The centuries-old Indian art of creating sacred spaces, meets a very recent hybrid work model
As pandemic restrictions ease, many of us have reverted to daily grind of office commutes, while a lucky few still work from home. Vastukar Neeta Sinha from Mumbai-based AstroArchitecture feels that even though ‘work from home’ has become the new normal, thanks to the pandemic we collectively survived through, the energy at an office and one’s home are conflicting and often at odds with each other. “The vibe at home should be that of peace and harmony. The energy of an office is directed more towards goal-setting, achievement and increasing profits. In a work-from-home setting, these energies begin to clash, causing a stressful scenario,” she explains.
However, Sinha does agree that hybrid work models are the way forward, and that even Vastu Shastra has had to take the eponymous home office into consideration in the last two years. She suggests that the key to maintaining work-life balance is to keep your study desk siloed in your residence.
1. Maintain a dedicated workstation
“Always make it a point to sit at the same spot everyday. There is this tendency to slouch with a laptop propped on the thighs, migrating between the bed and the couch,” Sinha feels. Instead, she recommends treating your workstation like an altar, a secluded point of focus that will boost your productivity and efficiency, if you work from there only. After all, work is worship!
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2. Set up your workstation in the right direction
She also suggests that we face the East—the direction of sunrise, or the North—dedicated to Kuber, the Hindu god of wealth and prosperity, or the North East, as all three directions sharpen the intellect.
“As a golden rule, never work with your back facing the entrance of a room,” Sinha says, “it will make you feel restless and high-strung.”
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3. Incorporate invigorating colours
At some point of time, we are all bound to feel stuck while working: “If your work is getting unnecessarily delayed and you face a lot of hurdles, add a few bright orange elements to your chair and desk,” Sinha says.
“If you feel low, inert, irritated or lethargic—then add yellow,” she continues.
If you notice good returns while working from your current work desk, her advice is to add small, red elements.
4. Utilize aromatherapy to enhance your performance
It isn’t unusual to place an oil diffuser, rattan sticks or some potpourri, at a corner of an office desk. Sinha suggests using Kapoor or camphor. “Burn some camphor in a fire-proof bowl as a morning ritual before you begin your workday,” she says, adding “It dispels any accumulated negativity and speeds up progress.”
