Office Feng Shui

Organized office … Organized Mind!

What images and feelings come to mind when you think of work? Do you think stress, tension, and tight deadlines? How about boredom, sleepiness, or that urge to just get the day over with? If so then you’re not alone. There are many people in today’s workforce that are not completely satisfied with their work life. What if I said there might be a way to make your work life more stress free, peaceful, productive, prosperous, and overall enjoyable?

In this blog I would like to introduce you to Office Feng Shui. Office Feng Shui will guide you down a path to create simple, conscious living in the workplace that will help you relax while accomplishing plenty at the same time.

To clear your mind, clear your work space.

What is Feng Shui?

The art of Feng Shui is the art of placing and arranging matter and space in the correct manner so that the energy (or Chi) can flow through our space such that harmony with the environment is achieved.  Creating a good energy flow is said to give good luck while creating a bad energy flow is said to give bad luck.

Feng Shui for your Desk

Keeping your personal space in order opens the flow of chi and stimulates your creativity. Try and keep your desk clutter free. Clutter creates stagnation, reduces your effectiveness, and leaves you feeling lethargic and confused. Set up a time each day or week to focus on organization. Each day before you leave try and do a quick overall organization (clear desktop clutter, empty trash can, etc.) Each week set up a day and time to do a more detailed organization of a certain part of your desk (file drawer, computer files, bookshelf, rolodex, e-mail, etc.).

When setting up the location of your desk the best location will have a wall behind you and facing the entrance to your office. Sitting with your back to the door will cause you to feel startled when people enter and body tension from turning around repeatedly. It is also symbolic of turning your back on life’s opportunities. If you can not set up your desk facing the door, place a mirror on your desk or on the wall in front of you so that you can easily have a view of the doorway.

Desktop Map of Success

The desktop map of success is comprised of five interrelated circles that represent different areas of your desktop. Focusing on one, a few, or all of these areas will help to enrich these areas of your work life.

Circle of Calm (bottom left of desk) – When you’re calm and focused, you will succeed in all your projects. If you desire peace and wisdom, place a religious icon or nature postcard in this circle.

Circle of Courage (top left of desk) – It takes courage to tackle all the work challenges that you face day after day. If you desire more prosperity, place a small money tree or a fish bowl in this circle.

Circle of Care (top right of desk) – Demonstrate care and compassion for yourself and those you work with. If you desire more care, place a family photo or flowers in this circle.

Circle of Connections (bottom right of desk) – When you reach out, you can make powerful contacts with clients, coworkers, and everyone else you interact with. If you desire more clients and support, place a small globe of the world in this circle.  This might also be a good spot for your phone.

Circle of Creativity (center of desk) – When all of the other desktop circles are in balance, you will have unlocked the key to unlimited creativity. Let this creative-power spot in the center of your desk be the launch pad for your success. If you desire more success, it is essential that you keep this power spot in perfect order.

Your Computer

Keep your computer and its screen clean. Make sure you set up your computer screen so that you are facing straight towards it. Make sure that there is no glare and that your body is completely at ease while working at it.  Make sure that the contents of your computer are also as organized as your desk. Remember, an organized office equals an organized mind! You can also select a background screen in a color that sooths your eyes. Try purple, blue, or green. You can also display a soothing nature screen saver. Try a nice scene incorporating water which is energizing and symbolic of abundance and health.

Your Phone

Place an attractive cloth (red is a prosperous color) under the phone to help activate its energy and get the phone ringing with positive opportunities.

Keep you phone clean and shiny as a sign of devotion to your work.

Set up your phone on the same side of the desk as your favored listening ear. This way the telephone wire won’t awkwardly cross your desk or computer screen.

Make calls in comfort by using a headset. This will greatly reduce any neck or shoulder tension.

For good luck, try taping a penny or Chinese coin to the base of the phone to generate good fortune.

Display a small card with words of inspiration on the phone, as a reminder to be friendly and attentive during your conversation.

Your Chair

Make sure that you have a chair that feels comfortable and supportive. A good ergonomic chair can go a long way when it comes to productivity in the work place.  If you are not completely comfortable with the chair your company provides you then bring in your favorite chair from home or go out and buy your own. Your comfort will more than repay the effort and expense.

The Sounds of Your Office

The sounds of your office may be creating a distracting aura around you. Try playing some soothing music at a low volume or if your office does not allow music try a “white noise” method of clearing the air. A desktop fountain, fan, or sound machine with natural sounds, all work well to create white noise.

Artwork and Your Office

Use your office artwork to your advantage. Hanging a picture of mountains behind you provides a symbolic wall of support. Do not hang a picture of hills, mountains, or big buildings in front of you. These symbolize insurmountable challenges and obstacles. Instead try hanging a picture of water (ocean, stream, waterfall, etc.) in front of you on your desk or wall. These will give you a soothing reflective mood and are energizing, symbolizing abundance and health. If hung behind you though, they will symbolize missed opportunities.

Other Ways To Bring Good Chi to your Office

Mirrors – Mirrors help to keep good chi moving around your office. Never hang a mirror facing a door or window (it will reflect the good chi right back out of your office), and make sure to hang it so that the reflection will not cut off anyone’s head. Also avoid mirrored tiles (which will break up the good chi).

Lucky Pennies – Affix coins at different locations in your office that you want to see prosperity (cash register, money box, phone etc.) or wrap three coins in a red cloth and place in an area that you want the chi to flow more abundantly.  The number three invites good fortune. 

Plants – Place greenery wherever you want to stimulate enthusiasm and abundance. Make sure to take care of your plants. Dead plants will give bad luck. A plant in a red pot will stimulate income.

Water – Adding water to your space can increase creativity. Try a small fountain or fish bowl in small spaces or a large aquarium in large spaces. Make sure to take care of your water feature and don’t go too big or it will drown your creativity.

Color – Use colors that will get the results you want.

• Green inspires growth in business; it has a calming, relaxing influence.
• Black increases mental activity and improves communications.
• White encourages prosperity and has a calming effect. It also increases determination and mental clarity.
• Yellow and Brown symbolize stability in your life and helps you stay grounded. Yellow also helps you to feel cheerful and optimistic.

Light – The best type of light is incandescent lighting. Fluorescent lights leave you feeling tired and grumpy. Try adding a lamp on your desk if you can’t change out the main lighting. Put it your desk opposite of your dominate hand so that you do not create shadows. Well balanced lighting can alleviate headaches, squinting, and eyestrain.

Feng Shui and your Cubicle

The smaller the space, the more important that you keep it organized. Also try and make your space comfortable even though you’re out in the open. Add pictures of family or nature to create a calm peaceful atmosphere. A small picture with a distant nature scene will make your cubicle seem larger. Gaze at it whenever you are feeling cramped. You can also add a plant at the end of your cubicle to divide your space from heavy traffic and wandering eyes.

I hope these tips help you to create a work space filled with good flowing energy and your work days become days you come to enjoy instead of dread.