By Jessica Hoelzel
You can apply feng shui in large and small ways, to enhance your work space and work life. You can do it all at once, or a little here and there as you have the time.
Before you dive in, though, you need to clear out all that clutter! The energy of clutter is distracting and draining. And you’ll need a fresh, clean slate to work from. Click http://day2dayfengshui.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html for my earlier blog post with good tips and tricks.
Next, you’ll need to reflect upon, and get clear about what you need and want from your space:
What do you want your space to look like?
How do you want it to feel?
How do you want it to nurture you?
In which areas do you need support?
Spend some time dreaming about your ideal space. Take some notes. Cut out some pictures of magazines. Put together some ideas and just let them brew. Click http://www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/home-offices/index.html for some lovely inspiration.
Whether you have a corner office suite, a cube or a tiny nook in the kitchen, you can enhance it and make it work for you. Click http://www.askthebuilder.com/341_Maximize_Small_Home_Office_Space.shtml for great small office solutions.
Ultimately, your office should be a place that calls to you, a place that you feel comfortable and confident in, and a place where you can thrive. Happy Dreaming!
More to come on enhancing your office with feng shui…Stay tuned!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Organizing Papers - Oh How Satisfying
By Jessica Hoelzel
I must say, it has been a while since I posted! My commitments have been keeping me quite occupied lately. So, things have been collecting on my desk for “when I have time”. Today I am thoroughly enjoying a day to sort through and deal with paperwork. Getting things crossed off the list, dealt with and into their proper places is satisfying and uplifting. It is a relief to bring finality to their lingering presence on my desk. And uplifting to see it cleared, with no “to-do’s” peering at me hungrily, starved for the attention I need to pay them. Ah, clarity…the open space on the surface of my desk (and in the drawers too) gives me the energy to start something new. Like, say, a short blog post!
I must say, it has been a while since I posted! My commitments have been keeping me quite occupied lately. So, things have been collecting on my desk for “when I have time”. Today I am thoroughly enjoying a day to sort through and deal with paperwork. Getting things crossed off the list, dealt with and into their proper places is satisfying and uplifting. It is a relief to bring finality to their lingering presence on my desk. And uplifting to see it cleared, with no “to-do’s” peering at me hungrily, starved for the attention I need to pay them. Ah, clarity…the open space on the surface of my desk (and in the drawers too) gives me the energy to start something new. Like, say, a short blog post!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Step 2: Clear Your Clutter
By Jessica Hoelzel
When your desk and surface areas in your office are covered with clutter, you can experience:Lack of clear thinking
Difficulty focusing
Lack of creativity
Lack of productivity
Feelings of being scattered
Frustration and overwhelm
Some people say they thrive in a mess, but the fact is the energy of clutter is distracting and draining. Many different pieces of paper, notebooks, publications, binders and other materials all hold the energy of the information they hold and where they came from. They pull you in different directions according to what you are meant to do with them. Even if you are “ignoring” them, or “trying” to work around them, they are crying for your attention and weighing you down with their burden.
Spring is a great time to give yourself the gift of a fresh start. Dig into the clutter, sort it out and eliminate what you don’t need. Then, store what you do need in an efficient way. For example:
Set aside about three hours to start (it will probably take longer, depending on how much stuff there is to go through; papers typically take longer than you think – 100 papers can be condensed in just a short stack)
Gather a bag for recycling, a bag for shredding, a box for things to go elsewhere (that don’t belong in your office), and a box for storage
Sort through your papers and materials, putting them in one of the above receptacles, and in piles by category. Label the piles’ categories with brightly-colored sticky notes
Once you have eliminated what you don’t need, decide on a system for what you do (filing drawers or portable box, trays, decorative boxes)
Keep what you need most often the most accessible. Store records in bankers boxes outside the office, if you can
Shop a store with lots of organizing containers and ideas to fine tune your system over time (my favorites are www.containerstore.com and www.target.com)
Stick with it - clutter is not something you clear and are done with. Things are constantly accumulating. But, if we’re diligent on a day-to-day basis about keeping it functional, we can keep the energy positive and flowing.
