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On a hot afternoon, when the temperature soared high to 36 degrees in Mumbai, a casual talk with Sangeeta Jhaveri of Prescient Financial Services was like a breeze of fresh air.
Her daily routine showed us how women multi-task and play multiple roles like a pro.
A successful entrepreneur, a caring daughter-in-law and an optimistic person, Sangeeta teaches us to look at the brighter side of everyday life.
Let us look at Sangeeta’s day in her own words:
I feel I am programmed to wake up at 6:45 am without an alarm clock.
I start my day with three glasses of warm water. Then, I set up my kitchen and keep things ready for Maharaj who cooks our everyday meals. After finishing routine work, I exercise for an hour. My workout regime alternates between an online wellness class and a brisk walk in my society.
At 8:30 am, I sip on tea with plain khakras for breakfast and leave for office by 9:15 am. My workplace is in the vicinity of my home and I reach there by 9:30 am. Discipline is an integral part of my life and I always make it a point to reach office on time.
The first thing that I do when I reach office is pray.
Then, I clear my inbox and make a to-do list. Let me share an interesting fact here, I have an all-women team. Though that was never an intention initially, I would like this to continue. It gives me joy to be able to create a group of independent and hard-working women.
We also have team meetings during which we prepare for scheduled calls/meetings by going through investor portfolios. This preparation helps us make our discussion with existing clients and prospects more productive.
During the day, I also review fund flows across investors’ portfolios and sit down with my team for client-specific discussions. Reviews, calls and meetings keep me busy throughout.
Despite an action-packed day, I follow a disciplined food routine. At 10:00 am, a steaming cup of tea enters my cabin, followed by another cup at 11:00 am. I am a tea lover and chai ke saath yeh silsila kuch isi tarah chalu reheta hai (I like to have several cups of tea throughout the day). (While talking to us, Sangeeta finished her 3:00 pm cup of tea and had her eyes set on the clock for her 5:00 pm tea).
Later, at noon, I snack on fruits and lunch follows at 1:00 pm. Roti, sabzi, dal, salad, and chaas are my lunchtime staples, which I relish along with my girls and their stories. Describing my lunch to you reminds me of kacha kela and shimla mirch, my favourite sabzi.
Work goes on, and tea continues to accompany me.
At around 5:00 pm, I slow down a bit to have snacks and then work until 7:30 pm.
Once I get back home …
I freshen up, have dinner and look after my elderly parents-in-law. My father-in-law is 93-years old and has dementia, due to which he suffers episodes of memory loss. At times, he forgets my name too. In such situations, it is important to be patient. I use a childlike tone with him and keep him positively engaged.
After juggling between a demanding work schedule and personal commitments, I relax by watching OTT content. I usually go by my friends’ recommendation and watch a series or movie. At times, I may also go for a walk with my society friends.
My free time mantra …
My in-laws are old and need me. Thus, I do not venture out that often. In my free-time, I spend some time with my friends in society complex.
Also, I love shopping. I still remember after the covid restrictions were lifted when I went shopping at a popular designer store, I unwittingly bought the same dress again. This episode makes me laugh even now.
Weekends …
I work until 4:00 pm on Saturdays and normally pay a visit to my mother post-work. On Sundays, I spend some more time with my friends and family. Afternoon naps are precious to me and that makes my Sundays rejuvenating.
