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Seema Goswami

Articles by Seema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Please take a screen test

It’s difficult, but not impossible, to do a digital detox. Set boundaries, resist the impulse, and tuck your phone away

Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning. Save the doomscrolling for the later hours. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Mar 21, 2025 05:53 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: White lies. Lotus pocus

The White Lotus is great TV. But it’s not an accurate portrayal of how the super-rich vacation or how the staff treat them

Ultra-rich guests hardly use the common pool, as The White Lotus S3 suggests.

Brunch

Updated on Mar 13, 2025 03:38 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Be the last guest dancing

We get it, weddings are exhausting, even if you’re just a guest. Here’s how to keep the heart full and the events manageable

Rent or borrow outfits when you can, especially if you have multiple weddings to attend. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Mar 07, 2025 05:04 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Take a minute, personally

Self-care doesn’t have to mean splurges or huge gestures. Sometimes, it’s the moments you spend in the day unwinding from life

In an Indian family, especially a joint family, self-care can look like waking up early to read or have a cup of tea. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Feb 28, 2025 04:15 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: House party, house rules

Limit the nibbles, help guests break the ice, keep drinks ready, serve dinner by 10. Hosting isn’t hard, if you know how

Offer guests a choice between specific drinks; asking them what they want confuses them. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Feb 21, 2025 01:43 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: No roses, just romance

Had enough of Valentine’s Day cliches? How about honouring real love, every day, with a million little gestures that matter?

Valentine’s Day has commercialised the idea of romance. In reality, it’s all about showing you care. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Feb 14, 2025 01:59 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: The ate O’clock rules

Stop hunching over your phone screen at dinner, stop showing up with uninvited friends, say thank you more. It’s not hard

It’s disrespectful to be on your phone while hanging out with someone. Why go out then? (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Feb 07, 2025 05:23 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Must we all join the fray?

They’re unhappy and we know it. Today, couples post about break-ups online. But why include us in their personal drama?

Cardi B announced her split with Offset on Instagram. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Jan 31, 2025 01:09 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: A sole searching journey

Society is falling into disrepair. Most things are designed to be mended, not discarded. After all, if it’s broke, fix it

These days, worn clothing isn’t mended, it’s simply discarded. What a waste. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Jan 24, 2025 03:29 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: For cold time’s sake

Say what you will about Delhi, the winter season here still holds some magic. Especially when it comes to food

Alu methi is truly satisfying in the bitter cold. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Jan 17, 2025 01:53 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: It’s time to clear the air

At airports, pyjamas, hungover travellers, and lax norms abound. But do we really want to see people at their worst?

At airports, as with anywhere else, taking calls at full volume or talking loudly is just bad manners. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Jan 10, 2025 03:28 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: This is just the beginning

A new year is a chance for new adventures. Take up a sport, delve into a cuisine, learn a language. Just try it all

Now is the time to learn skills you were afraid to take up before, such as swimming. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Jan 03, 2025 03:38 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: An attitude of gratitude

There’s so much to be grateful for. But take a close look back at the year that’s passed and celebrate how far you’ve come

Take the time to plan that trip to Egypt. Start ticking things off your bucket list. Reconnect with old friends and catch up on things you may have missed. (Adobe Stock)

Brunch

Updated on Dec 27, 2024 02:29 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Mess around and find out

Live while you’re young. It’s the time to make mistakes, experiment with jobs and relationships, and flirt with new cities

In Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, the trio of friends celebrate the heedlessness of youth.

Brunch

Updated on Dec 20, 2024 02:34 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Please note the change of address

We’ll readily use Mister for a man, but call women by their first name in the press, on social media, in life. Something’s amiss

Women politicians such as Mahua Moitra are often addressed by their first names in the press.

Brunch

Updated on Dec 13, 2024 03:13 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Leave the baggage behind

If you’re doing your own thing on vacation with family and friends, you’re probably better off travelling solo. Try it

There may be safety in numbers, but when you travel solo, you can set your own schedule and do your own thing. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Dec 06, 2024 04:18 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Hitting that suite spot

Most hotels go all-out with extravagant frills. But to truly shine, all they need to do is pay attention to the everyday details

Hotels such as the St Regis in Cairo and the Oberoi in Sahl Hasheesh pay strict attention to detail. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Nov 29, 2024 02:54 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Why adapt when you can evolve?

Sometimes, the movie or show does it better than the book it is based on. Here’s when to stream, not flip

The show, Rivals, lived up to the rambunctious promise of Jilly Cooper’s book.

Brunch

Updated on Nov 22, 2024 10:02 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Benefits with friends

Of course it’s harder to make friends as we grow older. Responsibilities, increase, time is short. Luckily, we have our tribes

In Only Murders in the Building, three residents are united by their obsession with true crime.

Brunch

Updated on Nov 15, 2024 06:36 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: How to plan a great escape

It’s getting colder. It’s already hard to breathe. Why not plan a winter vacation that’s a world away but not too far away?

Most people prefer visiting Bhutan in summer. but the mountains look beautiful in winter. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Nov 08, 2024 04:40 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: No need for soirée excuses

Not all party guests are created equal. Make sure you have an escape plan, in case you’re stuck with someone dull

If you need to escape a boring person at a party, ask a friend to make a fake emergency call. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Nov 01, 2024 03:49 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Fight or flight response

The glory days of air travel are behind us. But with a bit of prep, you can make it to your destination with some sanity left

As any seasoned traveller knows, the only way to survive a flight is to keep yourself entertained for its duration. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Oct 25, 2024 04:18 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Sorry to interrupt your cereal...