When your desk and surface areas in your office are covered with clutter, you can experience:Lack of clear thinking
Difficulty focusing
Lack of creativity
Lack of productivity
Feelings of being scattered
Frustration and overwhelm
Some people say they thrive in a mess, but the fact is the energy of clutter is distracting and draining. Many different pieces of paper, notebooks, publications, binders and other materials all hold the energy of the information they hold and where they came from. They pull you in different directions according to what you are meant to do with them. Even if you are “ignoring” them, or “trying” to work around them, they are crying for your attention and weighing you down with their burden.
Spring is a great time to give yourself the gift of a fresh start. Dig into the clutter, sort it out and eliminate what you don’t need. Then, store what you do need in an efficient way. For example:
Set aside about three hours to start (it will probably take longer, depending on how much stuff there is to go through; papers typically take longer than you think – 100 papers can be condensed in just a short stack)
Gather a bag for recycling, a bag for shredding, a box for things to go elsewhere (that don’t belong in your office), and a box for storage
Sort through your papers and materials, putting them in one of the above receptacles, and in piles by category. Label the piles’ categories with brightly-colored sticky notes
Once you have eliminated what you don’t need, decide on a system for what you do (filing drawers or portable box, trays, decorative boxes)
Keep what you need most often the most accessible. Store records in bankers boxes outside the office, if you can
Shop a store with lots of organizing containers and ideas to fine tune your system over time (my favorites are www.containerstore.com and www.target.com)
Stick with it - clutter is not something you clear and are done with. Things are constantly accumulating. But, if we’re diligent on a day-to-day basis about keeping it functional, we can keep the energy positive and flowing.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Want to feel more in-control of your life? Set your office up for success.
By Jessica Hoelzel
Step 1: Make Sure Your Desk is in the Command Position
Often surprised by things? Burn yourself out by dealing with one crisis after another? Feeling helpless or excluded from decision-making?
Take a look at where is your desk situated in the room. When you sit at your desk you should have a view of the door, but not be too close to it or directly in line with it. Ideally, you should be diagonal from the door. This placement is called the command position. “Command” meaning YOU are in command of your work, time, commitments, planning, even attitude and energy levels.
Position your desk so that it is not “shoved” in a corner. (Thus, “backing you into a corner”, making you feel stuck or helpless.) Many office systems – desk, filing, shelving all in one – are designed this way to maximize functionality. However, these units can be limiting; usually there is only one way they work in the room.
If you are in a cubicle, or it is otherwise impossible for you to see the door, place a mirror on your desk so that you see the reflection of the door in the mirror. This way, you minimize surprises. Things aren’t sneaking up behind you or bowling you over, but instead you can see what is coming.
Doors or entrances are mouths of chi, and special attention needs to be paid so that you are able to receive the opportunities and good fortune that comes in, but protect yourself from being vulnerable to too much coming at you at one time.
Keep following for more to come!
Step 1: Make Sure Your Desk is in the Command Position
Often surprised by things? Burn yourself out by dealing with one crisis after another? Feeling helpless or excluded from decision-making?
Take a look at where is your desk situated in the room. When you sit at your desk you should have a view of the door, but not be too close to it or directly in line with it. Ideally, you should be diagonal from the door. This placement is called the command position. “Command” meaning YOU are in command of your work, time, commitments, planning, even attitude and energy levels.
Position your desk so that it is not “shoved” in a corner. (Thus, “backing you into a corner”, making you feel stuck or helpless.) Many office systems – desk, filing, shelving all in one – are designed this way to maximize functionality. However, these units can be limiting; usually there is only one way they work in the room.
If you are in a cubicle, or it is otherwise impossible for you to see the door, place a mirror on your desk so that you see the reflection of the door in the mirror. This way, you minimize surprises. Things aren’t sneaking up behind you or bowling you over, but instead you can see what is coming.
