For the past 15 years, I’ve explored countless paths and said “yes” to almost every opportunity that came my way. As I head into 2025, this will change. Years of saying ‘yes’ helped me sample a lot of different things and I have finally started to narrow down on the areas I wish to focus on. I am 32 years old, married for about 15 months, pursuing my LLB, and now, I have chosen to use 2025 to be my year of Deep Work.
Over the next 12 months, I am not going to be doing anything that I have not already committed to before 2025 January 1st. I am doing to do a deep dive into the legal studies that I am pursuing and work deeply in this domain. I will also be teaching classes pertaining to the same.
I know this might be unexpected if you’re accustomed to me being available for every event or gathering. But please understand: this is not personal. I need this time to concentrate on what truly matters—my studies, my teaching, and laying the groundwork for my long-term professional growth. After years of spreading myself thin, I’ve learned that real progress sometimes requires setting firm boundaries for temporary periods.
The intention is to invest this entire year into going deep into my field.
If it’s not on my calendar before January 1, 2025, it’s not happening in 2025. This includes everything—personal events, social outings, and professional commitments. I will continue to teach my scheduled classes and support my students, responding to their group messages and helping them learn. If there’s a genuine family emergency (a funeral or a critical health issue), I will, of course, be there.
Beyond these essential duties, I’m unable to take on anything new. This is my “monk mode” year—a period of deliberate focus. I’m making this choice because I believe in my future and the work I’m striving to accomplish. I hope you’ll understand and respect this boundary.
Whatever it is that you want to discuss, it will have to wait until 2026.
No New Additions in 2025 (Unless Already Scheduled before Jan 1, 2025):
- No attending weddings, birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, or holiday events.
- No social gatherings—no coffee meet-ups, lunches, dinners, movie nights, or game nights.
- No joining clubs, committees, new study groups, or extracurricular activities not already booked.
- No extra seminars, workshops, guest lectures, or training sessions beyond what’s set before the year starts.
- No new side projects, consultations, mentorship roles, or investment opportunities.
- No new networking events, conferences, or professional meet-ups.
- No spontaneous trips, vacations, or leisure activities.
- No additional volunteering or community events.
- No unplanned guests or drop-in visits at home.
- No non-urgent phone calls, casual texting marathons, or social media sessions that divert my focus.
Anything not covered in the list above is probably a no as well.
Exceptions:
- I will still teach my classes and be available to my students.
- I will respond to my students’ group messages and support them academically.
- Family emergencies (funerals, critical health issues) are the only exceptions.
Thank you for understanding and supporting me in this year of deep work.
Warmly,
Prithvi
P.S. My wife Swapna is also doing this deep work year with me. We have chosen to do this together and put these constraints on our lives for this 1 year.