No one eats bacon, waffles and sausages every day. Naturally, hotel spreads get boring after a while. Bring on the idlis!

Indian hotels get breakfast menus right, with idli, medu vada, and dosa options. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Oct 18, 2024 05:08 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: At least hope is always in bloom

This year, it’s hard to summon the energy for Durga Pujo. But just like the shiuli flowers that bloom without fail, we need to ensure justice will prevail

The shiuli plant heralds the beginning of Pujo season. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Oct 11, 2024 04:10 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Go back to your roots

Grey is in. There’s no need to pour chemical dyes onto your head. But as with everything, do only what makes you feel comfortable

Actor Zeenat Aman made her Instagram debut proudly rocking her grey bob.

Brunch

Updated on Oct 04, 2024 02:19 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Let’s stop kidding ourselves

Women who don’t want kids are blamed for all the world’s problems. Why be childish about being childless?

Miley Cyrus has been vocal about wanting to remain child-free, mainly due to climate change. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Sep 27, 2024 04:13 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Some books are a closed chapter

Bestselling authors don’t always churn out page-turners. And life’s too short to endure books that are average at best

David Nicholls’s recent book, You Are Here, didn’t live up to the hype.

Brunch

Updated on Sep 20, 2024 06:24 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Forget demure, forget mindful

Women are expected to dress their age. But why should arbitrary numbers dictate anyone’s choices? Wear what you want, when you want

Nicole Kidman, 57, has worn her hair long despite the unspoken rule that older women trim such excess.

Brunch

Updated on Sep 13, 2024 04:39 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Leave us to our own devices

A Delhi restaurant's laptop ban sparks debate on dining etiquette, with calls for clearer rules on device use, rather than outright prohibitions.

If reading a newspaper at a cafe is okay, reading the same news on your laptop should also be allowed. (ADOBE STOCK)

Brunch

Updated on Sep 06, 2024 04:00 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

Spectator by Seema Goswami: Show them your best side

There’s always a right time to visit a city to catch it in its best moments. Festivals, monsoons, and spring are a few short cuts

Visit Amritsar during Baisakhi or Diwali, when the Golden Temple is decked up.

Brunch

Updated on Aug 30, 2024 02:32 PM IST

BySeema Goswami

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Seema Goswami

It’s difficult, but not impossible, to do a digital detox. Set boundaries, resist the impulse, and tuck your phone away

The White Lotus is great TV. But it’s not an accurate portrayal of how the super-rich vacation or how the staff treat them

We get it, weddings are exhausting, even if you’re just a guest. Here’s how to keep the heart full and the events manageable

Self-care doesn’t have to mean splurges or huge gestures. Sometimes, it’s the moments you spend in the day unwinding from life

Limit the nibbles, help guests break the ice, keep drinks ready, serve dinner by 10. Hosting isn’t hard, if you know how

Had enough of Valentine’s Day cliches? How about honouring real love, every day, with a million little gestures that matter?

Stop hunching over your phone screen at dinner, stop showing up with uninvited friends, say thank you more. It’s not hard

They’re unhappy and we know it. Today, couples post about break-ups online. But why include us in their personal drama?

Society is falling into disrepair. Most things are designed to be mended, not discarded. After all, if it’s broke, fix it

Say what you will about Delhi, the winter season here still holds some magic. Especially when it comes to food

At airports, pyjamas, hungover travellers, and lax norms abound. But do we really want to see people at their worst?

A new year is a chance for new adventures. Take up a sport, delve into a cuisine, learn a language. Just try it all

There’s so much to be grateful for. But take a close look back at the year that’s passed and celebrate how far you’ve come

Live while you’re young. It’s the time to make mistakes, experiment with jobs and relationships, and flirt with new cities

We’ll readily use Mister for a man, but call women by their first name in the press, on social media, in life. Something’s amiss

If you’re doing your own thing on vacation with family and friends, you’re probably better off travelling solo. Try it

Most hotels go all-out with extravagant frills. But to truly shine, all they need to do is pay attention to the everyday details

Sometimes, the movie or show does it better than the book it is based on. Here’s when to stream, not flip

Of course it’s harder to make friends as we grow older. Responsibilities, increase, time is short. Luckily, we have our tribes

It’s getting colder. It’s already hard to breathe. Why not plan a winter vacation that’s a world away but not too far away?

Not all party guests are created equal. Make sure you have an escape plan, in case you’re stuck with someone dull

The glory days of air travel are behind us. But with a bit of prep, you can make it to your destination with some sanity left

No one eats bacon, waffles and sausages every day. Naturally, hotel spreads get boring after a while. Bring on the idlis!

This year, it’s hard to summon the energy for Durga Pujo. But just like the shiuli flowers that bloom without fail, we need to ensure justice will prevail

Grey is in. There’s no need to pour chemical dyes onto your head. But as with everything, do only what makes you feel comfortable

Women who don’t want kids are blamed for all the world’s problems. Why be childish about being childless?

Bestselling authors don’t always churn out page-turners. And life’s too short to endure books that are average at best

Women are expected to dress their age. But why should arbitrary numbers dictate anyone’s choices? Wear what you want, when you want

A Delhi restaurant's laptop ban sparks debate on dining etiquette, with calls for clearer rules on device use, rather than outright prohibitions.

There’s always a right time to visit a city to catch it in its best moments. Festivals, monsoons, and spring are a few short cuts

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