Doors or entrances are mouths of chi, and special attention needs to be paid so that you are able to receive the opportunities and good fortune that comes in, but protect yourself from being vulnerable to too much coming at you at one time.
Keep following for more to come!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Enhancing the Front Door in Springtime
By Jessica Hoelzel
It’s getting warmer…it’s time!
Lovely springtime. The birds are returning, and we feel revitalization. Their songs and their movements from tree to tree bring us delightful life force energy. The sunshine melting the snow thaws us on the inside. No longer do we cozy up, secure in stillness – now we must get up and DO! As creatures awaken, so do we, needing to get to work.
Take a good look at the front of your house. What do you see? If dead and decaying brown wreaths or garlands are amongst the view, get rid of them! They served their purpose during the holiday season to attract good chi to your space, when they were vibrant and still full of life. The energy of withering life absolutely needs to be cleared out and replaced with something fresh. It is a drain on your personal chi. Any dead flowers remaining from last summer certainly need to go.
Your front door is one of the most important places to put your love and attention towards. It represents a way for all of the abundance and opportunities you desire to enter into your life. Clearing out dead plants is necessary for attracting those things, and to protect yourself. The longer they linger, they pull your energy down with them, or block good chi, which can be detrimental to your health.
As you wait for just the right time of season to place pots of flowers near your door for decoration, clean and clear the front door, porch and stoop of your home. Sweep out dead leaves that may have blown in, the dirt carried in from the roads, or cobwebs that have formed. Wipe down your front door so it glistens.
As you are busy with this work, infuse your intentions into the area – for all that you hope to attract into your life. Your front door can be a beacon for this, if given the right amount of attention and sprucing. And doing so can also protect your energy and therefore your health.
Happy Spring!
Stay tuned for more on Spring Cleaning…
It’s getting warmer…it’s time!
Lovely springtime. The birds are returning, and we feel revitalization. Their songs and their movements from tree to tree bring us delightful life force energy. The sunshine melting the snow thaws us on the inside. No longer do we cozy up, secure in stillness – now we must get up and DO! As creatures awaken, so do we, needing to get to work.
Take a good look at the front of your house. What do you see? If dead and decaying brown wreaths or garlands are amongst the view, get rid of them! They served their purpose during the holiday season to attract good chi to your space, when they were vibrant and still full of life. The energy of withering life absolutely needs to be cleared out and replaced with something fresh. It is a drain on your personal chi. Any dead flowers remaining from last summer certainly need to go.
Your front door is one of the most important places to put your love and attention towards. It represents a way for all of the abundance and opportunities you desire to enter into your life. Clearing out dead plants is necessary for attracting those things, and to protect yourself. The longer they linger, they pull your energy down with them, or block good chi, which can be detrimental to your health.
As you wait for just the right time of season to place pots of flowers near your door for decoration, clean and clear the front door, porch and stoop of your home. Sweep out dead leaves that may have blown in, the dirt carried in from the roads, or cobwebs that have formed. Wipe down your front door so it glistens.
As you are busy with this work, infuse your intentions into the area – for all that you hope to attract into your life. Your front door can be a beacon for this, if given the right amount of attention and sprucing. And doing so can also protect your energy and therefore your health.
Happy Spring!
Stay tuned for more on Spring Cleaning…
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Gearing Up for Spring Cleaning
By Jessica Hoelzel
Who’s ready for spring? We get a lift in the springtime. Naturally it’s due to the increased warm sunshine and growth of new plants, budding leaves and flowers – all good chi! We need good chi, or life force energy, to enhance our vitality after the darkness and quiet of winter. In the spring we are moving from a more yin - a passive and introspective time, to a more yang time, which means being more active and busy in the world.
As winter comes to a close, the door to springtime promise opens…
Spring represents new life. After quieter, introspective times, we transition to taking all that was gained – restored energy and clarity – to start something new. As we soak up the beauty and the stirrings of the natural world around us, we are uplifted and inspired. We are ready.
