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Archana

Archana Deshpande  | Answer  |Ask -

Image Coach, Soft Skills Trainer - Answered on May 14, 2025

Archana Deshpande, the founder of TransformMe Life Skills Coaching, is an image consultant, soft skills trainer and life coach.
She has been working with individuals and corporate organisations for more than 10 years during which she has helped professionals and students improve their soft skills, build confidence and enhance self-esteem.
An engineer from the PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga, Archana had a successful career at Reliance Communications. But she has always been interested in teaching and training people. So she pursued a postgraduate diploma in teacher’s training at Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies followed by teaching assignments in schools at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai.
Archana also holds an international certificate in image consulting and soft skills training from the Image Consulting Business Institute, Mumbai.... more
Asked by Anonymous - May 07, 2025
Career

I am working with a US-based client which involves co-ordinating with a remote team across the continent. I rarely get check-ins or team bonding moments. I sometimes feel like I am working in isolation, which affects my energy and sense of purpose. How can I be more productive?

Ans: Hi!!

I totally understand what it means to be working remotely and the sense of isolation you are feeling. I am guessing you are a people's person and you like to interact with human beings on a day to day basis in your work environment. I just completed a 03 month long training assignment for a US based client and I totally empathize with you.

In the past COVID times, working remotely and in isolation is the new norm. So , do not base your sense of purpose based on just your work.
Find ways and means of finding your need for 'people connect' by asking for team meetings where everyone is on camera.
See if you can play instrumental music while working ... have fixed routine for work, take mini breaks to be more productive.
Indulge in physical activity to keep your energy levels up...meditate in order connect with yourself. Since you work remotely and not much interaction happens with people, just get out of the house after work to connect with real people. Spend time in nature, it's therapeutic.

All the best!!
Career

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Archana

Archana Deshpande  | Answer  |Ask -

Image Coach, Soft Skills Trainer - Answered on Dec 07, 2024

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Hi, I have been an introvert guy for my whole life, but somehow I always got good colleagues which became great friends. But from last 5 years I am in a office where very few people works and that too they are not connected to me. Hence, I get a very little exposer with them. Feels so much lonely in office as there is not a lot of workload also. Most of my day goes watching reels on social media. Sometimes i forgot when last i smiled/laughed at office place where I spends 9 hours of my day (I do talk to my family over phone, but can't help my loneliness). what can I do....worried... A very lonely 45 year male.....
Ans: Dear Sunil,

No one is clear cut introvert or an extrovert, look at yourself closely too... in some circumstances you behave like an extrovert and some areas you behave like an introvert.

Be brave and say "hi" to people around you in the office, you be the first one to greet, this itself can be a starting point to making new friends. A smile and a pleasant "hi" is all it takes.
Look for opportunities to connect with ppl in the office, instead of sending mails or reminders to ppl electronically, just walk up to them and speak to them or call them up to say you have sent a mail/reminder. This way you can establish a human connect.
Also check if you can go to the dining area to eat lunch and during breaks.. do not sit at your desk and have lunch.
Social media and watching reels is a "big no" if you are yearning for human connections. I am glad you talk to your family...outside the office, join book clubs, singing clubs, drama clubs or anywhere your interest lies...you can join a classroom to learn and develop a new skill....

Also check if you are getting enough sleep, exercise, fresh air , sunshine during the day....focus on your diet too!!

Hope this helps... take care of yourself!

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1771 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Mar 24, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 18, 2025Hindi
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Relationship
Dear Madam, I am 42 years old and have accumulated over 15 years of experience across various roles, including operations, report writing, quality management, and business development. Before the onset of COVID-19, I worked in an office environment and had a job that required travel, which I thoroughly enjoyed as it allowed me to engage face-to-face with people and discover new places. Since the pandemic, I have transitioned to working from home, where I have been compensated well. This arrangement has allowed me to spend quality time with my family, enjoy flexibility in my work schedule, and significantly reduce my commute. However, over the past 4-5 years, I have found myself increasingly disliking remote meetings. I often experience anxiety before these meetings, even when I am not directly participating. I feel a sense of relief when meetings are canceled or on days when I have none scheduled. I understand that remote work and virtual meetings are likely to be a lasting trend, and I would appreciate your guidance on how to overcome my disinterest in attending these remote team meetings. Thank you for your support.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Many people have disliked the 'work from home' option that involves a lot of virtual interface. But do remind yourself: What is the need of the hour? There are a lot of things that you may dislike as eating options but you do anyway knowing that they are good for health, right?
When you start obsessing over something that you don't want, it makes it bigger in your mind to tolerate and that can cause you a lot of struggle. So, why not instead find ways of dealing with the inevitable?
How can you make things better for yourself when you have virtual meets and presentations? What are the advantages/perks of doing these virtually? When you start to look at the brighter side of things, the disinterest kind of starts to fade away and it makes it easier for you to be a part of what your work demands.

