10 Productivity Hacks Used by Top Indian Entrepreneurs

Let me ask you something.

Have you ever felt like 24 hours just aren’t enough?
Like your to-do list keeps growing faster than your startup?
You’re not alone.

As someone who works closely with business leaders and entrepreneurs across India, I’ve often seen that productivity isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what truly matters.

And the best part?

India’s top entrepreneurs have cracked that code.
From managing billion-dollar valuations to building lean, agile startups, these founders have developed battle-tested productivity habits that help them stay ahead — even in chaos.

Let me show you how they do it.

1. The “First Hour, No Screen” Rule – Used by Nithin Kamath (Zerodha)

“If I spend the first hour of the day reacting to messages, I lose control of my day.” — Nithin Kamath

Instead of diving into WhatsApp or email, Nithin blocks the first hour after waking up for deep thinking, reading, or exercise. This sets the tone for intentional work.

Try this:

• Start your day without screens.
  

• Use that time for journaling, planning, or walking in silence.
  

• Protect your mental clarity before distractions flood in.

2. Ruthless Prioritisation — Inspired by Kunal Shah (CRED)

Kunal often talks about opportunity cost — how saying yes to the wrong thing costs you time you could’ve spent on the right thing.

“Don’t confuse being busy with being productive.” — Kunal Shah

He maintains a list of high-leverage problems and focuses only on what moves the needle.

Try this:

• Ask: What is the one task that, if completed today, will make everything else easier or unnecessary?
  

• Eliminate or delegate the rest.

3. Time-Blocking for Energy, Not Just Tasks – Like Falguni Nayar (Nykaa)

Falguni doesn’t just block time for meetings or calls — she aligns her work with her energy levels.

For example:

• Mornings = Strategic thinking
  

• Afternoons = Team interactions
  

• Evenings = Planning & reflection

Try this:

• Track your energy for a week.
  

• Allocate your most important tasks to your peak energy windows.

“Protect your peak performance hours like your revenue depends on it — because it does.” — My personal mantra

4. Inbox Zero with a Twist — Learned from Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola)

Bhavish uses email batching — checking emails only 2-3 times a day. But more importantly, he filters messages by urgency and responds in tiers.

Try this:

• Set auto-replies with expectations.
  

• Use Gmail labels: Urgent, Important, Delegate, Archive
  

• Turn off push notifications for email.

5. The 5-Minute Rule – Practiced by Byju Raveendran (BYJU'S)

Byju follows a simple principle:

If a task takes less than 5 minutes, do it now.

This avoids backlog and helps him stay mentally light. He combines this with on-the-go voice notes to capture thoughts before they’re lost.

Try this:

• Keep a “5-Minute Task List” and knock off quick wins between meetings.
  

• Use tools like Google Keep or Otter to record voice ideas instantly.

6. Delegation Mastery — From Ritesh Agarwal (OYO Rooms)

Ritesh is a strong believer in building systems and trust-based delegation. He focuses only on things that require his unique insight — not things others can do 80% as well.

Try this:

• Use the “Who else can do this?” filter before committing to any task.
  

• Train your team to own outcomes, not just actions.

“If you’re doing everything yourself, you’ve built a job — not a business.” — Ritesh Agarwal

7. Daily ‘Founder Log’ — Habit of Peyush Bansal (Lenskart)

Every night, Peyush reflects on:

• What he did well
  

• What drained him
  

• What he should do differently tomorrow

It’s like a CEO’s daily mirror. This habit builds self-awareness and momentum.

Try this:

• Use a simple Google Doc or Notion page.
  

• Make it a 5-minute evening ritual.
  

• Include business wins, leadership reflections, and emotional check-ins.

8. 90-Minute Deep Work Sprints — Like Nandan Nilekani (Infosys)

Nandan swears by uninterrupted, focused sprints — no meetings, no notifications, just deep work.

“Interruptions are the enemy of innovation.” — Nandan Nilekani

He even schedules thinking time — because innovation needs space.

Try this:

• Use the Pomodoro technique or 90-minute deep work blocks.
  

• Turn your phone on airplane mode.
  

• Inform your team: "I’m in deep work — ping me after 11."

9. Saying “No” More Than “Yes” — Key Practice of Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Info Edge)

Sanjeev once said that what you choose not to do defines your success as much as what you say yes to.

He’s mastered the art of saying a graceful “no” — to meetings, pitches, partnerships — that don’t align with long-term value.

Try this:

• Review your calendar weekly.
  

• Remove meetings that don’t create outcomes.
  

• Don’t default to “yes” — pause, reflect, then respond.

10. Mindfulness + Movement — The Combo Used by Deepinder Goyal (Zomato)

Every morning, Deepinder combines meditation with movement — a walk, a run, yoga. This not only clears mental fog but primes him for creativity.

Try this:

• Start your day with 15–20 minutes of silence and motion.
  

• It boosts dopamine and makes you feel in control — no matter what the day throws at you.

“Movement creates momentum. Stillness creates clarity. You need both.” — Deepinder Goyal

Conclusion: Productivity Is a Practice, Not a Personality

You don’t need to be a machine to be productive.
You just need a few habits, systems, and mindset shifts that align with your strengths.

The best productivity hacks used by India’s top entrepreneurs are:

• Simple
  

• Repeatable
  

• Designed for real life, not perfection

So, which one will you try this week?

Remember, you don’t need more time — you need better choices with the time you already have.

Found this valuable?
Share it with your team — or start a weekly “Productivity Hack Friday” in your startup.