Does your office environment seem to drain the productivity right out of you? If so, you might want to consider using feng shui principles to help supercharge your workspace.
Feng shui is all about being comfortable in your own space. Aside from the physical comfort that comes with following proper ergonomics, comfort can also mean keeping a clear mind and maintaining an organized lifestyle. When applying these feng shui ideas to your office, they create a stress-free work environment. This not only makes for a happier lifestyle, but will also keep you more productive at the office.
Following these office feng shui principles in your desk organization, positioning, room layout, and even wall color can change the way you work at the office.
Organizing with Feng Shui
One of the key principles of feng shui is achieving happiness. One of the the easiest steps towards achieving this is through organizing and removing clutter around the office. The idea is that clearing away clutter helps bring in vital energy which promotes clarity and focus. Overall, 50% of your desk should be cleared. You want to be able to arrive at a clean desk when you get to work and leave with a clean desk at the end of the day. Taking the extra time to organize things correctly and efficiently will help you from having to do it again in a few months.
Another office feng shui idea is keeping an organized schedule that segments your work accordingly. For instance, do your paperwork once per day. Don’t try to multitask, as it will interfere with your working memory. When scheduling, try to always complete difficult tasks first. These are both key productivity hacks.
Feng Shui Desk Position
At first, you wouldn’t think that the position of your desk would make a difference. But according to feng shui, your chair should always see the door. This is known as having a power or commanding position. It symbolizes the ability to see opportunity as it comes through your career.
In shared offices, you’ll want to avoid sitting back to back or face to face. If you absolutely have to sit facing another person, try utilizing a barrier like a plant, or even a computer screen (as long as it is set up high enough.)
How to Feng Shui Your Desk
To get started with laying out your desk, a bagua map is recommended. A bagua map is an ancient instrument used in feng shui developed to help bring overall good Chi energy. When applied to an area, each section aligns with a different aspiration like your career, wisdom, family, etc. Some also have colors and elements associated with them. A good place to apply your bagua map for office feng shui is on your desk or workspace. The chart below will help give you an idea of how to break up your desk using a bagua map.
After you map out the sections, ask yourself which parts of your life and/or business are most important to you or perhaps need some more attention. If there is any specific section you want to focus on in your life, try putting items that promote that related section of the bagua map. For instance, if you want to focus on your family, add a photo of them or place a plant in the “Family & Community” section.
But remember the clutter/organization rule from above - it is important to keep 50% of your desk clear. Here is what a map would look like if applied to your desk.
Feng Shui Your Office Layout
When setting up your office, you will want to make sure that you avoid sharp edges at all costs. Use desks or chairs with curved edges. You also want to choose furniture that speaks of prosperity and success. This creates a good working environment for staff as well as any customers or clients that visit.
When spacing out your desks, try to leave large spaces in the aisles so that energy can move slowly through the room and is not forced to squeeze quickly down corridors. You’ll also want to consider where lighting might cause a glare, because not only is a difficult to work with, but it is also bad for feng shui.
Feng shui is all about keeping the elements in balance. The main elements are wood, earth, metal, fire, and water. Each piece of your office, from the desk you are sitting in to the pictures on the wall represents an element. You don’t want too much of any one element.
Using Feng Shui to Choose Office Colors and Art
When choosing the colors for your office, you can either go with the elemental guide above or choose a general, lighter color. Yellow, sandstone, pale gold, or green work well. If you want to ground or stabilize, you can choose browns or other earth tones. For large offices with open floor plans, it is important to have subtle colors. When you try to incorporate a bright color in a large active room, it can become too distracting and more stressful.
Artwork that you choose should always keep you inspired. Remember, you want to support healthy, positive energy. So, include some of your favorite sayings or mottos.
When taking on a project like this, try not to get overwhelmed. Stress-free is the name of the game. Try not to do too much at once. If you have a large office, take on small pieces first, like your own desk. Inspire your coworkers to get involved and spread the positive energy!
Sources:
- https://www.feng-shui-and-beyond.com/feng-shui-office.html
- https://www.tishamorris.com/2012/05/feng-shui-your-desk/