beings, have come a long way from our early days of hunting and gathering. Over the centuries, we’ve made incredible progress—developing agriculture, driving industrial revolutions, and thriving in the digital age. But along with all this progress, a restless, validation-seeking side of us has emerged. It seems we now thrive on being seen, acknowledged, and constantly busy.
Social media has only made this worse. It has planted a deep-seated Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) in our minds. Life feels like a race—not to live but to document. Instead of enjoying moments, we’re busy capturing and sharing them. Ironically, this race for visibility often leads nowhere.
Just today, I came across a post by the talented actor Vikrant Massey, who announced he’s taking a sabbatical. His words struck a chord with me. He said: “But as I move forward, I realise it’s time to recalibrate and go back home. As a Husband, Father & a Son. And also, as an actor.” It was a rare reminder of the need to pause in a world that just doesn’t stop.
The other day, my son and nephew were having a similar discussion, and my son said something that made sense. He believes we’re living in the best era. Technology has given us incredible convenience. With a simple click or swipe, we can access services, entertainment, or even make global connections—things that would’ve been unimaginable not too long ago.
Think about it: the world once marveled at television, and now we carry endless entertainment in our pockets. We have access to thousands of movies, every genre, every language, anytime and anywhere. It feels like the barriers of communication and culture have completely disappeared.
But there’s a flip side. The very tools designed to enhance our lives have, in many ways, started to control them. Social media has become a dominating force—pushing, distracting, and even shaping how we perceive ourselves. Consider this staggering comparison: between 1901 and 2001, approximately 3.5 trillion photographs were taken globally. Today, we capture that same number in just 17 days. This highlights how our lives have shifted from living in the moment to an almost obsessive need to document it.
As Yuval Noah Harari points out, if someone from 300 years ago suddenly landed in today’s world, they’d find it completely unrecognisable. The changes in technology, society, and how fast we live are so drastic that it would feel like stepping onto another planet.
The thing is, we’ve adapted so smoothly to this constant motion that we’ve forgotten how to stop. Our gadgets and screens have become the centre of our lives, pulling us into an endless loop of activity. In the process, we’ve stopped being human beings and turned into human doings.
This has a cost. In chasing likes, notifications, and updates, we lose touch with ourselves. We forget how to simply pause, to bond, to admire, or to just be. We miss the little joys that come with slowing down.
Maybe it’s time for a reset—not just as individuals but as a society. We need to reclaim the ability to pause, to reflect, and to be present. To focus less on performing for an audience and more on living authentically.
Let’s take a step back from our screens and rediscover what it means to be human. Let’s take the time to build real relationships, embrace quiet moments, and find happiness in the simple things. Life isn’t a checklist of tasks; it’s about the experiences, emotions, and connections that truly matter.
The first step? Stop doing so much and start being more.
(Praveen Chandhok is former President (2021-2023, 2015-2017) SJA Alumni Association, Dehradun)