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

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Radheshyam

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MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on Mar 10, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 10, 2026Hindi
Career
Hi, I need honest career guidance based on my situation. I completed my HSC in 2024 with PCB stream (no Mathematics) and scored only 45%. I was preparing for medical entrance but it didn't work out, and due to personal reasons I couldn't appear for improvement exams either. It's now 2026 and I have a 2 year gap. I now want to pursue a career in IT or Computer Science. I'm confused between BSc IT, BSc CS, BCA, and Data Science — and keep getting mixed opinions from everyone. My specific questions are — 1. Since I don't have Maths in HSC, can I appear for the HSC Maths exam as an Isolated Candidate in July–August 2026? And if I clear it, will that result be valid for 2026–27 admissions? 2. With 45% and a 2 year gap, what are my realistic college options in Mumbai? Which good colleges have lower cutoffs for BSc IT / BSc CS / BCA? 3. Given that I'm coming from Biology with no Maths background — which degree would actually be the best fit for me for real career growth, not just for getting admission? 4. Does college name or tier matter a lot in the IT field with lower percentage, or do skills and portfolio matter more? 5. Honestly, what is the smartest move for someone in my exact situation right now? I don't want to waste more time and want to make the right decision. Please guide me."
Ans: Hey, here is the point-wise reply to your question:

(1) You can appear for the HSC Mathematics exam as an independent candidate through the Maharashtra State Board in July–August 2026, and if you pass, that Maths result will generally be accepted for admissions in 2026–27 for courses requiring Maths.

(2) With 45% and a two-year gap, gaining admission to top colleges may be difficult, but you can still try mid-/lower-cutoff colleges such as SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Vivekanand Education Society's College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Tolani College of Commerce, and Guru Nanak Khalsa College, depending on seat availability, especially for BSc IT or BCA.

(3) Since you come from a Biology background without Maths, BCA is usually the easiest entry into IT (as the Maths requirements are lighter), whereas BSc CS/Data Science can be more challenging because they rely more heavily on mathematics and statistics.

(4) In the IT industry, skills, projects, internships, coding ability, and your portfolio matter far more than college ranking, although attending a better college can initially help with networking and placements.

(5) The practical pathway might be: complete HSC Maths in 2026 → apply for BCA or BSc IT at reputable Mumbai colleges → focus intensively on coding skills (Python, web development, projects) during your degree, as building real technical skills will be much more important for your career than your past percentage.

However, it is strongly advised to arrange a one-to-one session with a counsellor so they can suggest more options after discussing your profile. Do not rely solely on our advice. Take our advice as a guideline only.

Good luck.
Follow me if you receive this reply.
Radheshyam

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Komal

Komal Jethmalani  |469 Answers  |Ask -

Dietician, Diabetes Expert - Answered on Mar 10, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 02, 2026Hindi
Health
I’ve grown up hearing from elders that mixing fruits with milk is bad for digestion and can cause stomach problems or skin issues. They always say fruits should be eaten separately and never combined with milk. But at the same time, I see so many people having fruit milkshakes, banana shakes, mango shakes, and smoothies every single day without any problem. Even gyms and diet plans recommend fruit smoothies as healthy breakfast options. This makes me really confused. For example, if I drink a banana milkshake in the morning, am I harming my digestion? Or if I blend mixed fruits with milk and nuts for a quick breakfast, is that actually unhealthy? Some people also say it can cause acidity or slow digestion, while others claim it’s a good source of protein and vitamins together. So what is the actual truth? Is mixing fruits with milk genuinely harmful for everyone, or does it depend on the type of fruit, body type, or digestion strength?
Ans: For most people, mixing fruits with milk is perfectly safe, healthy, and easy to digest. The idea that it causes acidity, toxins, or skin issues is a traditional belief, not a medically proven fact. There are a few specific situations where someone might feel bloated or gassy like those with lactose intolerance or may feel heavy for some people who have a sensitive stomach. Banana, mango, chickoo (sapota), dry fruits, berries (for most people) are traditionally and scientifically easy to digest with milk. Fruits that don’t pair well with milk for some people can include citrus fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit), pineapple, sour berries, etc.

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