Up Your Energy: Simple Workspace Feng Shui Principles to Try Today

When you’re busy working, it can be easy to let your workspace fall into a rut—I mean, who has time to redecorate their desk when they’re preparing for next week’s presentation? But because your work environment affects how energized you feel, taking a few minutes right now to optimize your workspace may just make your whole week more productive. Want to try it? Read through these five ways to improve and organize your desk according to feng shui—then get to work!

Think about any time you visited the office of a high-powered CEO (okay, or the last time you watched “The Devil Wears Prada”). Where was the boss’ desk located? Most likely, it was facing the door to the office, in a spot where she or he could see whoever entered the room. Known as the “command position,” this arrangement puts the boss in a position of power over the room. If you have a home office, try moving your workstation to face the door. If you’re in a cubicle, don’t worry, here’s a simple work-around: Place a mirror on your desk so that you can spot anyone approaching.

According to feng shui, an organized desk lets energy flow freely, while one piled with papers blocks this energy. (If you want to read up on this subject, I recommend ordering a copy of Karen Kingston’s classic Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui.) However, you don’t have to be a feng shui master to know that a clutter-free desk will make you more productive, especially if it means you won’t have to worry about knocking over your iced coffee every time you reach for a file folder.

Studies have shown that keeping plants on your desk may make you feel less stressed. In addition to these calming effects, they also help clean the air and make for a prettier workspace. The color green is also one of the best colors to decorate your office with. Feng shui says that green symbolizes energy and new beginnings, while research shows that glancing even briefly at this color correlates with more creative thinking.

Decorating with photos, mottos or art that inspires you can help keep you energized throughout the day. If you have a creative job, making your desk more visually interesting can boost your imagination. Feng shui also suggests keeping a photo of your family nearby to help keep you connected.

If your office doesn’t get a lot of natural sunlight, fight back against the flicker of fluorescent lighting by introducing full spectrum light bulbs that imitate daylight. If you work in an office, you probably can’t control the overhead lighting, but you can ask your coworkers to open the blinds or consider bringing in a small task lamp for your desk. A well-lit workspace not only reduces eye strain, but it also helps you feel more awake.

Ready to decorate your entire desk following feng shui principles? Learn how an energy map can improve your workspace.