Many of us spend a good chunk of each day sitting at our desks, whether in a home office or a cubicle. The way your workspace is designed can have a huge impact on productivity, either helping you stay focused and motivated or providing distractions and interruptions. Applying the principles of feng shui to your office is one way to foster a calm, productive work environment and create positive energy that carries over into the rest of your life too.
By addressing the energy, or chi, in your office, the ancient Chinese art encourages “better focus, more success and improved overall workflow,” says Leslie Close, a Los Angeles-based interior designer and feng shui expert. Feng shui provides guidelines for a room’s layout, decor, color scheme and other elements that can help promote a positive vibe. “The energy in your office, whether at home or at work, affects how you feel in the space,” Close says. “And how you feel affects your productivity and the quality of your work.” Use these tips to apply feng shui to your office for a happier, more balanced work life.
1. Clear Away Office Clutter
A tidy, clutter-free workspace will help you focus on the task at hand rather than the mess around you. Clear out any unnecessary items from your workspace, such as old paperwork, excess office supplies and other miscellaneous objects. This applies to unseen messes, too. “Don’t forget to clear the clutter in your drawers and on your computer,” Close says. “Just because it’s not on your desktop doesn’t mean it’s not important to shaping the energy of the room.”
