Women entrepreneurs share their best kept productivity secrets

Celebrated on March 8 International Womenrsquos Day was first adopted by the United Nations as a global holiday in 1977 Meant to recognise the achievements of women across sectors the day has been a cornerstone of the growing international womens movement The origins of International Womenrsquos Day can be traced to labour movements of the West Now 45 years after the recognition of the day by the UN it is necessary to emphasise and understand the nuances of female contribution to not just the economy but also sociopolitical and cultural spaces On International Womenrsquos Day Midday Online spoke to four trailblazing entrepreneurs across industries who shared how to boost productivity and make the most of onersquos timeRahat BeriManaging Director Blue Ocean IMCMumbaiRahat Beri believes earning how to be productive on a consistent basis is a skill on its own PicRahat BeriRahat Beri a communications professional with almost three decades of experience is the founder and managing director of Blue Ocean IMC a marketing communication and growth partner consultancy The early riser starts her day with an hour of yoga with time slots dedicated to specific tasksmdashranging from reviewing her teamrsquos projects to responding to emails Keeping productivity levels high throughout the week is a struggle for most of us but Beri seems to have devised a deeper approach ldquoThe truth is learning how to be productive on a consistent basis is a skill on its ownmdashone that doesnt come down to a single productivity hack I believe the only way to be truly productive for long periods of time is to optimise not just for time and effort but for your emotional state The secret of productivity is simple do what you enjoy I enjoy my work and love my businessrdquoI am not afraid to say lsquonorsquo to unnecessary obligations In a world with so much noise and clutter I make room for what mattersBeing productive doesnrsquot only refer to executing more tasks but also knowing the value of your time and energy according to Beri ldquoI am not afraid to say lsquonorsquo to unnecessary obligations In a world with so much noise and clutter I make room for what matters That means pruning nonessential commitments and eliminating as many distractions as I possibly can I find that one of the best ways to maintain my productivity is to incorporate power naps into my day I take 15minute naps once per day and find that it makes for increased energy and efficiency rdquo Every entrepreneur has days when they feel overworked and overwhelmed adapting a sensitive outlook aids her mental and emotional wellbeing ldquoWhen I get lost in my work or feel frustrated that something isnrsquot going well I take a break I make it a point to regularly step away and rebuild my energy I always plan to do something in my break that I enjoy The anticipation of pleasure motivates me to not skip the breakrdquoWhen asked what makes her excel at time management she credits planning and prioritising ldquoI always plan in advance and prioritise delegate work to team members and set aside some time for myself Ending each day with a plan for tomorrow allows one to have a headstart the next morning I take 10 minutes every morning to just sit still and visualise how I want the day to go Thatrsquos when the clarity and decisions spring up Thinking about the positive consequences of after achieving a taskndash is a strategy that helps me overcome difficult situations by motivating me to stick to the task until completionrdquoNirupama SubramanianAuthor Leadership coach and facilitator cofounder of Growing Leadership of Women and founder of Powerfulife SolutionsGurugramNirupama Subramaniam says she has designed her life according to my values incorporating room for freedom joy and contribution to society PicNirupama SubramaniamA jack of multiple trades Nirupama Subramaniam is a consultant facilitator and coach in the area of leadership development change management and personal transformation With over 27 years of work experience she has written three books and founded Powerfulife Solutionsmdasha business which provides personal and professional growth resources and GLOW Growing Leadership of Women that supports women to lead with their whole being and reach leadership positions Coaching sessions workshops and meetings fill most of her days while her evenings are reserved for reading and catching up with friends She is conscious about spacing her day out with breaks to keep her going ldquoI start my day with an exercise routine that gives me energy for the rest of the day I take a break of 45 minutes for lunch and donrsquot schedule any meetings for an hour in the afternoon I also get up and walk about and go out to my balcony after every few hours Sometimes I do a puzzle in the middle of the day or read an interesting article to take a mental breakrdquoI do many things but I donrsquot do two things at the same time Not multitasking makes me more efficient and ensures better outputWhile most entrepreneurs preach hustle and thrive on hyperefficiency Subramaniam has a different strategy at play ldquoI think I have designed my life according to my values not just time Freedom joy and contribution are important to me This helps me to choose work that is aligned to my purpose At the same time I also enjoy leisurethe time to read write travel and just be I donrsquot confuse lsquomany taskingrsquo with lsquomultitaskingrsquo I do many things each has a time and place I donrsquot do two things at the same time Not