The element of springtime is wood. It signifies taking initiative, starting something new and upward growth. As the season approaches, prepare yourself by reflecting on what that means to you. You can’t start something new if you are burdened by the old. How will you ensure a fresh start this spring?
Finish up old business
Remove to-do’s hanging over your head
Tie up loose ends and get closure
Pay off debts
Clear your clutter
Dedicate some time to looking at exactly what needs to be done, and plan times to make it happen.
Then dig in. Getting rid of clutter is the first step in Spring Cleaning. Cleaning around it just doesn’t do the trick. Clear out the old, unnecessary things you are holding onto, one-by-one, bit by bit. With your space clear and your load lightened, you can then proceed to giving your space some tender loving care.
Stay tuned for more to come on Spring Cleaning…
Who’s ready for spring? We get a lift in the springtime. Naturally it’s due to the increased warm sunshine and growth of new plants, budding leaves and flowers – all good chi! We need good chi, or life force energy, to enhance our vitality after the darkness and quiet of winter. In the spring we are moving from a more yin - a passive and introspective time, to a more yang time, which means being more active and busy in the world.
As winter comes to a close, the door to springtime promise opens…
Spring represents new life. After quieter, introspective times, we transition to taking all that was gained – restored energy and clarity – to start something new. As we soak up the beauty and the stirrings of the natural world around us, we are uplifted and inspired. We are ready.
The element of springtime is wood. It signifies taking initiative, starting something new and upward growth. As the season approaches, prepare yourself by reflecting on what that means to you. You can’t start something new if you are burdened by the old. How will you ensure a fresh start this spring?
Finish up old business
Remove to-do’s hanging over your head
Tie up loose ends and get closure
Pay off debts
Clear your clutter
Dedicate some time to looking at exactly what needs to be done, and plan times to make it happen.
Then dig in. Getting rid of clutter is the first step in Spring Cleaning. Cleaning around it just doesn’t do the trick. Clear out the old, unnecessary things you are holding onto, one-by-one, bit by bit. With your space clear and your load lightened, you can then proceed to giving your space some tender loving care.
Stay tuned for more to come on Spring Cleaning…
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Are you stuck?
By Jessica Hoelzel
If you are feeling bogged down, frozen, weighted down or stuck, chances are clutter may be to blame. We are connected to everything we own, tied to it with invisible strands of energy. This energy could be light or it might be heavier, depending on our experience and our emotional attachments to it. Like it or not, consciously or not, everything we own and surround ourselves with has an impact on us.
Too many sentimental possessions and general clutter can cause a feeling of oppression, preventing the occupants from moving forward in life.
- Lillian Too, author of 168 Feng Shui Ways to Declutterr Your Home
So if you are feeling stuck, you may want to check out what is going on in the environment around you. Take an inventory of the state of your affairs, feng shui-wise:
What does the environment around you look like?
What does it feel like?
Listen quietly – is it saying anything to you?
What needs your attention?
If you are feeling bogged down, frozen, weighted down or stuck, chances are clutter may be to blame. We are connected to everything we own, tied to it with invisible strands of energy. This energy could be light or it might be heavier, depending on our experience and our emotional attachments to it. Like it or not, consciously or not, everything we own and surround ourselves with has an impact on us.
Too many sentimental possessions and general clutter can cause a feeling of oppression, preventing the occupants from moving forward in life.
- Lillian Too, author of 168 Feng Shui Ways to Declutterr Your Home
So if you are feeling stuck, you may want to check out what is going on in the environment around you. Take an inventory of the state of your affairs, feng shui-wise:
What does the environment around you look like?
What does it feel like?
Listen quietly – is it saying anything to you?
What needs your attention?
Once you let go of some things that are no longer serving you, or deal with some things that may have been burdensome, you will feel lighter. You will feel like you can breathe easier, and have the space to move. Clearing clutter gives you the freedom to move again – in whatever direction you’d like to go.
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