For the first time in over four years, I’m going back to work in an office next week. Having spent the last (nearly) half-decade in my own workspace, I have come to enjoy having full control of the contents and layout of that space.
I’ve been looking for ways to maximize personalization while staying within the limits, and I came across this article about Feng Shui in the office. If you’re into Feng Shui, of course, it’s probably overly simplistic, and if you’re not, it’s probably overly vague, but basically it suggests ideas to maximize ch’i.
Now I don’t directly accept Feng Shui, and here’s why: some parts of it make common sense for obvious reasons having nothing to do with mystical forces, while other parts are (under scrutiny) silly. For instance, in the article, the suggestion “DON’T: Keep cacti or sharp plants on your desk, as they create fierce ch’i.” could be re-written as “DON’T: Keep cacti or sharp plants on your desk as you will occasionally brush against them causing pain.” This isn’t “fierce ch’i”, but rather applied common sense.
On the other hand, “DO: Position your computer on the west side of your desk to enhance creativity or on the southeast to generate income.” is irrelevant.
It doesn’t matter which part of your desk the computer sits on, what matters is what you believe about which part of your desk your computer sits on. If I told you that putting all your pens cap-end down in your pen cup would bring you harmony, a mysterious thing happens: you think about inner harmony every time you intentionally put a pen in the holder cap-end down. By thinking about inner harmony, you bring about inner harmony.
This is because your beliefs create your habits and your habits determine your outcome.
There is no mystical ch’i, but the basic concepts of Feng Shui can still be useful: think about what you have, how you use it, and the aesthetics of placement. By thinking about how you organize your office, you naturally create an environment that is pleasing to be in and functionally supportive.
And that makes you more productive and more likely to achieve your goals.
In the news
- Quick-fix mentality plus drugs… yeah, makes sense: Impulsivity Raises Alcoholism Risk
- Suggestions paraphrased: pay attention to your surroundings: Ladders, Swings and More Can Cause Peril
- I think I agree with the patient here: Patient wants right to refuse electroshocks
Quote for the week
Consider your house from an aesthetic point of view. – Anthea Turner
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
