Ms. Anu Sharma is the brains behind the very first NRI channel on Youtube, RealLife RealHome with focus on Healthy Lifestyle, Cleaning, Organization, DIY, and Meal Planning. She believes that Organization / Cleaning does not need to be expensive or high end. It can be really very simple by using simple products and following routines, and that is what she depicts in her real life videos on her YouTube channel.
With over 108K subscribers and more than 11 Million views, her videos are super interesting and informative with loads of DIYs and other day-to-day tips for Indian moms.
Lets check out her story in building this wonderful channel and becoming a successful YouTuber.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
Your YouTube channel, RealLife RealHome is the first ever NRI channel focused on Healthy Lifestyle, Cleaning, Organization, DIY, and Meal Planning. How was it developed? And what was the motivation behind it?
MS. Anu Sharma:
Living in a foreign land away from your near and dear ones is not easy. You have to tackle with your problems and find solutions. With your mother not close by to help you with recipes and parenting tips you tend to look for some alternate solution and that is how I discovered YOUTUBE. I use to watch YouTube videos whenever I needed to fix anything, or to find a review, or some good recipes. But starting my own channel never came to my mind as I was always working in a corporate setting. It was only when I left my job and had some time at hand I started thinking in the direction of starting my own channel. Like everyone else I was apprehensive but my mother was really very supportive and that gave me the confidence. I felt that there are so many channels from US and Canada about lifestyle, homemaking, Cleaning and Organization but they don’t always cater to the need of Indian homes. And that is when Realllife Realhome came into existence and since then there is no looking back.
FULL INTERVIEW ON NEXT PAGE!
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness Org
MS. Namita Nayyar:
How has your journey been so far as a YouTuber?
MS. Anu Sharma:
The journey has been amazing, incredibly rewarding. I posted my first video on Jan 21 ‘ 2017 and on October 25 ‘ 2017 ( in 9 months) we crossed 100k subscribers. Its a big achievement for our #Realfamily
It has been such a great learning experience. I think I have learnt much more while running my own YouTube channel then while I was working in a corporate setting in a 9 to 5 role. I am now connected with people from all across the globe and I feel whether it’s a mom from Australia, Africa, Germany we all have a very similar mindset and values. I have received so much of love and appreciation and the only way I can return the love I get is by making more meaningful content.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life.
MS. Anu Sharma:
My day mostly starts between 5 and 5:15 am. Mostly at this time everyone is still sleeping and I take this opportunity to sit, relax and peacefully plan my day. For me these few minutes are very important and they set the tone for the day. After that I start my kitchen work by preparing lunch boxes while my husband helps in getting my boys ready for school. After everyone leaves I go for my walk. Once I am back I will take shower, do my Pooja, have breakfast. I start my work soon after that.
Afternoon I will pick my boys from school, will have lunch and will talk to them all about what happened in the school. Later I make a cup of tea for myself and help them with their studies. If they have activities planned for the day I will take them to the classes. After my husband is back from work we will sit and talk and have dinner together. So all in all a very simple routine. Weekends are more fun and we spend some quality time together as a family.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about the food/meal routine that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
MS. Anu Sharma:
There is no secret mantra to be healthy or fit. I try to make sure that 80% of what I put in my mouth should be healthy and nutritious. Rest 20% I eat what I really crave for. I remain active throughout the day. Always do my daily walk and whatever little exercise I can accommodate in my busy routine.
Atleast have 3 litres of water in a day. Eat simple home cooked food like roti, dal chawal, sabzi. Include lots of salads and smoothies.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
How would you explain the role of eating healthy in leading a fit & healthy lifestyle?
MS. Anu Sharma:
Healthy habits are hard to develop and often require changing your mindset. But if you’re willing to make sacrifices to better your health, the impact can be far-reaching, regardless of your age, sex, or physical ability.
When you start the day with a healthy breakfast, you avoid becoming overly hungry later, which could send you running to get fast food before lunch. Additionally, skipping breakfast can raise your blood sugar, which increases fat storage. Incorporate at least five servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet per day. These foods, which are low in calories and high in nutrients, help with weight control. Limit consumption of sugary beverages, such as sodas, and if you are a non vegetarian choose lean meats like fish and turkey. A nutritious, well-balanced diet – along with physical activity and refraining from smoking – is the foundation of good health. Healthy eating includes consuming high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, heart-healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and water in the foods you take in while minimizing processed foods, saturated fats and alcohol. Eating in this manner helps you maintain your body’s everyday functions, promotes optimal body weight and can assist in disease prevention.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
How would you guide someone who has just started out as a YouTuber and wishes to grow big?
MS. Anu Sharma:
First of all let me start by saying that I think I am still a beginner. Each video teaches me something new. I am still learning on every aspect of video making. When you’re first starting out, there’s a lot of things to focus on but, I believe the four most important things, that can help you get started will be :
1- GET OUTSIDE YOURSELF AND JUST DO IT- A lot of people, they are so insecure about how they sound or how they look, and all those sorts of things that most people don’t even notice. It’s all in your head, guys. Most people don’t even notice a lot of the things that you’re so worried and insecure about.
2- YOU DON’T NEED THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT- no need to buy expensive cameras, lights etc. Just start with what you have and once you are sure that this is something you want to do long term , you can invest.
3 -BE COMMITTED AND CONSISTENT – Once you have a channel you need to make meaningful content and be consistent with your uploads.
4- ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE – reply back to your viewers and make a connection with them . Always try to keep in mind what they request.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
How do you think has YouTube changed how the world operates and brought everyone closer?
