Jaishankar Reveals No Off Days as Foreign Minister, Jokes Wife May Disagree
Jaishankar admits no off days in his role as EAM, shares personal approach to work-life balance at IIT Madras.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday shared a candid perspective on work-life balance, stating that his role offers no conventional “off days” due to the continuous demands of global diplomacy. Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, he explained that international affairs operate across time zones, making a fixed Monday-to-Friday work structure impractical.
Jaishankar noted that his professional life does not allow for clear boundaries between workdays and weekends. “In my life, I don’t have off days,” he said, adding that global events and responsibilities do not pause for holidays. He emphasized that diplomacy requires constant engagement, as developments can occur anywhere in the world at any time.
Describing his lifestyle, the minister said his days are “very mixed up” and not tied to a single time zone. According to him, the absence of a traditional on-off switch does not necessarily result in imbalance. Instead, he believes adaptability and consistency are key to managing long-term professional pressure.
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Jaishankar stressed that balance comes from building stable habits rather than completely disconnecting from work. He said he consciously incorporates personal interests into his daily routine to remain grounded and effective. Listening to music, reading books, watching films, and following sports are some of the ways he unwinds.
He further argued that a well-structured daily routine can itself act as a buffer against stress. “If you build a physical routine into your cycle… your daily routine itself is so balanced that you don’t need to unplug,” he said, suggesting that balance is more about discipline than deliberate breaks.
Ending on a lighter note, Jaishankar acknowledged that his views may not be universally shared, even at home. Referring to his wife, who was present at the event, he joked that she might contradict his assessment, drawing laughter from the audience and adding a personal touch to his remarks.
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