So, you’ve invested in the latest, greatest office equipment. Your furniture is ergonomically correct and your computer is state-of-the-art. So, why then is it you can’t stand to be in your office?
Could it be its karma is off?
If you believe in feng shui, perhaps.
Feng shui, the latest craze in interior design, has actually been around for quite awhile. The ancient Chinese discipline is based on the belief that the placement of furniture and other elements can increase positive energy flow, enhancing your life.
While at first glance, feng shui might sound like pure superstition, it actually makes sense from a design standpoint. Applying the principles of feng shui to an office improves the way the space flows, making it more efficient and comfortable.
Feng shui, which means wind/water and is pronounced ‘fung shway,’ says you should organize your living space to reflect the natural order of the universe.
In every home or office there is a wealth corner, the area facing the front door. What you put in this corner will dictate your well-being. Leaving the wealth corner empty is not recommended. Filling it with flowers or pictures of children is.
Sarah Rossbach, who has written about feng shui in her books, Feng Shui: The Art of Placement, and Interior Design With Feng Shui, tells of a businessman whose career took off after he moved his desk to face the door.
While that example is extreme, it’s true that eliminating minor annoyances in our environment improves our disposition, increasing the likelihood that we will be happy and successful. For instance, having one’s back to the front door may make you jumpy, which in turn effects productivity. When productivity drops off, the business suffers. When business suffers, you lose money. Struggling to keep business and family afloat, you become unhappy. All of that could have been avoided by paying attention to the principles of feng shui.
To harmonize your office to increase the positive energy flow, locate your work space at the point farthest from the front door. Face the desk toward the entrance. If that’s impossible, hang a mirror above your desk so you can see what’s behind you. If your job requires creativity, use a desk with rounded edges. If your business is of a more financial nature, choose a desk with straight edges.
If your office is dark, use a mirror to reflect light from the windows. Make sure the view is one that makes you feel serene. If not, hang pictures of nature scenes. Another way to increase positive feelings in a work space is to fill it with plants or other living things, such as fish in an aquarium.
If you have a large piece of furniture in your line of site, move it. The feeling of having something hovering over you can lead to feelings of uneasiness, diminishing your sense of well-being. The same goes for shadows. If the lighting in your office casts a shadow on your work area, it could impair your concentration.
Keep your office clutter-free. It doesn’t take a feng shui master to know that sifting through piles of paperwork is not one’s best use of time.
So while practicing feng shui doesn’t mean you can stop investing in cutting edge office equipment, it does mean you should place that great new computer in a spot that faces the door.
