Work-life balance: Chennai youth make the best of both worlds

However, the millennials of today are of a different breed – they want the cake and then want to eat it too. Quite simply, jobs which not only pay well, but also give scope for them to follow their passion rank high on preferences.

But in a city like Chennai, with the limited options available, is it that? Perhaps not, which is why many modern-day professionals today want to have the best of both worlds – by juggling two different jobs! Most of them are as diverse as can be, on two opposite ends of the spectrum – yet, these enterprising youngsters give it their all to achieve that perfect work-life balance - complete with Instagram fame, meaningful relationships and a healthy bank balance. Here are a few of these multi-tasking individuals, who are setting career goals for the rest of the crowd!

Currently, I am a senior resident medical officer at Kauvery Hospital, Chennai. I am also finishing my MSc Internal Medicine through the University of Edinburgh. I am a TED Fellow, Speaker and co-founding curator of Chennai Hub - Global shapers community. I work as a Hospital Clown once a week at the Govt Children’s Hospital in Egmore, and have been a health researcher at The National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Angola. I represented India in sailing until the 2012 Olympic Games. I am an Asian Sailing Champion and my highest World ranking was 6th in Asia. I have won eight consecutive national titles and participated in eight World championships. Right from an early age, I learnt Bharatanatyam, played many instruments, dabbled in martial arts, sailing, theatre and sang in a choir on different days of the week after school. It taught me to make sure I finished work on time and not wait till the last minute. Also keeping fit has a huge advantage in helping you be alert. So the key for me is making sure I get 6-7 hours of sleep, working out atleast 4 times a week (high intensity workouts) as our body is capable of much more than just walking for 20 minutes. When doctors tell you to do that, they mean atleast it’s better than nothing. Also, making sure healthy food gets into your system daily is important so that you have the energy to do all the things you want. Last but not least, we need supportive family and friends. 

I’ve finished my masters in Periodontology and I’m currently a consultant periodontist and lecturer at Meenakshi Ammal Dental College. I’m lucky to have found a flexible job at a dental college that allows me to engage both angles of my life. As a musician, apart from the usual gigs, I’ve set out as a solo artist and worked up the courage to record my original music and release an EP sometime this year. Initially, I never thought that dentistry and music could co-exist, but little by little, I had to actively make choices and sacrifices to design my life to find that balance. Taking a page out of Star Wars, we all need to bring balance to the force! I have an existential crisis about twice a week! But on a serious note, it does get overwhelming and feels like living a double life (dentist by day, musician by night), it hurts sometimes when people don’t think you’re serious about what you do, from both fields, because they’re both ‘part-time’ but it means working doubly hard to get where you want to be.

I have been in the DJ-ing profession for around 14 years now, and picked up bowling around a decade ago. I also specialise in visual effects and LED mapping during shows apart from the music – most of my shows and events go on until the wee hours of the morning, and I love my job. However, in this industry, DJs work for around half a month and the remaining two weeks are free for us to pursue something else. I used it actively to practise with my bowling team once I picked up the sport, and today I represent Tamil Nadu. I’ve participated in several national-level tournaments, and my biggest win was bagging gold at the International Indian Youth Games in Malaysia. ‘Deejay Zen’ is my stage name when I’m performing on stage – by now, I’ve learnt to balance both extremes of my life and it’s great that we are in a time and age where I can do this.

I finished my law degree at the School of Excellence in Law, and now am an advocate at the Madras High Court. Law is something I’m extremely passionate about and I love the rush it gives me. At the same time, I want to break the stigma that someone in a serious industry like mine cannot balance another career. May might feel modelling is a fun and easy part-time way to make money, but I treat it as seriously as I approach my life as an advocate. There are many who might have doubted my skills – but breaking the stigma is what I focus on. Time-management is everything, and I balance both my full-time jobs with equal passion. I’m selective about the shoots, shows and adverts I am part of and if I have late-night events, ensure that my work in court doesn’t get compromised the next day. Also, my colleagues and other designers, choreographers I work with are really accommodating and do everything they can to support my dual professions.