“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– Confucius
Working from home requires an appropriate home office setting in order to facilitate a productive work day. Feng Shui shows us that there is more to a home office than having a designated workplace in your home. From how your office is organized to how you sit impacts your productivity. In fact, there are ten easy steps you can take to improving your home office using Feng Shui.
1. Positioning
According to Feng Shui practices, where your desk is positioned in a room can greatly impact your confidence. To create a power position in home office, it is important to choose a contained environment with a solid wall behind you. The power position for your desk is diagonally opposite the door with the chair back against the wall. This position allows you to see who enters your office, easing potential feelings of anxiety.
In addition to the position of the desk, consider using a desk with rounded edges to avoid sharp energy cutting into you as you work.
Ideal desk placement examples from Feng Shui Store
2.Sitting
Like positioning your desk, sitting where you are facing the door is recommended. Once you are in the power position, sitting up straight and in an ergonomic chair guarantees comfort, which will help you focus. Sitting up allows air to flow freely through your body. If you are sharing your home office with your partner or roommates, sitting back to back can be distracting and subconsciously creates mistrust. If you have to share your office, having a visual connection in a shared space is recommended. You could also integrate a desk partition or a beautiful plant to maintain privacy.
3. Declutter
Clutter (like unused items, old projects, and disorganized surfaces) can make the home office uncomfortable and stifling. Being surrounded by objects can hinder your work and block Qi from moving freely through your home. Organizing and decluttering your space creates a more positive working environment and leads to more productivity. A shredder is highly recommended!
4. Focal Point
Feng Shui practices emphasize that each room has a focal point. When you enter your home office, what is your eye drawn to? What feeling does this create? The focal point should lift your eyes up and create positive feelings. Usually, a room’s focal point will be the largest object in the room, so it may be a desk in a home office; however, beautiful artwork or interesting lighting fixtures might also draw the eye, so find what appeals most to you. A beautiful view should be enhanced by a large window – take advantage of the natural light. Inspiring art with memorable quotes or images should compliment your professional work. Whatever focal point you choose to emphasize, make sure it supports your goals and beliefs. The focal point should be personalized and aligned with the individual.
5. Video Conferences
Working from home means utilizing new video conference technology like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. While using this technology for the first time can be daunting, video conferences provide an opportunity to demonstrate professionalism. Start with aesthetics: use a screen or solid wall to create a beautiful background and a contained space. One idea is to use foldable screen dividers to create a paneled, private space. Make sure you are facing a window so natural light illuminates your face on video calls. Using headphones allows your voice to be clearly heard. Putting all of these elements together will ensure successful video conferences.
6. Office Decor
Even though your home office is a place for productivity, it should still reflect your personality. One or two personal objects like photos of loved ones or an inspirational memento can inspire achievement and create the energy for success. Personal objects in the office can uplift you while you are working. Having access to water or tea nearby in a pitcher will encourage you to nourish your body and mind throughout the day. In Feng Shui, it is highly recommended to add an accent color if all of the walls of your office is white.
Consult with Aelita Leto for recommendations on the best way your office can align with your personality and profession.
7. Lighting
While natural sunlight is the most ideal mode of illuminating your home office, you may still need the assistance of electric lighting. Avoid fluorescent lights, as halogen and incandescent bulbs are easier on the eyes and promote better focus. Since much of our time is spent on screens, glasses that filter blue light can make excessive screen time easier on the eyes. It is important to not forgo natural light entirely: take a walk during lunch to spend time in the sunlight. One practice of absorbing sunlight is to face the sun with your eyes closed for 1-3 minutes. This meditation method can help increase your body’s melatonin production.
8. Establishing Boundaries
It is important that, while working from home, your family or housemates understand your boundaries. Interruptions can make it difficult to focus and efficiently complete your work; therefore, you should ask your family or housemates to respect your work hours. At the same time, having an office at home makes it easy for work to overwhelm your homelife. Rituals like putting a cover over your computer when you are done working can help you “come home” from the office. A creative signage on your door can indicate awareness for others about your availability. For example, you can make signs to communicate if you are in a meeting and cannot be disturbed.
9. Diversify
Physically separating your home office from your personal life can help you concentrate better, but staying in the home office all day can be stifling. Find ways to diversify your environment – air out the space every morning. Physically being in nature or having a view of the outside while working can be refreshing and inspiring. If you have a backyard, stepping outside helps change the scenery. Changing location can be refreshing, so consider if you take a call outside. It is important to take breaks and walk around outside of the office to refocus and energize yourself during the work day.
Another way of diversifying your home office is with an adjustable standing desk. Standing while presenting during video conferences can boost your confidence and improve your presentation. A standing desk also allows you to diversify your physicality.
10. Get Creative
Your home office does not necessarily need explicitly “office-like” furnishings. Using more attractive organizational baskets opposed to a metal filing cabinet gives the office more of a personal touch. However, it is important to make your home office just as functional while looking less like a traditional office. Employing your own creativity in the room gives you security and ownership over your office.
These ten steps are just the beginning of how Feng Shui can improve your work life. Feng Shui is a rich art and science that is applicable beyond your home office. With a more personal, comprehensive analysis, you can be on your way to success in work and in life.
Learn how Feng Shui can help you thrive in your best environment through a comprehensive consultation with Feng Shui Master Aelita Leto.
Article by Eliza Hallinan