Recharge Like a CEO: Mansi Panchal’s Weekend Rituals for Sharp Mondays

 Before I joined FounderX, I believed weekends were for switching off completely. Shut the laptop, binge a show, ignore Monday until it shows up. That was rest, or so I thought.

Then I started interning under Mansi Panchal.

She once said, “Founders don’t rest the way others do, and that’s okay.” And it made more sense the longer I worked with her. Mansi doesn’t disappear on weekends. She shifts gears. Her weekends aren’t about escaping work but staying connected to it in ways that feel energizing, not exhausting.

Take her idea of a Brainstorm Brunch. 

Slow mornings, good food, no pressure. She lets ideas come to her instead of chasing them. I’ve seen her take a casual coffee and turn it into a moment of real clarity. I used to believe inspiration had to be scheduled. Watching her taught me to create space instead.

Then there’s what she calls Network and Chill. 

It’s not networking in the traditional sense. It’s a quick check-in with a friend, a voice note, a relaxed catch-up that unexpectedly turns into a useful idea or connection. It’s natural and real, and often more powerful than any formal pitch.

Her Sundays are even more eye-opening. She treats them like sacred time. No guilt about doing less. Whether it’s going for a walk, sitting quietly, or doing something completely unrelated to work, she focuses on her energy. She reminded me that exhaustion is not a badge of honor. You can't lead, build, or create if you're constantly running on empty.

One thing I found fascinating is how even a simple café visit becomes something she calls Market Research Mingle. She pays attention to trends, product displays, how customers react. It’s not about being on the clock. It’s about staying curious and learning from everyday life.

Before the weekend ends, she wraps it all up with what she calls Plan and Play. She sets her intentions for the week, gets a clear sense of what matters, and then gives herself something lighthearted. A movie, a dinner with friends, or just something that makes her smile.

I came into this internship thinking founders lived chaotic, always-on lives. But what I saw was someone who protects her time and energy while staying in motion. Mansi doesn’t try to turn off her mind. She works with it.

As someone who wants to build something of my own someday, I’m holding on to this lesson: rest isn’t the opposite of ambition.

It’s part of it. And the best ideas often come when you stop trying so hard to have them.