A Mumbai-based CEO has sparked discussions on social media following his account of a 16-day digital detox, where he completely disengaged from work, social media, and news. Jairam Sridharan, Managing Director and CEO of Piramal Finance, detailed his experience in a LinkedIn post, highlighting how he focused solely on family and friends without any distractions from emails or social media platforms.

Sridharan mentioned in his post that he took this break to immerse himself in personal connections, explicitly avoiding any activities that might lead him back into a work mindset. He stated that he had not accessed his email, answered calls, or engaged in any form of social media during this time.

Upon returning to what he referred to as ‘normal life’, Sridharan was met with over 3,000 unread WhatsApp messages, 2,000 unread emails, and numerous missed calls, including several from his superior and the company’s promoter.

Notable Observations Upon His Return

Amidst the backlog of communications, one key observation resonated with him: “Everything in the world has carried on just fine without me.” He identified this as a significant takeaway from his 16-day absence. Despite his disengagement from daily operations, he noted that month-end processes were accomplished without disruption at the company.

During his time away, various events transpired including crucial policy announcements from the Reserve Bank of India, ongoing global conflicts, and even local infrastructure work occurring outside his home. Among the updates awaiting him was news about a friend’s unfortunate life event.

Reflecting on his time away, Sridharan acknowledged that there are trade-offs to disconnecting completely, but he contended that the advantages outweighed any drawbacks. He remarked, “Device and interruption-free time does entail some costs, some sacrifices. But the ability to be 100% present with your family for two weeks? Priceless.”

Reactions from Other Professionals

Several professionals responded to Sridharan’s LinkedIn post, emphasising the need to establish boundaries in an increasingly connected world. One user noted, “Yes, unplugging has a cost, but it’s measurable and recoverable. The benefits, on the other hand, are intangible and irreplaceable,” suggesting that regularly normalising breaks is essential.

Another user commended Sridharan for his dedication to maintaining a separation from work. They highlighted the difficulty of taking a prolonged break at an executive level, stating, “Sixteen days off the grid takes real conviction at the MDCEO level,  respect! The best lesson here: the world doesn’t pause, but it also doesn’t need us as much as we think.”

Some discussions around his post drew attention to underlying leadership lessons related to his experience. One individual reflected on the notion that the world operated smoothly in his absence, suggesting that this illustrates a fundamental leadership quality: the importance of contributing significantly to a company’s mission rather than remaining embroiled in day-to-day tasks.

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