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by Gloria Ng, The Feng Shui Gal Clearing your desk allows you to have a blank canvas. Nature loves empty space. Somehow more things tend to want to rush in to fill the space. That is how nature works. You pull out all the weeds and there’s a void. Nature just wants to fill it with more weeds or the wind would blow all sorts of litter to fill the spot up! This natural tendency in the universe is actually going to work very well for you. Your desk is just like a garden. With a plot of soil, you have many options of seeds to plant. As with your desk space, set an intention for what you really want to fill it up with. As with a designated plot of soil, you cannot plant everything in a defined amount of space. Same thing with your desk. Be selective. Just choose a few things upon which to center your focus, attention and intention. Here are the top 3 ways to create intentions for your career to place in a prominent area near your desk. 1. Sharpen your focus. If you are wishy-washy with the universe, the results you get are at most wishy-washy and will leave you discontent and even more confused. Clear intentions, on the other hand, will generate clear results. To curb confusion, brainstorm a list of things you wish or desire to do. Notice if there is an underlying core to these items. Notice which one really excites you and even makes you nervous. For example, write a book, try ghostwriting, become a bestselling author – which one has more energy? Which one inspires you more? The most specific and the most intriguing one to achieve is becoming a bestselling author, right? So go with the edgier, more specific goal that helps you get into action. 2. Look for existing models. If you desire to be THE top expert in your field, then clip a newspaper article that talks about a leading expert in your field right now and cut and paste your picture on top with the headline that screams “Top Expert Reveals All” or some other headline that inspires you. Another example: an author aiming to be on the New York Times Bestseller, can cut the cover of her book title and glue it over a current bestselling book. Even if you desire to live or retire somewhere, get a photograph of the place and put your picture in there. 3. If models do not exist, create your ideal with an energizing visual. A collage or dream board or vision board is a wonderful way to presence your goals and keep you on track while achieving these goals. Some people also keep a binder or folder full of inspirational quotes or images that uplift them. Not only is the act of physically creating a visual and gathering the perfect combination of pictures helpful for putting your attention and intention out there, the act of revisiting this visual is equally important. What you put in is what you get out. If you're not inspired with what you have, go back to the drawing board. If this visual continually inspires you as you revisit it, then you are on track! More feng shui tips for your office at http://fengshuigal.com/secret |
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by Gloria Ng, The Feng Shui Gal I've seen many a desk shrouded and crowded over with “extras” that seem to drain people's energy and focus. While these “extras” express a sense of personality, taste, and humanism beyond the job, they can get distracting and even detrimental at times. You can start focusing your energy by eliminating any “extra” stuff around. Here are the top 5 common “extras” I find at people's desk that start to encroach upon their work space and some suggestions for you to manage your desk space. 1. Family Photos: We all have family members, both alive and those who have passed, who touch our lives. To keep things fresh, make sure that the photos remind you of lively energy—whether these photos are of people who are currently alive or not. Best thing to have is just one great picture of the entire family. Not two or three or more of each different pairing or grouping of people in the photos. These photos are not permanent icons on your desk. Any new addition to your family, etc., you can always change the photo. 2. Hobbies: Choose one thing, especially if you already have a family photo you are propping on your desk. Maybe it is an actual baseball you caught for the first time you went to the baseball stadium. Maybe it is a trophy you won at a miniature golf tournament. Maybe it is your first drawing you entered into a city-wide elementary school contest that got on posterboards and buses all over the city. Be selective. Best thing is that you can rotate out your paraphernalia! 3. Stuffed Animals and Other Animal Collections: We know they are cute. However, one too many monkeys gets unmanageable! I have a colleague who has gone to Bali so many times that she collects hanging monkeys that dangle from ceiling to floor. They are cute.... However, be weary of the connotations of “monkey business.” If you are into elephants of different colors, I have the same comment about any “elephant in the room.” Be careful and selective. 4. Plants: Although plants have wonderful air purification, aroma beautification and interior decoration properties, you can still overdo it. I have seen many miniature cacti. Although pretty to look at, they somehow broadcast a certain resistance or defense in an antisocial manner. One plant is enough. 5. Places: Photographs or souvenir items from places you have visited may be interesting to rotate out. Again, be weary of having too many travels displayed. This may connote that you play too much and work too little. Also, be selective about what kinds of photos you put up. For example, a crop circle of a labyrinth would communicate differently from a picture of an abandoned run-down ancient ruin you also explored. Unless you work for National Geographic on the leading edge of ancient discoveries, I would suggest photos that do not have this run-down quality to them—especially if you are interested in advancing your career. For further feng shui tips, visit http://fengshuigal.com/secret
