Zahir-Ally Kanji: “I structure my day around my energy”

6am

I was briefly a member of the 5am club, but these days it is closer to 6am. I hydrate, read, pray and then head to the gym. I aim to avoid my phone for the first hour – although, realistically, it is usually about 30 minutes.

8.30am

On clinical days, I like to arrive early – usually around 8.30am. I often tell my team: “To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.”

My first task is to review the clinic and read through the patient notes, particularly the small personal details that can make the patient experience feel more individual.

When working from home, I do the school run and am usually at my desk by 9am.

10am

On a clinical morning, I follow Nigel Risner’s advice: “When you’re in the room, be in the room.” That means giving my full attention to the person in front of me – whether that is a patient or a member of the team who needs support.

I protect the morning, while my mind is freshest, for strategic and independent work, including growth, strategy and ideas that require deeper thinking.

12pm

When working from home, I usually eat around midday. It tends to be a quicker lunch, but I make time to see my two-year-old daughter when she is home from nursery.

In practice, lunch is normally around 1pm. I bring something from home and try to get outside for a walk.

3pm

When working from home, my afternoons are generally meeting-focused. I enjoy speaking to people, so scheduling meetings later in the day gives me a natural energy boost and helps me avoid the afternoon slump.

I structure my day around my energy. I save focused thinking for the morning and more interactive work for the afternoon.

I also use my own version of the Pomodoro technique: 45 minutes of concentrated work followed by a 15-minute break. I first used it while studying at university, and it still helps make demanding tasks feel manageable.

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Zahir-Ally Kanji with his family and practice team

6pm

I usually finish work around 6pm, although I have learned that physically stopping work and mentally switching off are two very different things.

I am increasingly conscious of not giving my family the scraps of my time or only being present once I am exhausted. It is still a work in progress.

7pm

Evenings are primarily family time, but I also play football at least twice a week. It is one of the best ways I have found to switch off and de-stress. Playing sport, for 60 to 90 minutes, you forget about everything else and focus entirely on the activity in front of you. I love that sense of escape.

8pm

My ideal midweek dinner is steak and vegetables – although it happens less often than I would like.