A Day in the Life of a PM

If I show you my task board and say, “I’ll follow up on those ‘In Progress’ and ‘Development Completed’ tasks, then create new ones for the team,” that would be the Shortest Path Method of explaining my day. But hey, I’m a project manager, so let’s use the CPM the Critical Path Method. Any delays in delivering critical information (tasks) will delay the entire article (project), so better stay on track! Ting ??. Bad joke? Whatever. Moving on…

I’m an early bird. And by early, I mean really early. Like, when normal humans are just getting cosy for their beauty sleep, I’m already wide awake, sipping my coffee. Rumour has it that Shah Rukh Khan calls it a night at 5 AM, which is just around my “rise and shine” hour. But let’s not go all Bollywood when my clock hits 3 or 4 AM, I get a “Good night, time to sleep” message from one of my team members. And yes, I may have just revealed myself for checking my phone the moment I woke up.

Oh, and don’t think I’m off to the gym now. Pffft. That’s so not me. I’m more about those early-morning sips of coffee while the world’s still snoring!

Wait, wait… the day is just about to kick off. But first, what do you want to hear about? Are you here for the “my kind of day” vibe, or are you all serious and want the “professional, suit-and-tie” kind of day?

All right then, you want to go into my personal life?

Click here

But if you’re all about the work-mode, no worries just scroll on down for the professional kind

Ok, let's get real now!!!

It all starts at the crack of dawn. I wake up, and grab a glass of water because hydration is key, isn't it? and swiftly move on to my real most viable fuel of the morning, coffee. Now, this is my quiet time, the brief, uninterrupted window before the day’s tasks, meetings, and milestones come crashing in like a fast-approaching deadline. No distractions, no urgent emails pinging in with last-minute scope changes. Just me, my thoughts, and the rhythmic smell of coffee in the background, like the steady progress of a well-executed sprint. My personal kick-off meeting for the day, gather all the thoughts and sit to write most of my blogs and articles. When the first official email notification pops up, that is around 8, time to get to work.

When it is office time, I log into work, and the real ACTION begins. Tasks pile up like user stories on a board, some demanding attention and prioritization. There are emails to check, projects to oversee, and team members needing updates on the progress of various “initiatives.” But in the middle of the project tasks force, there’s always time for some "GAFGAAF" that light-hearted, no-agenda (like most of the meetings ??) banter with office friends that keeps the workplace from feeling too heavy. You know, It’s like a quick standup meeting with no action items, just a reset button for the brain before diving back into the day’s priorities. Now, it feels good. Guys GUFGAAF is a must.

Now, a well-earned break time from the project timeline of the day:

When the clock hits lunchtime, it’s time for my favourite part of the day, lunch. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a much-needed "task on hold" in the middle of the day’s sprint. The work tasks hold for a while, and it’s time to refuel, catch up with colleagues, and maybe even solve some problems that aren’t on today’s to-do list (like which old//new restaurant has the best food to eat, what should we eat today?). Just like a product release needs a buffer period to solve bugs, this is my downtime to refresh before the second half of the day kicks in.

I read that Google provides a sleeping pod for employees, did I hear it right?

Post-lunch, the pace picks up again. Someday it is Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. product owners, and team members everyone has something to discuss, and I’m there to make sure it all stays on track. Someday it is only brainstorming new features, addressing bugs, or discussing feedback from the latest task plan, it’s all about aligning the team and keeping the project moving forward. Of course, coffee is a must to keep the gears turning. My brain runs on caffeine almost as much as it runs on strategy. Every meeting is an opportunity to improve the product, the process, and the overall project flow, this meeting means with the team or lost in thought of myself. If you look at me surprised because I am doing nothing, means I am thinking of something creative that can be implemented in one of the products that we use.

Releases? Oh, those usually happen before lunch. Yeah, I probably should’ve mentioned that earlier! Now, if you’re thinking about those last-hour Friday releases, let me stop you right there. Unless it’s an emergency or some critical bug that’s out to ruin the weekend, I avoid them like a disease. I mean, who wants the team to pull extra hours for something that can totally wait until tomorrow, right? Fridays are for movie releases only ??.

But hey, every now and then, a release comes along that demands some overtime love. And when that happens, we suit up and get it done but only when absolutely necessary.

Last hours of the day: whether it’s a new feature suggestion or a critical UX/UI adjustment, there’s always something to consider, I am available to the team for on-hand clarification. By this time, I’m deep in thought, mentally managing the day’s critical path while ensuring no task is left undone. It’s all about planning ahead, foreseeing risks, and staying agile enough to pivot when needed.

Before the day officially ends, there’s always time for one last dose of GUFGAAF. A quick laugh with the team/colleagues, "a recap of the day’s highlights" (naah!! who talks about the day, it is about new movie releases, banters and all others) having a coffee in hand, I say the casual interaction that keeps the office environment alive.

Clock says Go Home but being a project manager isn’t just about keeping tasks on track; it’s about staying ahead of the game, strategizing, and making sure every wheel in the machine runs smoothly. Whether it’s crafting a new feature, refining the UI/UX, or having a light-hearted GUFGAAF session with colleagues, it’s all part of the journey.

Even when we’re not officially working, there’s always that little voice in the back of my mind thinking about how to improve things — whether it’s a new feature, an enhancement, or better UI/UX. And when an idea strikes, no matter the time, I quickly note it down or message the team like, “Hey, we could try this.” (Quick rule: If anyone replies outside work hours, they owe 20Rs as a fine yes, it’s a thing, at least for one team). Because at the end of the day, project management isn’t just a job; it’s a constant process of improving and refining, and it never really turns off.

.

.

.

Good night LinkedIn.