The pandemic taught this boss the value of ‘time’

For most of us, 2020 has heightened our awareness that time is subjective. Some days seem to pass very slowly while some weeks, and even months, fly by. For Jyotsna Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group, 2020 was the year she realised how elastic time could be.

“If the pandemic has changed one thing the most for me - it is perspective, especially my outlook related to time,” she told ET Panache. “We often complain about not having enough time to do things and many times I used to say I needed 36 hours in a day instead of 24. However, what I have now realised since I started managing my time more efficiently, is that I can easily manage to get a full 7-hour sleep break which was not possible earlier. That said, yes I definitely had to get out of my comfort zone, but it was all worth it.”

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Uttamchandani says she’s spent multiple weekends trying to make up for the months lost to the pandemic. “The pandemic has of course made my goal of switching to a five-day working week harder. Time lost once cannot be regained, so as a vertical we are pushing to cover up for those lost months, lost revenue. I have spent multiple Sundays working and discussing with my sales team, brainstorming on various strategies, preparing for the coming week, month and so on.”

Focus on the moment
Asked how she manages to stay upbeat while balancing it all, she said, “Working out, playing with my niece and dog, and reading are my stress busters. I am also a part of a spiritual organisation called Sukyo Mahikari, so that is my escape route. If none of this helps, my mother is my hero.”

Unable to lift heavy objects during the lockdown due to a wrist fracture , Uttamchandani took up yoga instead. “To be honest, yoga has been a life-changer. I never realised how difficult it was to ever stop thinking, however, that one hour provides a complete pause to the mind,” she said. Her resolution for the new year - practise mindfulness.