Transform Your Workspace: Feng Shui Strategies to Increase Productivity in Your Home Office

Many of us love the idea of working from home. No more lengthy commutes or the rigidity of a 9-5 office routine can seem like a breath of fresh air. However, those new to the remote-working lifestyle sometimes discover that maintaining productivity outside a traditional office setting has its own set of challenges.

While it can be hard to diagnose exactly why a relaxed working atmosphere doesn’t provide the same level of productivity as an office, it’s likely that some of the common issues revolve around your workspace and its surroundings.

This is where recognizing the benefits of Feng Shui and how it can be applied to your workspace comes into play.

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What exactly is Feng Shui?

While many recognize the term “Feng Shui” and link it to a specific design style, its leading principles go much deeper. This ancient Chinese philosophy is steeped in a rich 4,000-year history and is about much more than just aesthetics.

Translating to “wind and water,” the core of Feng Shui is about creating an optimal energy flow in living spaces. This is known as “chi,” and when properly balanced, it can bring harmony and peace to your surroundings. This design principle is applied in a wide range of spaces, from homes and offices to gardens to anxiety and trauma therapy centers.

A complimenting element of Feng Shui is known as the Bagua. This is an energy map that divides a space into nine different areas, each representing different aspects of life, such as career, relationships and health. The Bagua map is what can be used to help arrange specific elements of your office so that it increases the flow of positive energy and helps to support productivity.

Feng Shui tips to enhance your remote office

While Feng Shui may sound like a fairly complex principle to try and implement into your remote office, the truth is there are simple and practical ways to start benefiting from the practice. Let’s take a look.

READ: 5 Tips for setting up your home office

Proper desk placement

When you think of an ideal home office setup, it all starts and ends with a great work desk. However, while investing in a great, ergonomic desk might be one of the most beneficial office tools you purchase, there can be real downsides if it’s not optimally placed.

In Feng Shui, how you place your desk in your office is important. Your desk should be positioned so you can see the door clearly while not being directly in line with it. This helps balance both security and openness.

If you find yourself in a position where you’re seated with your back to the door, consider placing a small mirror on your desk directed towards the entrance. This way, you can spot anyone coming in and reduce feelings of vulnerability.

Harnessing the Power of Natural Light and Colors

Most of us are programmed to use ceiling lights and lamps to light up our working areas. However, there are significant benefits when being able to allow natural light into your working areas.

Natural light helps to promote alertness and focus in Feng Shui. There are also benefits when choosing earthy tones like light yellow, pale green and beige when it comes to color selection in your office. This can almost be considered a form of art therapy, with the colors helping to keep your mind clear and focused.

READ: How to Utilize Color Psychology to Boost Your Digital Marketing Efforts

Manage your clutter effectively

Many people like to think they function better when working in a state of “organized chaos.” But this thinking goes directly against the philosophy of Feng Shui. Clutter, whether physical or digital, can create an imbalance and chaos in your work environment that doesn’t equate to better productivity.

Instead, take the time to regularly declutter your working space and make it a goal to only have necessary items you actually use within arms reach. This is why it’s important to have proper storage solutions in your office, like drawers, shelves or desktop organizers.

Bringing Nature Into Your Office

Nature plays a big post in Feng Shui principles, and being able to bring it into your workspace as much as possible is important. Introducing natural elements can help establish a more serene working ambiance, making it an effective method to alleviate stress and sharpen concentration.

A popular approach to infuse this Feng Shui principle into your home workspace is through the use of plants. While different plants influence moods differently, it’s often best to opt for low-maintenance varieties such as succulents, peace lilies or snake plants. You can also add more elements of nature, like a running water fountain, to bring in more positive energy.

Careful Placement of Mirrors

Mirrors can be used strategically in an office to enhance its Feng Shui. They can help to redirect energy and make a space look larger and more open. However, while mirrors can help with good Feng Shui, they can also cause harm if placed in the wrong area.

If you place a mirror behind your desk, it is considered a “poison arrow,” which causes restlessness and can be distracting to your work. Whenever possible, mirrors should be placed on the side of your working space so that they reflect the working area and enhance the other elements you’ve placed in it.

Minimize the presence of sharp angles and corners

Not everyone has a choice of the office space they have at home. However, another principle of Feng Shui is trying to avoid what is known as “sha chi.” This is killing energy that can be amplified if your workspace is made up of too many sharp angles or corners.

When arranging your furniture in the office, don’t have sharp edges facing toward your working area. If you don’t have the option of moving or changing the furniture around, you could place plants strategically in certain areas or use fabrics around the furniture that help to smoothen edges.

Let Fung Shui give back your productivity

Whether you’ve been working remotely for some time now or just started, it’s important to create a working environment that gives you the ability to be creative and productive. Applying Feng Shui concepts to your home office can add balance and harmony to your work environment. This, in turn, can lead to more success in both your professional and personal life.

Visionary and healthcare entrepreneur by passion, Licensed Psychologist by training, Dr. Hannah Yang loves creating new possibilities in the world of mental health and wellness. Dr. Yang established Balanced Awakening in 2015 as a niche psychotherapy practice for women. As Balanced Awakening flourishes in Chicago, and soon Miami, she also loves to tap into her passion for design and Feng Shui to create fabulous environments for herself, her team, and clients.