A Letter From The Desk Of Vice Principal

Overcoming Procrastination :the Atomic Way

Dear Students,

Many of you have asked me how to overcome bad habits. When I asked what habit you wished to change, one of you said, ‘Procrastination’. That question matters, because procrastination is not a character flaw. It is a bad habit, and like any other bad habit, it can be changed if we understand how habits work. Why do we Procrastinate ?

Perhaps we do not get pleasure/satisfaction from the act/ work or fail to see any motivation/threat. The task may feel difficult, too long, or simply boring. Let us take the case of becoming late. In this context sleep/rest feels more alluring than Morning PT. Our brains follow the Law of Least Effort – we naturally choose what is easy now, over what is useful later.  Coming late to the PT ground or morning  prayer does not mean you are lazy by nature. It means you are caught in a bad habit loop. Every habit follows one Cardinal Rule: What is rewarded is repeated. What is punished is avoided. If any bad habit has stuck, it means it felt successful or pleasurable at some point.  Book Atomic Habits, suggests 4 Laws of Behavior Change to build good habits and break bad ones. The 4 Laws Applied to Coming on Time for Morning PT

1. Make it Obvious (Cue)

Right now, many of you do not have a strong trigger to wake up. We need to create one. Make a system of buddy – ask your friends to wake you up. A cup of tea served in the morning may work as a trigger. A clear, external cue beats willpower every time.

2. Make it Attractive (Craving)

Presently, sleep is more attractive than PT. We must change that habit. Add a drumbeat, ask  for music, or compete for the ‘Best House Attendance Award’. When coming early becomes a matter of pride, the craving shifts. The goal is to make the good habit appealing.

3. Make it Easy (Response)

Reduce the friction between you and the habit. If getting up feels difficult, keep your socks and T-shirt ready the night before. Use the 2-Minute Rule: do not think “I have to go to PT at 5:30.” Instead, when the alarm rings, your only job is to sit on the bed. Once you sit, you will stand. Once you stand, you will go to the ground anyway. Small starts remove resistance.

4. Make it Satisfying (Reward)

For good habits to stick, the brain must enjoy the ending. But we can also use the inversion of this law: Make late coming unsatisfying. Without a little pressure, a habit won’t change. So we can impose small penalties – extra sit-ups or House points deduction etc.

Beyond the 4 Laws

5. Use Identity Change

The real goal is not to “wake up early” one day. The goal is to become an early riser. When your identity shifts, your actions follow. Tell yourself: “You are early risers, not late sleepers.” We believe the story we tell about ourselves.

6. Habit Stacking

Attach new habits to old ones to create a chain. Don’t rely on motivation. Rely on a fixed sequence:

After alarm → drink water

After water → wear shoes

After shoes → go to ground. One action becomes the cue for the next, and the whole routine runs on autopilot.

Conclusion

Procrastination is not defeated by grand promises. It is defeated by small systems. Change your cues, make good choices attractive, reduce friction, add immediate rewards, change your identity, and stack your habits. The seeds you plant at 5:30 AM will become the harvest of your character and overall personality. I am hopeful that you children will become the pride of this Vidyalaya by displaying good habits and achieving your goals.

Wishing you all the best ………from : P.S. Rana   

A Letter To Students

 Dear Students,

I sincerely feel that there are many important aspects of life beyond academic studies that you must learn and practise to become sincere and responsible citizens of India.

I have observed that your body language, at times, does not align with your position and identity as students of a prestigious institution like Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

You may not always be aware of the messages you convey through your behaviour. For example, when you remain seated while speaking to a teacher who is standing, or when you keep your hands in your pockets while talking, it reflects a lack of respect and proper etiquette.

Similarly, habits such as untidy appearance, long unkempt hair, improper uniform, casual walking in corridors, standing in a disorderly manner during assemblies, talking without greeting teachers, breaking queues in the mess, or not maintaining proper order during prayer—all these actions speak volumes (clearly reveal your character) about you and the overall culture of the institution.

Remember, your behaviour should always reflect discipline, respect, and responsibility. Always be on your best behaviour (behave in the most appropriate manner) and carry yourself with dignity.

Let us work together to build a culture of excellence, where not only academic success but also character and conduct are given equal importance.

With best wishes,

Vice Principal

THE MOUNTAIN MAN --- Teaching idioms through story

                                                          The Mountain Man

                                      (Teaching Idioms Through Story)

Dashrath Manjhi was born into a poor tribal family in  Gaya district. His life was not a bed of roses (a life full of comfort and ease). At a very young age, he went to Dhanbad in search of a job. There, he worked in coal mines as a child labourer. However, his small income forced him to live a hand-to-mouth life (living with barely enough money for daily needs).

He found it difficult to make both ends meet (manage one’s expenses with limited income), so after a few years, he returned to his village and started working in his fields.

One day, while he was working on the other side of the mountain, his wife, Phaguni Devi, was bringing food for him. Unfortunately, she slipped while climbing the mountain and died. This tragic incident struck him like a bolt from the blue (a sudden and unexpected shock). But he made up his mind (decided firmly) to bring this mountain to its knees (overcome something powerful).

Being a resolute man, he decided to carve a path through the mountain. When villagers saw him breaking the mountain with a hammer and chisel, they laughed at him and thought he had gone mad. For them, it was a wild goose chase (a useless effort). Even when people discouraged him, he turned a deaf ear (ignored what others said) and continued his work with determination.

After twenty-two years of relentless effort, he finally carved a path through the mountain. Through his perseverance, he proved the saying:

“Where there is a will, there is a way.” (strong determination leads to success)

In the end, he made the villagers eat their words (admit they were wrong).

 He is popularly known as “The Mountain Man.”

FRESHEN UP, HIT THE BOOKS, SQUARE MEAL, HIT THE SACK & SLEEP LIKE A LOG

 Returning home from the playground, he freshened up (washed and became clean) and sat down to hit the books (started studying seriously). Later, he had a square meal (a full and proper meal) and finally hit the sack (went to bed) where he slept like a log (slept very deeply).

HIT THE ROAD, DEAD TIRED, GRAB A BITE, FILL THE GAP & LET OFF STEAM

 When the closing bell rang, students hit the road (start a trip/journey) for their homes. Shshil also came home. He was dead tired (very tired). Keeping his bag on the rack, he grabbed a bite (ate something quickly) to fill the gap (satisfy hunger temporarily) before heading out to play. On the ground, he played with his friends and let off steam (released energy or stress). 

QUICK BITE, GET BACK TO WORK, IN FULL SWING, GET THE HANG OF IT & STAY ON TRACK

 During break time, Shushil grabbed a quick bite (a small and fast meal) and got back to work (resume the work ) immediately. When he was in full swing (working actively and energetically), completing his work, the next teacher came for the Science class. He got the hang of (understood something after practice) doing practicals, especially preparing solutions, and enjoyed the class. The last period was of yoga. Even during this period, he continued to stay on track (remain focused and disciplined).

ALL EARS, PUT ON THINKING CAP, QUICK OFF THE MARK, ON THE BALL & MAKE A MARK

 Prayer was over, and Shushil went to his class. He was all ears (listening very attentively) throughout the English period. When the teacher gave problems to the students, Shushil put on his thinking cap (started thinking seriously) and solved them easily. Being the first student to answer, he was quick off the mark (fast to respond or act). From the very start, he was on the ball (alert and efficient) and answered all the questions correctly. By the end of the class, he had made a mark (created a good impression) on the teacher.