Another year over, a new one just begun. But will it be a new start, or will it be more of the same old for the majority of us?
Working just a little too hard, being in just a little too much of a rush to get things done, having ever so slightly less time with family or friends than we’d like — these are the kinds of things that stop us from really enjoying life and getting the most out of our oh-so-short time on this planet of ours.
If this sounds all too familiar, then maybe it’s time you embrace your inner ‘santai’!
What is ‘Santai’?
Type the word ‘santai’ into Google Translate and it comes back literally as ‘relax’. In its common usage, however, it can mean anything from, ‘take it easy’ to ‘quit worrying and slow down’. It is more of a lifestyle philosophy or way of life, encouraging one to slow the pace down and take time to enjoy the ride and smell the roses. The underlying concept behind ‘santai’ is ‘don’t worry, things will get done eventually and so it’s better to enjoy the ride and not sweat the small stuff’.
How many times have you been tasked with organising or contributing to an event at school or work, and then spent every waking moment worrying that things will never get done in time?
Me too.
All. The. Time.
And yet… somehow… they do. Somehow, as if by magic, everything does, indeed, work out all right on the night and you are left feeling slightly sheepish, wishing you’d listened to your Indonesian colleagues who — when you were stressing out and losing what few hairs you had left — had simply smiled and told you, ‘Don’t worry. It’ll be OK.’
Why Adopt a ‘Santai‘-Inspired New Year?
So, as we kick off another new year and, once again, embark on the charade of new year resolutions, why not make 2025 the ‘Year of the Santai’? Why not resolve that this year we are going to embrace ‘santai’ and live our lives more intentionally?
Here’s why it might be a good idea.
- Reduce Stress, Increase Well-Being
Slowing down and worrying less will make us happier. There. Simple, right? Well, no, it’s not quite that easy, but nobody ever said on their deathbed, ‘You know what? I wish I had spent more time worrying and less time with my friends and family doing things I enjoyed.’
- Improve Productivity (Ironically)
Once we stop working at a million miles an hour and trying to get everything done in one day, we often find ourselves becoming more organised. Instead of having several projects on the go at the same time, we learn to prioritise and, if possible, delegate. This gives us more time to concentrate on the truly important things. Additionally, if we are more well-rested, we feel more energised and, thus, have more motivation to work as required.
- Foster Deeper Connections
Spending more time with others and developing better relationships will bear so much fruit going forward. Oftentimes, Westerners get frustrated when people ‘don’t get to the point’ in conversations and instead, those people end up being perceived as ‘beating around the bush’ and ‘going around the houses’ before actually addressing the important issues. However, for Indonesians, the so-called ‘setting the scene’ is very important, and this implies that the speaker wants to bring the listener into their confidence; they want their counterpart to have all the information (and more) that they need before coming to a decision or even participating in the conversation. So, next time your friend, spouse, partner, or colleague embarks on what appears to be a convoluted story, instead of tutting, rolling your eyes, and wishing they would get a move on, take a step back and really listen. In other words, enjoy the journey!
- Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination
See what I did there? So often we are in a hurry to ‘get there’ (wherever ‘there’ is) that we do not take in the surroundings on the way. A typical New Year’s resolution is maybe to lose 10 kilograms, for example. A person may be fixated on how good they will look in their new clothes or how healthy they will feel once their goal has been accomplished. However, when they think about the process itself, it looks daunting. Many months of supposed sacrifice lay ahead where hunger and unhappiness are expected and suddenly, the idea does not seem so attractive. So, why not embrace the journey? Look forward to trying new foods, eating slightly less, and getting a little more exercise. Keep a chart measuring your progress and celebrate every little success rather than being in a rush to get to the finish line
Practical Tips to Embrace ‘Santai‘ in the New Year
If you’re ready to introduce a little ‘santai‘ into your lifestyle this year, here are some practical ways to start:
- Set “Un-Rushable” Goals
Set small sustainable and achievable goals. For example, instead of aiming to run a marathon in the year, aim to run one kilometre further every week for the next five weeks. Instead of planning to write a 75,000-word novel, aim for two 3000-word short stories per month.
- Build in ‘Unstructured Time’
Add time to your schedule in which you plan to ‘do nothing’. Thirty minutes per day in the morning and again in the evening. Perhaps you can use the time to read a book, watch a comedy on Netflix, or just stare into space while musing. Who knows? You’ll decide when the time comes.
- Adopt Mindful Commuting
Traffic is a way of life in Indonesia, and getting frustrated won’t make it disappear. Try using commute time as a chance for reflection, podcast learning, or simply breathing exercises.
- Change Your Relationship with Time
‘Jam karet’ or ‘the concept of flexible time’ can be very frustrating for Westerners, and while being late for important meetings does, indeed, appear to be rude and bad-mannered to many people, the concept of not letting our lives be ruled by our watches is also a healthy one. Is it really important that you wake up at 7 AM on the dot at the weekend, for example? Would the world stop spinning if you had an extra 15 minutes in bed? How about that plan of yours to hit the gym at 11 AM? Would it be a crime to go a few minutes later?
- Reassess Your Definition of Success
Instead of measuring success in speed, volume, or output, think about success as contentment. If you find joy in your work, peace in your home, and presence in your relationships, maybe you’ve achieved more than you realise.
Final Thoughts
Maybe this is the year that you are determined to do less, not more. ‘Santai’ does not translate or equate to laziness. Instead, it is a way of life that encourages us to make the most of our time as well as our skills and talents. It promotes a better understanding of ourselves, as well as allowing us to really connect with those around us.
Try it. You might be surprised.