I am a firm believer in keeping things in order – and not just because I (may) have (mild) OCD but because I’d like to get rid of “visual noise”. You know what visual noise is, it’s the kind that is made up of small little things that are out of place and bothers you the whole time – a pile of junk mail, an empty yogurt cup, un-corralled pens, you know the deal. In short, it’s clutter!
You know who else are believers in keeping things in order? Feng Shui practitioners. Most westerners are now getting on board on exploring old eastern traditions and incorporating those practices. Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that teaches us how to balance the energies in any given space—be it a home, office, or garden–in order to assure good fortune for the people inhabiting it.in their lives. Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy [1].
You can use Feng Shui to help create an energizing and productive workspace, be it in your home or at the office. Below are some tips on creating a balanced workspace based on Feng Shui principles.
Desk placement is important.
Place your desk in a position where you can see the main entrance and over-all office traffic. What this does is that it gives you a “no surprises” mindset.
Pictures can brighten your day.
Your desk needs a focal point, and that focal point could be anything that energizes you. Bring a picture of your family, a photo of your pup, your child’s artwork, or a trinket from your favorite vacation spot and set it on a spot on your desk where you can see it and gain energy from it.
Clear the clutter.
I cannot stress this enough. As the saying goes “a cluttered space creates a cluttered mind”. For more tips, read this and this.
Bring in life.
Plants are marvelous for bringing in new energy. They clear the air of stale air and old energy and they bring in life. There are small air purifying plants that can help boost your mood, clean the air, provide aesthetic value, and are nearly impossible to kill (if you’re not blessed with a green thumb). Check with your office manager to see if you can bring in a plant. If so, here are some great examples of air purifying plants [2]:
- Devil’s Ivy
- Aglaonema
- Ficus Benjamina
- Zamioculcas Zamiifolia
- Bromeliads
- Philodendron
- Peace lily
- Dracaena
- Sansevieria
- Cacti
These tips are all based on the principles of Feng Shui which is all about balance and harmony. You may or may not believe in Feng Shui but it doesn’t hurt to try these tips on for size on your workspace if you’re having trouble with balance or would just like to redecorate.
What other workspace boosts do you know of? Care to share them with us? As always, stay humble and hustle hard.
Written by: Jaie O. – The Help
References:
- https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-feng-shui-1275060
- https://www.ambius.co.uk/blog/top-10-best-plants-for-your-desk-at-work/