multitasking makes me more efficient and ensures better outputrdquoWhen asked to share some of her personal hacks she says ldquoI keep a diary with things to do which are divided into two separate columnsmdashpersonal and professional I like to check off items and seeing that I have managed to accomplish things from my list gives me the motivation to get going I also think allotting specific time slots for certain things such as social media reading and physical activity helps add structure to your day and cultivate habitsrdquo She also stresses on the importance of delegation ldquoDelegating the things that I donrsquot have to do myself has saved much time and effort I now have an assistant to schedule meetings and work on presentations I delegate almost all housework to my housekeeper Learning to let go of some of the areas helps me to focus on things that matter the mostrdquoShilpa Khanna Thakkar CEO ChicnutrixMumbaiShilpa Khanna Thakkar considers planning to be the driving force behind her multitasking self PicShilpa Khanna ThakkarAfter working for Morgan Stanley for a decade Shilpa Khanna Thakkar donned the entrepreneurrsquos hat and founded Chicnutrixmdasha beauty nutrition and wellness brand for women in 2019 Her mornings include walking her dog and spending time in nature which doubles as peaceful metime and prepares her for hectic work days The Mumbaibased entrepreneur balances meetings and quality time with her kids throughout the day but remembers to squeeze in small breaks ldquoWe have moved to a hybrid working model wherein even if I have backtoback meetings lined up I try and spend time with my kids and also find time to take brief five to ten minute breaks in between Working from home has helped shape my approach towards working holisticallyrdquoOne must lead by example This engrained philosophy drives me to maximise my productivity all week long so that I can spend my weekends with my familyWhen asked if weekends are sacred to her she shares ldquoI believe that one must lead by example This engrained philosophy drives me to maximise my productivity all week long so that I can spend my weekends with my familyrdquo Thakkar considers planning to be the driving force behind her multitasking self ldquoAs an entrepreneur wife and mother multitasking is not just a skill for me but a necessity For effective time management it is extremely important to plan in advance decide vision set goals delegate tasks and monitor performance When each team member is confident of their role scope of work and expected results it is then much easier to manage time to achieve successrdquoGlobally those working remotely have reported a decline in mental health and a sense of being overworked While employees can still take a hiatus running a business leaves little room to pause Emphasising the importance of selfcare she adds ldquoI am known to be quite a workaholic When I started working from home my work never really ended I have now decided to be mindful prioritise leisure time and stop working by late evening Even if we love our jobs itrsquos important to take time off A quick weekend getaway or change of scenery can be the stimulus you need for your mental and physical wellbeingrdquoVanshika BhatiaHead chef and founder of Petite Pie Shop chef partner at OMOGurugramChef Vanshika Bhatia believes it is very important to keep tabs on your mental and physical health PicVanshika BhatiaHer passion for ingredients sustainability and culinary heritage is what drives Chef Vanshika Bhatia After pursuing her formal training in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu in London Bhatia worked at some of the worldrsquos best restaurants from Noma in Copenhagen to Junoon in Dubai before settling in Gurugram Currently she runs the Petite Pie Shopmdasha first of its kind French style bistro which caters to food enthusiasts who are seeking unique experiences She is also the chef partner at OMOmdasha recently opened ingredientforward 7037 plantbased restaurant in Gurugram ldquoIf anything our countryrsquos culinary map is defined by this dazzling array of customs techniques and flavours where the scope for discovery and learning is just endless Itrsquos not just about whatrsquos good for the taste buds but whatrsquos good for the soul Our food is experiential in every sense and that will always set us apart I feelrdquoThe most important thing for me is not keeping anything for tomorrow If something needs to be done I always try to do it that very dayThe chef juggles multiple hats ldquoI usually have a lot of places to go from one business to the other The week tends to be super productive but since I am in the hospitality industry the weekends become busy toordquo The hospitality industry is known for its neverending hours and the toll they take on health to which Bhatia responds ldquoIt is very important to keep tabs on your mental and physical health What Irsquove realised is that surrounding yourself with good friends and family really helps Also maintaining a healthy sleep schedule might be difficult in the business but should be a priority Waking up on time and having a good breakfast makes me focus better throughout the dayrdquoSharing her ultimate mantra for getting work done Bhatia says ldquoThe most important thing for me is not keeping anything for tomorrow There is always a list that I make either the night before or first thing in the morning which I follow If something needs to be done I always try to do it that very dayrdquoAlso ReadDaring to drive How Mumbairsquos female rickshaw drivers are beating the odds