The pressure to set resolutions, reinvent yourself and “start strong” every January is manufactured. Productivity culture pushes transformation while your body is still processing the year you’ve just lived. Winter in nature is a season of rest, not performance. This final post in our anti-productivity advent calendar is your reminder that you don’t need resolutions, you need time to recover and reconnect with yourself.

Constantly rushing isn't making you more productive, it's keeping your nervous system in survival mode. When you're packed hour to hour with no space to pause, your brain can't tell the difference between a deadline and a genuine threat. Everything feels urgent, high stakes, and critical. Learn how to "slow down to speed up" other practical nervous system regulation strategies in this article.

We explore why productivity is not your identity and how overwork, ‘hustle culture’, burnout and “busyness ” harm wellbeing and workplace inclusion. Learn why many performance issues stem from overload, not ability, and how reconnecting with your values can help you redefine success.

Feeling pressured to “finish strong” this December? This post explores why you don’t need to reinvent yourself for January, impress invisible audiences or push through exhaustion. Learn how reducing noise, honouring your limits and choosing intentional, values-led growth supports your mental and emotional wellbeing, clarity, and a healthier approach to the year ahead.

When you’re exhausted, everything feels urgent. Even small tasks become heavy because your nervous system is overwhelmed. Many people collapse on the sofa or scroll to “rest,” but that kind of passive distraction doesn’t help your body recharge. High-quality rest is intentional and helps your mind and body slow down so you can recover.

Most people try to plan their way into a better year. But if you’re exhausted, no planner or vision board will change how you feel at work or in life. Change comes from rest, discernment and noticing where your values are being pushed aside. Before you map out 2026, give yourself space to recover, listen to yourself and rethink the environments you’re returning to.

We're doing December differently. Our anti-productivity advent calendar is our stand against productivity pressure, unwanted resolutions, and the relentless grind that drains your energy every winter. Over 12 days, we're sharing reminders grounded in emotional intelligence, discernment, self-regulation, and self-care to help you move through the festive season with clarity and ease and step into January without pressure or performance.

Unconscious bias was meant to change how we think but has it just become a corporate excuse? In this piece, we unpack how awareness without accountability keeps workplaces stuck. From tech’s diversity problem to the ethics of AI, we explore why inclusion can’t be automated and what it really takes to build human-centred, equitable cultures that last.

We attended Feast, Melody and Adornment: The Art of Pichvai at the Mall Galleries in London, a landmark exhibition founded by the formidable Pooja Singhal. It’s the first major UK showcase of Pichvai, a 400-year-old sacred painting tradition from India, historically rooted in temple rituals but now beautifully reimagined for contemporary audiences.

If your workplace is carrying on as if nothing is happening, you’re not alone. It’s hard to focus on ‘business as usual’ while witnessing so much violence and injustice. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. But don’t look away. Here are some ways to stay grounded and take action.

Welcome to AT WORK, the debut podcast from Other Box that unpacks the real, messy, and often ignored dynamics of modern workplaces. Season 1 focuses on Narcissism At Work, exposing the toxic traits hiding behind office doors and how to spot them before they sabotage your wellbeing, your team, or your career.

At the Indiaspora: Forum for Good, global leaders gathered to discuss responsible AI, climate resilience, investment and the future of innovation. But a quiet moment at a Hindu temple left a deeper mark on me than the conference. This reflection explores what it means to lead with values in a time obsessed with speed, scale, and disruption and why ethics, inclusion, and humanity can’t be afterthoughts in the age of AI.

A few weeks ago, I had the honour of speaking at the Forum For Good. A global gathering of changemakers from across the Indian diaspora. I shared my journey as a Social Impact Entrepreneur and founder of Other Box, and reflected on how creativity can drive systemic change. What made this trip special was being recognised not despite my unconventional path but because of it. From being welcomed into the new “New Voices” community to witnessing lifelong friendships in motion, it was a reminder of what’s possible when we’re seen, supported, and celebrated.

At Other Box, we’ve always championed economic empowerment for women because financial autonomy means freedom, security, and generational impact. So on a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, I discovered the Women’s Handicraft Centre, a small but powerful creative space dedicated to traditional Emirati crafts and female entrepreneurship. These kinds of spaces, often tucked away, represent what we’re striving for globally. Recognition, respect and reward for women’s work. If you’re ever in Abu Dhabi, don’t miss it.

We produced UNCENSORED, Heleena Theodore’s first solo exhibition. A bold, intimate celebration of divine feminine power, South Asian erotica, and unapologetic self-expression. From heartfelt full-circle moments to stunning Mughal-inspired miniatures, it was more than an event—it was a reclamation. Here's a look behind the scenes, the lessons learned, and the magic we created together.

From launching a culture programme in Copenhagen to prepping a talk on burnout for South Asian creatives and then squeezing in a sold-out art exhibition…we’ve been busy at Other Box HQ. Founder Leyya reflects on a week of wearing many hats, staying intentional, and why slowing down might be the key to sustainable impact.

British Indian artist Heleena Theodore is taking up space with her long-awaited debut solo exhibition, UNCENSORED. Presented by Other Box, this two-day event in East London is bringing erotica, heritage, and unapologetic pleasure to the forefront. Tickets are now live.

The UK government is proposing the biggest cuts to disability benefits on record, slashing over £5 billion in support. These changes won’t just impact individuals, they will also have serious consequences for workplace inclusion. Find out what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can take action in less than 20 seconds.

Ramadan is a sacred month of fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims worldwide. In the workplace, small acts of consideration can make a big impact. From offering flexible working hours to providing quiet spaces for prayer and acknowledging Eid, creating an inclusive environment helps employees feel valued and supported.

A few weeks into 2025, and that nagging feeling about work still hasn’t gone away. Maybe it wasn’t burnout, maybe your role just isn’t working for you anymore and you’re looking for something different. If you find yourself going tick, tick, tick to these signs, it might be time to dust off that CV and start looking…