N.R. Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, has recently faced criticism for advocating for longer workweeks. He advised youth to put in “seventy hours” of effort each week. After this contentious comment, online users began discussing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. One person who emphasises prioritising one’s health is Laxman Narasimhan, the CEO of Starbucks.
As quoted by Fortune, Narasimhan said, “I’m very disciplined about balance.” He is a firm believer that taking care of oneself should come before work. According to a prominent executive at Starbucks, he doesn’t attend meetings beyond 6 p.m. unless they are very crucial. “If there’s anything after 6 p.m. and I’m in town, it’s got to be a pretty high bar to keep me away from the family,” he added, “Anybody who gets a minute of time after that better be sure that it’s important.”
3 secrets to counter burnout
(1) Meditation- Narasimhan meditates for twenty minutes in the morning and for ten minutes in the evening before going to bed. Says, “It helps me get ready for the day. It also helps me reflect on the day. I’ve found meditation to be truly powerful. It’s a way for you to get mindful, for you to get centered.” Narasimhan frequently leads group meditations prior to meetings, demonstrating that his mindfulness practise is not limited to his house. As he explained this, he remarked, “We can connect with ourselves and through that, be open to connecting with others.”
(2) Separate time to spend with family- The CEO of the massive coffee company prioritises his family. Nothing is so vital, he disclosed, that it would keep him from spending valuable time with his family. Unless it’s really important, Narasimhan avoids late meetings in preference of spending time with his family.
(3) Exercise- Regular exercise has been shown by science to boost a person’s productivity in addition to their health. Narasimhan makes it a point to exercise for 150–250 minutes per week. “I find myself being driven by that time. At 7 p.m. on Sunday, I hit 250 minutes,” he averred.