MS. Anu Sharma:
When Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawad Karim founded YouTube in 2005 there’s no way they could have predicted that they would change the world as we know it in these 12 years. YouTube has revolutionized everything from entertainment to education, opened new doors for talented individuals looking to be discovered, and brought people together from all over the globe.
For me, one of the most amazing things about YouTube is its ability to make the world smaller. And, no, I don’t mean that YouTube has literally shrunken down the globe. What I mean is that YouTube has given us the power to travel the world with a single click. Sure, before YouTube existed we could learn about distant countries and cultures by reading books and articles online, watching documentaries and looking at published pictures. But YouTube allows us to take things a step further and learn about places and cultures around the world from the actual people who live there.
I think it’s absolutely amazing that with a quick YouTube search we can watch a Zimbabwean Music video, take an educational trip to Bhutan, the last Shangri La, or find out everything there is to know about Iceland. It is opening up new doors for people, who were once ignorant to the world around them, to become aware of cultures around the globe and to see that there are all sorts of interesting people living on our planet, interesting music and dance that we’ve never heard before, and so much to see, learn and soak up.
Youtube helps people get discovered like Justin Beiber. Youtube has revolutionized education. It is now full of how to videos, tutorials and lectures. In fact, some people are even beginning to use YouTube as a tool for offering a free education to people around the world. For instance, hedge fund analyst Salman Khan quit his job to start offering a free education on the web, via YouTube. Through the “Khan Academy”. With videos like Khan’s on YouTube, all that a person needs is an internet connection and they have access to a fantastic education, even in third world countries. If you ask me, I’d say this is pretty incredible and revolutionary.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
Would you like to tell us about the changing scenario of health and nutrition in India over the years?
MS. Anu Sharma:
A lot has changed and that too drastically. During our grandparents or great grandparent’s time “Every food item was seasonal, had a medicinal property and an endemic quality. Desert food would be a coolant, while something on the hills generated heat. It was always locally grown, locally suited, taking into consideration every possible nutritional need.”
The moment you coughed, your grandmother would tell you to drink hot milk with a dash of turmeric and pepper.Studies done by universities abroad have directly linked turmeric to an anti-carcinogen, as well as an antiseptic and antibiotic.Thousands of years ago, our sages practiced yoga, but, ironically, we were convinced of its benefits only when the West recognized its immense powers and popularized it. So, like yoga, we have been brought to see that turmeric is good. Every curry we prepared contained a pinch of turmeric; it was used by women to enhance their complexion, and also the best medicine for a scraped knee. Most of our food also contained ginger and garlic, both natural medicinal ingredient used for centuries. In addition, we used a wider array of spices with multiple health benefits — pepper (relief from respiratory disorders), cumin (helps digestion), fenugreek (controls diabetes, cures acid reflux), mustard (high anti-inflammatory properties), etc.
In the last four or five decades, we have replaced everything good and familiar with the unknown. We have ignored healthy practices that have been handed down for generations, with no regard for the consequences. It is truly a shame that a civilization that once understood the finer nuances of food, its medicinal and nutritional benefits, today survives on pizzas, burgers, fizzy drinks, fried chicken, packaged chips and snacks. While there is no denying that change is inevitable, it should be remembered that change should always be progressive. Anything that drives us into the dark, depressive world of diseases is certainly not progress. We are surrounded by foods that are engineered with the sole aim of making us fat and sick, our activity levels are laughably low, our stress levels are dangerously high and we inhale toxins from the air all day everyday! And guess whats even more messed up? We have little to no control over pollution and, in some cases, stress levels. So clearly, our only opportunity to make the best out of what we have is to control nutrition and activity!
MS. Namita Nayyar:
Give us some Meal Planning Tips for the upcoming Thanksgiving season?
MS. Anu Sharma:
Thanksgiving is all about God and Thanking him for the gifts of life, love, joy and more. My Thanksgiving meal planning will consists of winter soups, cozy winter breakfasts, some homemade sauces and condiments, slow cooker soups /stews, smoothie bowls, Makke ( CornFlour) Rotis (Indian bread) and Saag. Hot blueberry pancakes with homemade Jam.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
What kind of meals would you suggest new moms to take who wish to lose weight?
MS. Anu Sharma:
New Moms should focus more on their health and baby’s health instead of their weight. Select nutrient dense and energy rich foods that are easy to digest.
Energy foods like dry fruits, smoothies, sweet potatoes. Have atleast 3-4 protein rich servings (Tofu, nuts, lentils)
Have some good fats ( avocados, nuts and seeds)
Keep yourself well hydrated. If you are breastfeeding that’s even more important. Water is your best friend, even buttermilk.
Remember every Mom Needs to do what is best for her and baby. There is no one size that fits all. Slowly introduce mild exercise like walking.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
What suggestions would you give to mothers with toddlers who find it hard to keep their homes organised and clean?
MS. Anu Sharma:
Let me start by saying that it ain’t easy but its possible. First of all , I don’t think its imperative that the house be tidy at all times. For me personally I find it difficult to relax and work in a chaotic environment.
Some tips that can certainly help you are: Revisit your definition of tidy: Tidy used to mean surfaces were clean, house was spotless and ready for visitors. Now tidy will mean that there are a few baskets filled with visible toys . The toys are in baskets (that’s most important). Work with your children, not against them. Purge more often, set realistic expectations, Getting organized should alleviate stress and not cause it.
MS. Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.org and message for our visitors?
MS. Anu Sharma:
Women’s fitness completed 18 years this August. I wish them all the best. Do keep touching more lives. For your readers I would just like to say to make your health the first priority. When you are fit and healthy everything will fall into place.
Do follow her on:
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE0m8eakHrCVaSJ0BOE1Xg
- https://www.instagram.com/realliferealhome/
- https://www.facebook.com/ReaLifeRealHome/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness Org