Whether you work at home or in an office cubicle, you can bring feng shui to your space to set yourself up for success.
Work can be stressful enough, but your office layout and decor could be working against you, too, draining your energy and leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. Fortunately, you don't need a corner suite to bring a little feng shui to your workspace and reap the benefits.
As certified feng shui consultant Nixie Marie explains, "Feng shui teaches us to create balance and harmony with our external environment." From placing your desk in the "Command Position" to bringing in more yang energy with art, family photos, and more, you can use the ancient Chinese practice to increase your overall productivity and motivation while lowering stress-related cortisol levels, says Marie.
No matter where you're working these days, apply the principles of feng shui to create a calm, more productive 9-to-5 environment.
1. Be in Command
Feng shui experts agree that to feel confident and in control, you should place your desk in what is referred to as the Command Position. In this position, your desk is diagonally facing toward the door — not right in line with it. "This allows you to always see the point of entry into the room without being directly in alignment with the door," says Marie.
The Command Position also calls for having a solid wall — one without a window — behind you when possible to help you feel more supported and secure, notes certified feng shui practitioner Alejandra Brady, creator of the "What Should I Feng Shui Today?" oracle card deck.
(Further below are workarounds to a lack of wall and shared office concerns.)
Interested in learning more? Check out Feng Shui for Beginners
2. Bring in Yang Energy
Balancing yin and yang is essential to feng shui, and while much of your home environment should tap into a more calming yin energy, the office — be it a home office or one outside of your living environment — is a place for yang energy. "Yang has more masculine qualities to create action and good momentum for increased productivity," explains Marie.
You can activate yang energy in your space by displaying inspiring artwork, family photos, and career accomplishments, all of which can evoke inspiring emotions, feelings of joy, and powerful and motivating memories.
3. Find the Light
Another important aspect of yang energy is light — ideally natural light from windows to help you feel energized and connected to the outside world, says Kimberly Garner, founder of the School of Holistic Design. "A room without windows drains our energy and limits creative thinking," she adds.
Bonus tip: Try to avoid westerly facing windows, if at all possible. As Garner explains, the afternoon sun can often create a glare on your computer screen, and the intensity of the light may be oppressive and agitating.
Windowless environment? No problem. See below for advice.
Keeping a clutter-free space is essential for attracting good energy. Make it a ritual to clear and organize your desk at the end of the workday.
4. Go Green
Whether you're working from home or going into an office, plants are an easy feng shui addition. "In feng shui, live plants invite the nourishing energy of nature into your space," says Brady. Plants also help purify the air, reduce stress, and increase productivity, she notes.
5. Clear the Clutter
Keeping a clutter-free space is essential for attracting good energy, says Marie. Make it a ritual to clear and organize your desk at the end of the workday. "This will increase your overall productivity and boost your mood, especially when you are feeling stuck on projects."
6. Don't Forget About Digital Clutter
Clutter on your phone and computer can also drain energy. A few times a year, go through your devices to delete old contacts, emails, and photos; cancel unused subscriptions; and organize your apps into folders.
"You could even add burning a little palo santo at the end to clear out any stagnant energy," says Brady. Palo santo, available in wood sticks, helps clear a space and bring in new energy.
7. Follow the Map
In feng shui, practitioners may use the Bagua Map to "determine how to best balance a space and create the most harmonious environment possible," says Brady.
The map is often arranged in a grid with nine energy centers representing nine areas of your life: creativity; prosperity; family; fame and reputation; love and relationships; knowledge; career; helpful people and travel; and the center (considered a neutral area related to overall health and well-being). Each of the nine energy centers is associated with a color and an element.
In addition to helping create balanced energy in the home, the Bagua Map can be applied to individual rooms, says Brady, and, on a smaller scale, to your desk itself.
To "Bagua" your desk, use the map to select and arrange smaller items related to each energy center. For example, Brady recommends something like a family photo or memento in the family area, and reference books in the knowledge area. Need more guidance and inspiration? Check out this example.
Of course, you don't want the items on your desk to get in the way. "You may have to shift them slightly to ease the flow and function," adds Brady.
Feng Shui Tips for Shared Office Spaces
1. Stay in Command
If you work in a corporate setting or cubicle where the Command Position isn't an option, Brady suggests placing a mirror on the wall you're facing so you can still "see" what's coming.
Another option? Hang a red sweater or blanket on the back of your chair. It acts as "an energetic block so you feel protected on the other side," explains Brady.
2. Create Boundaries
In a shared office environment, try to create a subtle separation between you and coworkers. Plants are a great option, but a lamp or small stack of books could also work. "We need a space of our own to focus and not be distracted by the objects of others," says Garner.
3. Print a Bagua Map
If you can't Bagua your desk (because it's too small or you're in a coworking or hybrid space where "hot desking" is the norm), then Brady recommends printing out a Bagua Map and placing it under your laptop. This simple act helps set your intention and attract positive energy.
4. Try the Next Best Thing to Natural Light
Stuck with overhead fluorescent lights? Brady recommends asking your employer if they'll switch to full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs instead of standard ones, which emit a harsh cool-white glow. Full-spectrum bulbs mimic natural daylight and may help improve your focus and mood.
These simple suggestions can have a major impact on how you feel each day when you're at work, providing you with the support you need to approach your tasks with enthusiasm and energy.