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Many people don't have the time or space to really even think about how to organize or arrange their office desk, especially with the paper clutter. We are often trained to be productive from the start. A little organization goes a long way. Feng shui CAN help with stacks of paperwork! Here's your 30-minute plan of action to sort through your paperwork. 1. Immediately, get a container to establish an inbox. That's it. Then have a blank piece of paper on a clipboard that acts as your To-Do List that tells you what exactly is in your inbox. This list should be on the top of your inbox everyday. Check off each item as you complete it. Take a few minutes each day after work or each day before work to reprioritize the items that have not been checked off. Transfer these to a fresh new sheet. 2. Get a container for your outbox. For now, just have a blank piece of paper on top of your outbox that that clarifies the different routes that you may physically need to take when you go for a walking or stretch break. Examples that may go on this paper are outgoing postal items, another department, another work site, a colleague's office, an off-site errand run (e.g., post office, bank, office supply run), etc. Put these places on that piece of paper. Then number them in a way that maps out your route. By grouping your outbox items together and prioritizing your trip, you can plan most efficient route possible. 3. Get plenty of file folders in preparation for labeling multiple projects. That's it for now. As you sort through your paperwork, if you handle multiple projects at a time, start adding to your To-Do list for each project or subcategory breakdown in their own file folders or compiled onto one piece of paper, if applicable. Example: if you are organizing a conference, don't just group everything into a file folder labeled “Conference.” Break that file folder down into subcategories: vendors, attendees, prospective speakers/presenters, prospective supply or service companies, etc. Remember to keep contact information in one place and any product or service descriptions clearly labeled. Most of these details would be best kept on the computer while what is on your desk is the next appropriate step for each subcategory. Each subcategories' next appropriate step can be compiled onto one piece of paper you can print out fresh everyday. 4. Then, get all your paperwork stacks together. Find a place to spread out into 4 piles: inbox, outbox, file folders, miscellaneous question marks. Have pen and post-it notes or scratch paper handy to label a certain stack of paper with keywords that remind you of what to actually list onto your to-do lists in your inbox, outbox, and file folders. Take time to breathe, hydrate and pace yourself. Make sure to have a recycling bin and trash can near you. 5. Finally, anything that you need to do, put that onto a to-do checkoff list for your inbox. Anything that is not yours or needs to go to another department put in your outbox. Anything you don’t know about put into a miscellaneous file folder and figure out who you need to ask or what you need to research to get it done. I sure hope this process helps you be inspired and motivated to get your desk clean! Let me know how it goes! Fondly, Gloria P.S. I share even more energy success tips here: http://fengshuigal.com/secret |
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by Gloria Ng, The Feng Shui Gal A desk that is truly yours has character and tells people about who you are and what you stand for—even if they were just passing through. A neat meticulous desk is what I had for a long time. In fact, I was a minimalist. I kept the screensaver on default. Every setting was on default. I knew how not to make a mark nor stand out. I was using the avoiding responsibility strategy of: “I'm not staying here long, so I'll keep it as I found it.” In later jobs, I saw the importance of having some character. After all, I was a human being. All organizations and companies are powered by human beings, not machines. Also, my coworkers had started to think I was “standoffish” and difficult to relate to. So I started to realize I could put a more humanistic touch to my desk environment. Here are the top 3 ways to place a unique claim on your desk environment: 1. Change the wallpaper or screensaver on your computer. If you are interested in flowers, then put that up. If you have a photo of your favorite hike, put that up. If you have an affinity with Mount Fuji, then go with that. I would stick to plants and other places in nature, as these kinds of photos convey energy that is naturally circulating in the universe that often is not represented in your workplace. Also, displaying these pictures is an invitation to people to relate to you in a way that is more wholesome than just your job, especially if your job has nothing to do with the natural environment. You will find that you and your coworkers become uplifted from the everyday routine of your job. 2. Get an actual plant. Not only will this actually add a splash of uplifting color and vibrancy to your office or desk, you will also get the benefit of a natural indoor air filter. If you actually have the luxury of having an indoor plant on your desk, definitely utilize this! I am not talking about cut flowers, which is great to have on the occasion of Mother's Day. I am talking about flowers that are growing out of pots. You may already have some favorites from which to choose. One of my favorites to have on my desk is the Gerbera Daisy. One of the great things about this plant is that it removes chemical vapors (including toxic gases) and is rather easy to maintain. An additional plus is that it is not that susceptible to insect infestation. It is also a perennial, so you can be sure it will grow again even after its season passes. 3. Get a rock. You may find various kinds of rocks as you hike along trails. Working on a computer can be very mentally and intellectually stimulating. Rocks, on the other hand, are closer to the earth and definitely to your feet. So they become great allies in helping you feel more grounded and “in your feet” on the job. You may already have some favorites. If not, start with a clear quartz that feels good to you. Get more at http://fengshuigal.com/secret
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