For Saankhya Labs CEO, minimalism is the key to effectively work from home

Parag Naik's work from home setup is as simple as it can get.

By Glynda Alves, ET Bureau | Apr 22, 2020, 04.30 PM IST

Naik says that while he misses the social interactions a workplace brings, the flexibility of working hours and the reduction of commute in traffic are big benefits.

An uncluttered space means a clear mind to get the job done. And that’s exactly what Parag Naik, CEO, Saankhya Labs, likes to follow. “My work from home setup is as simple as it can get. I work either out of my bedroom or my living room sofa.” No fancy technology, accessories or extra furniture. “The setup is as minimalistic as it gets with just my laptop and a pair of headphones,” says Naik.

Perks of the job
Naik says that while he misses the social interactions a workplace brings, there are some things he’s okay with taking a break from. “The flexibility of working hours and the reduction of commute in traffic are the big benefits. However, I do miss the social interactions and travelling to meet up with people face-to-face. A lot of my work feeds off social interactions.”

A change in occupation seems to be recreation for Naik, who says that while he takes regular short breaks from his work, this is the time he tries to get some household chores done. Apart from work, Naik is also using this time to try out some new things. “I have taken to cooking meals once in a while and I have also started writing articles and blogs

Downtime destress
I am into long distance running and writing blogs and articles. I have also taken to cooking meals once in a while. “I used to read a lot and had a lot of thoughts but never the time or inclination to write. I find writing therapeutic.” Apart from keeping his mind sharp, Naik also says that he’s gotten more into fitness by doing yoga, “I have started doing Pranayama regularly. I have never spent so much time with my family and kids in the last 5 years.”

And this downtime has led to some introspection as well. “The most improbable events happen and teach us how little we are in control and how we are but a speck in the overall grand scheme of things.” Naik is also discovering new aspects about himself too. “This lockdown has also taught me resilience and adaptation to the new normal. We have seen a few downturns in the past and each time we have come out stronger,” says Naik.

Tired Of Never-Ending Working From Home Shift? 4 Tips To Maintain A Work-Life Balance

1/6

Working from home has become the new normal as companies try to minimise disruptions and keep operations running as close to normal as possible. But with most of us working from home, the lines between "work" and "home" could become quickly blurred.

A few weeks ago, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma took to Twitter to announce that he had been so wrapped up in Zoom meetings (inset from Sharma's Twitter account) that he forgot it was Sunday. And that seems to be the case with most entrepreneurs who are dealing with investor pressure and the stress of a looming economic slowdown.