Advice to Budding Civil / Structural Engineers

I am writing this post based on my own experience / schedule in past 30 years (since I started my voyage in engineering profession as a site engineer on a G+15 residential bldg. in Yr.1995) and several observations made towards the routine lifestyle and habits, of budding generation Civil / Structural engineers. My career was shaped by my parents, family members, teacher, mentors, friends, and most important is my spiritual master (Guru). I am sure if someone follow these tips in life for just 6months then his / her life will change for ever – leading him / her to a serenity in life and career… so…

1.????? Wake-up early in the morning by 5:30 / 6am.

2.????? Start your day with positivity, good thoughts and prayer to your role models / gods / guru and parents (touch their feet). Windup your bed role, blanket, pillow.

3.????? Wash your face, eyes with fresh clean water; then brush-up your tooth, gargle moth; pass motion and get freshen up.

4.????? Do some light exercises or yoga (pranayama, surya-namskaar) / walking / household works (like broom, ironing cloths, wash utensils) for about 30minutes (help parents in maintaining home, sorting and cleaning vegetables etc.)

5.????? Then take a warm water bath; then read any good news paper / watch current affairs. Now take a balanced breakfast (as per seasonal and local availability – like fruits + milk / or Idli + chatni / or parath + pickle / or simply toast bread and butter / tea or sandwich). If possible, ready any one of the holy scripts for 15minutes, daily (like Bhagawadgita / Bible / Quran / Zend Avesta / Daas-bodh etc. as per your religion / beliefs).

6.????? Now, get properly dressed-up, comb your hairs, wear proper shoes / sandal or chappal as per avenue.

7.????? Now inform parents and proceed to Office / College library after seeking their blessings; carry all important belongings (like pen / pencil + notebook + calculator in your bag along with tiffin, water bottle, cap, cellphone, wallet, handkerchief, keys of bike; spectacles etc.).

8.????? Travel carefully and with alertness. Be punctual (try to read an informative book, if you get a place to seat during travel). Ensure that you do not hurt anyone and help kids / elderly citizens / pregnant women / blind or physically disabled passengers during travel. (Do not play load music on your cellphone why traveling – which may distract / disturb other passengers). If you find any inappropriate action/s then politely yet firmly remind them to stop it. Respect nature!

9.????? Reach office / college / library / class, in time (say 8:30 / 9am). Start work with positive mindset. Help your colleagues / bosses / juniors to complete day-to-day tasks. Keep a proper record / documentation of work completed and do planning of upcoming tasks.

10. In afternoon take a balanced diet with colleagues (which may include – roti / rice / bread / daal / khichadi / vegetables with a slice of lemon / salads / curd or buttermilk, fruits etc.) avoid daily oily-spicy hotel foods! Try to consume variety of natural foods, nuts, grains, millets, pulses, cereals, pinch of spices etc. and their thoughtfully planned combinations (so as to get complete proteins (amino acids), right amount of carbohydrates, fats and fibers, minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc etc. in appropriate quantity / proportions), vitamins (A, B1, B12, C, D, E). ?Never waste food and your quality time (in smoking or consumption of alcoholic / sedative substances); drink sufficient volume of water throughout the day.

11. Have healthy constructive discussions with your colleagues about the upcoming developments in the field of Civil / structural engineering – use of new software programs – new updates in codes and standards (than daily political or film talks); how you and your colleague or company at large, should adapt to the new changes / challenges / technologies etc. for the benefits of society and engineering profession.

12. Appreciate the achievements of your colleagues as wells as share your updates / achievements with colleagues. Try motivating / influencing your subordinates by your own actions; try to avoid harsh words / languages (unless and otherwise needed in rarest situations); try spreading positivity, enthusiasm, hope, compassion, love, affection, empathy and team spirit as well as feeling of responsibility amongst you and your team members.

13. Always try to question / verify the input data before starting the design work. Don’t blindly accept any information.

14. Do not feel upset or moral broken-down, in case of challenging situations or sorrows / griefs in personal or professional life.

15. Ensure that you attend at least one technical workshop / seminar or read one technical paper / presentation / book in every month. For this, join any good engineering library or a professional institute like – IEI / ISSE / IIBE / INSDAG / ICI / ACE / IRC etc. Also try to appear in core professional exams like GATE, IStructE, ICE, PE, city & guilds, licensed supervisor etc. Attend conferences / workshops / training programs and trade shows like - Constro / Bauma / Concrete show etc.

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16. Keep reading the biographies of successful civil engineers like – Sir Mokshgundam Visveswaraya / Karl Terzaghi / Prof. S. P. Timoshenko / Prof. Chen / Shri. U. H. Varyani / books composed by Mrs. Usha Tambe / several novel like books by Mario Salvadori and many more.

17. Watch good technical films & reports on discovery / national geographic channel like extreme engineering etc. ?Those who work in office should try to regularly visit construction sites to get a better feel of end product.

18. To be a good Civil / structural engineer, one should be able to draw good pencil / pen sketches – for this, every budding engineer must preserve a small diary / sketch-book in his bag and keep practicing of sketches (houses / bridges / bolted connections / jetties etc.).

19. Apart from civil / structural engineering the budding engineer should nurture one good art / skill / habit – viz. photography / playing a flute or table or guitar / collection of old coins / making clay pots with hands / cooking verity of dishes / playing table tennis / vising to historic forts etc.

20. Try to complete your work in time (by max 6:30 / 7:00pm) without wasting or losing much time in chit-chatting or searching the files in server / inbox! Whenever free time is available try to practice useful software programs (for drafting and analysis, estimation, BBS etc.); while returning back to home consult your parents on phone if they need any vegetables / fruits / medicines etc.

21. After reaching home, get freshen-up, discuss your daily schedule and learnings with your family members – understand their experience on each day; watch television for about 1hr; then have pious food by 8:30/9pm – then have brisk walk on terrace / garden / building premises for ten minutes and go to bed by 10 / 10:30pm.?

Spend a full week / month / year in this fashion and observe the miracle in your mood + health + attitude + engineering & general awareness after a few years. Finally let this become your habit for rest of the life. On weekends / holidays make a phone call to your friends and relatives to check their wellbeing. Watch the clear blue sky – rising sun – singing birds; plant a few trees in your society premises (if possible) – move towards such organic life style…