Coping & thriving in a crisis: Pramod Bhasin not perturbed by chores, recommends immersing oneself in projects

Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital shares with ET Panache how he relaxes, works and asks if anyone is interested in his luxury shoe collection.

“We are living in very interesting times,” says Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital. While the environment can be stressful, especially with no end seemingly in sight, immersing yourself in projects and efforts to help in any way he thinks. “I have involved myself in working with NGOs to get food to the poor, PPE to health care workers. I’m engaged in at least 4-5 such projects and the days seem to fly past as we spend productive time on these,” he shares.

In a quick chat with ET Panache, Bhasin shares his other tips for coping and thriving in a crisis:
Reconnect with your hobbies
“I have been devoting some time to photography, an old pleasure for which I desperately need instructions, so I’m always armed with a guide book and my iPad—just to learn all the facets of these really good DSLRs that are so incredibly complicated,” he says.

Bhasin also does yoga, reads and plays with the family dogs who “are not used to having us home all the time,” he shares.

Home work
“Chores are easy—anyone who’s lived many years overseas is used to them. It’s quite funny to actually hear many others complaining more about washing dishes than they ever did about pollution, and bad traffic and terrible infrastructure,” says Bhasin light-heartedly.

And he loves getting down to the tedious tasks. “I discover new distractions everyday! First, clear the house of all the accumulated nonsense we have collected over the years, and long pending terribly boring but necessary paperwork, files, accounts, etc. Second, go through long unopened cartons and drawers and clothes and shoes and just throw out as much as possible— I travel over 50% of my time—so this never gets done! Third, re-arrange furniture and drive the household staff and the family mad,” he shares.

Tune out
For Bhasin, reading is one of the best ways to relax. “I’m reading 'An Indian Summer'— a book published by James Cameron, in 1972. He’s a devout lover of India and he’s gone through pre and post independence years meeting with Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi and the British Viceroys,” he says.

Lockdown bonus
It has to be the integration of personal and professional for Bhasin. “Work and personal life are completely intertwined in this new world. Zoom calls and video conferences get interrupted by family members walking around, children laughing and crying, dogs barking, birds singing away each morning. Questions about business plans and strategies, and cash flows get mixed up with what’s for lunch, where shall I sit, who’s watching what on TV, reading bad jokes on WhatsApp.

Isn’t it better this way?

Some things of course go away—commuting times and the incredible harshness of traffic in India with its noise and suddenness, deciding what to wear each morning (no ties, no suits, no shoes—anyone wants 50 useless Ferragamo and Hermes ties?), when to shave, when to bathe—all goes away! Marvellous!” he shares.