8 easy steps to organize your desk
1. Clear the clutter: If it’s paper, file it away, scan it, or throw it away. If it’s something that needs to be taken care of, do it now. Edit your desk essentials – do you really need 15 pens in your pencil holder? Your desk is valuable real estate and should be as clutter-free and clean as possible.
2. Sit so that you can clearly see the door. Nobody likes to be surprised when they are concentrating on their work. If you have a clear view of the door, you can see what’s coming, literally and figuratively.
3. If you have a blank white wall behind your computer screen, it can cause eyestrain and fatigue. If the wall is big enough, add artwork. Something beautiful, inspiring or action oriented (a sailboat race, a waterfall, running horses… just make sure it’s an image that has positive meaning to you. DO NOT show artwork of sinking ships, a battlefield, or dead or decaying items, all of which provoke negative feelings)
4. Add a healthy live plant to the left corner of your desk. This is symbolically the wealth area of your desk, and you should nurture and care for a healthy growing plant in this area (you are symbolically nurturing and nurturing your prosperous career when you care for this plant, so be aware of that). My favorite plants for this area are lucky bamboo (easy to keep alive), a jade plant (a favorite in Asian culture because its leaves are shaped like coins), or a flowering plant (orchids are beautiful and bloom for quite some time). DON’T LET THIS PLANT DIE ON YOUR DESK…as soon as it starts to go bad, get a new healthy plant to replace it.
5. Add two personal photos to the right side of your desktop, in nice frames. This is the relationship/love area of your desktop, so choose your photos carefully. I suggest a happy photo of you with your loved ones and a second photo of your children, your pet, or something you love. If you love to travel, you can use a photo of a favorite destination or somewhere you want to visit.
6. Add a tabletop fountain to the north side of your office. Keep it small and fancy. And yes, you should be as close as possible to the north point of the compass in your office. (If you have an I-phone, you can download a free compass app that can easily tell you where north is.) A source in the north keeps the vital energy “chi” flowing in your office space. Make sure you keep this source on 24/7, even on weekends and when you’re out of the office. If you turn the fountain on and off, you are turning the energy of prosperity on and off…which will start and stop your career advancement. I love adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil to my fountain, which creates a subtle yet fresh fragrance throughout the day and has the added benefit of helping you stay alert.
7. Add a candy or candy dish to your desk and keep it filled with a popular non-melt treat. Encourage quick visits from your office coworkers. A smile and a happy wave from your coworkers will lift your spirits, keep you engaged, and bring a steady flow of energy to your workspace.
8. Keep positive affirmations handy. You can achieve this in a number of ways; Famous quotes that inspire you posted on the wall/desktop/or wherever you can see them; Books that inspire or instruct you in career advancement; a screen saver for your computer that has positive or motivational messages. Or add something personal to your desk or office that symbolizes success to you.
Of course, there are many Feng Shui techniques that will apply to your specific office design, but here are some common tips that anyone can incorporate to make a positive change today!