I sacked off my startup and built Lego this bank holiday

Founders live mostly by the calendar. We have jam-packed schedules and hardly take days off. Bank holidays are no different.

For most of us startup owners, they present an opportunity to catch up rather than go for the usual road trips or lazy mornings that define others. We’re often found juggling Slack pings or Trello tasks, or otherwise, we can’t help but feel guilty for not using the free day to move the business forward.

This past May bank holiday, I thought of going against the grain. Instead of trying to squeeze in that backlog of admin or starting on the next product iteration, I switched off for a change. I didn’t do that consciously to achieve the so-called work-life balance. I just didn’t have much of a choice thanks to my lively daughter!

She got up at 6am, all set to have fun and do everything her heart desired. As I joined in her adventure, I realised I wasn’t obsessing over work like usual. It felt like I was genuinely on a break, without getting bogged down by the stress of having to do more each day.

Amidst her laughing and enthusiastic shouts, I could hear an internal voice whispering, “Shouldn’t you be fixing that spreadsheet or planning that marketing thing right now?”. For once, I tuned out that voice and listened to my heart. It told me to slow down and delight in moments that truly matter.

The reality is that founders carry a weight that often exceeds our capacity. We have internalised the myth that we must always be ‘on’ to be successful. The pressure is so intense that even after a long weekend, we double down on the hustle, denying ourselves the space we desperately need. In our minds, a few extra hours might finally tip the scales.

However, my entire perspective has changed ever since I became a father. I realised children don’t care about your KPIs or product roadmaps, they care about your presence. They are the ones who remind you that there is more to life than climbing the ladder of success. Building meaningful connections and making time for yourself are just as important.

I am not claiming to have cracked the code to founder balance.  I have been far from perfect, as I still spent part of my bank holiday replying to emails I had been putting off. Ironically, some of my clearest thinking about our product direction came after spending the afternoon building a Lego castle and getting my shoes muddy.

That said, I have reconciled with the duality. Some days, I am in fighting mode, actively working every minute of the hour, while on others I’m on the plastic slide in the garden, only half-remembering the spreadsheet I was meant to revise.

I guess that’s the real takeaway. It’s up to you to decide whether you’d like to have the day off or not. Whatever you do, don’t let guilt get the better of you. Your reason for doing so should be based mainly on what balance means to you; frankly, it may shift depending on your season of life.

If you are a founder reading this, you know the drill. Managing a business doesn’t have to be a 24/7 commitment, and it should not come at the cost of things that bring you joy and peace of mind. As you build the life you have dreamed of, don’t forget to live in it, because the regret of missing out can sting more than any guilt you might feel now for taking a day off work.

Honestly, one muddy, noisy, unforgettable Monday is worth far more than any pounds you could make that day.

About Varun Bhanot

Varun Bhanot is Co-founder and CEO of MAGIC AI, the cutting-edge AI mirror that makes high-quality fitness coaching more accessible. Under his leadership, MAGIC AI has raised $5 million in venture funding and earned multiple industry accolades — including being named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. As a new father as well as founder, Varun shares candid insights on balancing parenting and entrepreneurship in his bi-monthly guest column, Startup Daddy.

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