How to Feng Shui Your Desk

Last year we ran a blog series on Feng Shui and we are revisiting the topic with a new focus: your work desk. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice in which objects in your home or office are arranged in a way to attract positive energy. When your environment is arranged in the right way for you, it allows the flow of chi, or life force, essential energy. Our previous blog posts included Feng Shui Do’s and Don’ts, Feng Shui Elements, Feng Shui Plants, Positive Effects of Feng Shui, and Feng Shui Colour Concepts.

Does Feng Shui Really Work?

Whether you believe in Feng Shui or not, there is something to say about a practice that has been along so long. However, now there is actual research that supports the basic Feng Shui principles. Feng Shui promotes organization and a reduction of clutter, and studies show that being organized improves time management and boosts productivity. Another research study showed that when natural elements are added to the environment including sunlight, green plants, and physical movement, then employees’ health, happiness, and productivity were all boosted.

Mapping Out Your Desk

Desk Feng Shui Map Photo Credit: Greatist.com

Feng Shui uses a bagua map, like the one pictured above as a kind of blueprint that shows how the places on your desk represent different aspects of your work life and these might even represent goals you have. Here are tips on how to optimize your desk set up for a positive flow of chi.

1. Orient Your Desk: Your desk should be opposite the front door. If this is not possible, then a mirror placed so that you can see the door is a good back up plan. The idea behind this is not turning your back on business or opportunities. You should see the opportunities come through the door in order to seize them.
2. Make Room for Creativity: This is accomplished by getting organized and reducing clutter. Clutter can be computer plugs, papers, or just too much on your desk. Organize everything as best as possible, tie up wires and cords, and put office supplies inside desk drawers instead of on top of the desk. At least 50% of your desk should be clear all the time.
3. Wealth and Prosperity: This is the back left corner of your desk. The colour is purple, if you generate money from your computer, it can go here, or it is a good spot for a plant, a crystal vase, or a jar of change.
4. Fame and Reputation: This is the back middle section of your desk. If you crave the spotlight or attention, put your business cards or nameplate here with something red.
5. Love and Relationships: This section is the back right of your desk. Work relationships could mean focusing on getting along with your boss or co-workers. It can also mean sales goals with customers or clients. The colour for this section is pink.
6. Creativity: The middle right side of the grid is the section on your desk where you can focus on creativity. Add something artistic that is white, silver, gold, or copper here. Or if you are trying to inspire creativity within yourself, it is a great spot for a sketchpad or notebook.
7. Health: The centre of your desk represents health, this area should be clean and clutter free. If you do need to have something in the centre, it should be yellow.
8. Family: The middle left side of the grid represents family. The best way to represent this is with your favourite family photo. A green frame is ideal to complete the Feng Shui set up.
9. Helpful People and Travel: The front right section of your desk represents this. Putting something here that represents your friends or co-workers is great way to enhance the positive flow of chi in this area. If you want it to focus on travel, something that represents your dream vacation can go here or a good luck travel piece if you travel a lot for business.
10. Career: The front and centre space on the grid represents your career. This should also be clutter free, if this is where you place your business cards or name plate, you can add your favourite career inspiration quotes to the holder or back of the name plate.
11. Knowledge and Wisdom: The front left section of your desk represents knowledge and wisdom, it can also be about learning too. The colour for this section is blue. A blue manual or book that you are reading to learn more is ideal here.