“Quick road trips help me recharge”

Varun Dua, CEO and Co-founder, Coverfox.com talks about managing work and fitness.Managing work-life balanceWork-life balance is probably one of the hardest things to achieve. Starting something is hard on your spouse or family because it involves sacrificing time spent together. It has been a learning curve for me. Recently, I have started setting some rules – like keeping weekends free just for my family, taking a quick road trip to switch-off. Evenings, at home, are about grabbing some comfort food with Sapna, my wife, and catching up a few shows on Netflix. I envy people who efficiently manage time, stress and their schedules in a way that they are able to take time off and travel. It’s a mindset. I’m trying to achieve that. Hopefully, I’ll get there!Being a fit manAbout a year ago, I bought some basic equipment and set up a small gym at home. I have a trainer who comes in early morning, 3-4 times a week, and helps me in strength and functional training. Being disciplined about fitness is hard, but I’ve done it for a year now. So I’m happy about that!Energy high and happinessMy wife is a big dog lover. Two years ago, she adopted two pups. Their energy and excitement, after a long, hard day is sheer joy. Waking up each day to work on something is naturally exhilarating. To add to that, when you reach work to meet a driven young team working hard to solve problems and grow as professionals, it gives you an adrenaline boost.Spiritual dietI’m not a spiritual man. More than spirituality, it is more fulfilling to be able to do something for someone who does not have the means and opportunities.Risk-taker or a micro-plannerA risk-taker – every entrepreneur has to be one. You have to trust your gut. Once you get a direction, you sit with the team to plan and execute. A shift in strategy or a bold move when the chips are down drives an entrepreneur.Handling failure/successYou can’t shy away from failures and work at a startup. There have been moments (and I’m sure there will be more) when you feel that the walls are closing in on you. But one thing I have realised is that there is always a way out.Managing CrisisIn a crisis, I like to take control. Someone has to call the shots in such situations. Right or wrong, you have to take decisions. I believe that a leader of a business has to instill the spirit of ‘we can do it’ and take the responsibility for that decision.When the morale is low, rallying your team is the way to go. You can’t find fault with people/processes at that point. Introspection and course correction come later.The song I like to humPink Floyd’s Wish You Were HereA book that means a lot to me Open by Andre Agassi and The Big Short by Michael LewisA movie that moved meThe Pursuit of Happyness