When Friday evening rolls in, most of us have one mission: escape the workweek hustle. But here are some HR leaders for whom weekends are less about “switching off” and more about “reconnecting”—with themselves, their passions, and their people. Their rituals range from sunrise jogs to pet cuddles to meditative reflections—all fuel for a meaningful Monday.
Let’s see how each one finds their own rhythm to recharge.
The reflective reset: Jaikrishna B
For Jaikrishna B, fondly called JK, president and group head of HR at Amara Raja, weekends aren’t about escaping work—they’re about rediscovering stillness. “For me, weekends are less about switching off and more about slowing down,” he says, describing them as a time to “reconnect with what fills me with calm, clarity and meaning.”
“For me, weekends are less about switching off and more about slowing down,” he says, describing them as a time to “reconnect with what fills me with calm, clarity and meaning.”
Jaikrishna B, president & group head – HR, Amara Raja
That calm often comes from the simple joys: slow morning teas, a quiet read, maybe a film, and the company of Tyche, his furry and cheerful lab who “has his own ways of brightening even the simplest moments.”
But Jaikrishna’s weekend is also a time for gentle reflection. He spends a few moments looking back at the week—what went well, what could have been better, and what lies outside his control. Often, those reflections spill onto paper and eventually become thoughtful LinkedIn posts.
For him, a restful weekend is beautifully simple: “Stillness, simplicity, small rituals, time with loved ones—and time with myself. That’s the peace and purpose I carry into Monday.”
The sunrise starter: Sunil Ranjhan
If you think weekends are for sleeping in, Sunil Ranjhan, CHRO, Dixon Technologies, would politely disagree—at 4:30 a.m. to be precise. “Weekends, I say, if you want to maximise them, you have to get up early,” he laughs.
His ritual? A morning jog or walk that stretches over an hour, followed by time on the golf greens or open parks.
“Weekends, I say, if you want to maximise them, you have to get up early,”
Sunil Ranjhan, CHRO, Dixon Technologies
For Ranjhan, the secret to a happy weekend lies in structure. “You can’t just leave work entirely at a senior level,” he admits. So, he sets clear compartments—one hour in the morning and one in the evening to check office updates, and the rest of the day is sacred “digital detox time.”
When he’s not outdoors, Ranjhan turns to a rather unexpected and unusual hobby—3D printing. “It’s meditative,” he explains. “You design something, watch it come to life layer by layer. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating with your hands when most of your week is spent creating with your mind.”
His weekends are disciplined, deliberate, and energising. “If you want Monday to feel possible,” he says, “you have to earn it on Saturday and Sunday.”
The melodic mindfulness: Shailesh Singh
For Shailesh Singh, CPO, Axis Max Life Insurance, weekends strike the perfect balance between rhythm and rest—literally. He’s currently learning the harmonium, guided by a teacher who visits him at home every weekend. “I had bought a harmonium and tabla nearly 20 years ago,” he smiles, “but work never allowed me the time. Now, I’ve ensured it fits into my weekends, and I’m loving it.”
“I had bought a harmonium and tabla nearly 20 years ago,” he smiles, “but work never allowed me the time. Now, I’ve ensured it fits into my weekends, and I’m loving it.”
Shailesh Singh, CPO, Axis Max Life Insurance
Music isn’t his only outlet. Singh also plays badminton regularly—a habit rooted in his Sainik School days when fitness was a way of life. “Health and wellness are priorities,” he says. Even during bouts of illness, he prefers to rely on rest and nutrition—”No medicines unless absolutely needed.” His mornings are filled with fruits and physical activity, keeping both body and mind agile.
Adding warmth to his weekends is Dumroo, his jet-black Pomeranian, a beloved companion who often steals the show on office video calls and has become something of a celebrity at Axis Max Life. “He’s an instant mood lifter,” Singh laughs. “Sometimes, during All India webcasts, people even ask to see him. He’s a star!”
For Singh, weekends are “healthy, happy and colourful”—a blend of music, movement and moments that matter.
The takeaway
Whether it’s JK’s reflective stillness, Ranjhan’s early morning discipline, or Singh’s melodic mindfulness—each of these leaders has found their own way to hit “refresh”.
What they do instead is create rituals—small, personal, and deeply meaningful. Whether it’s the stillness of a morning tea or the rhythm of a jog, each has found their own way to reconnect.
Because here’s the truth: rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategy. And the leaders who understand this don’t just survive Mondays—they thrive through them.
As Jaikrishna puts it: “Stillness, simplicity, small rituals, time with loved ones—and time with myself. That’s the peace and purpose I carry into Monday.”
And perhaps that’s the real weekend wisdom: it’s not about switching off. It’s about tuning in—to what matters, to who you are, and to what fuels you for the week ahead.