Darrin Zeer - Office Feng Shui: Creating Harmony in Your Work Space

Creating Harmony in Your Work Space

by Darrin Zeer
Illustrations by Frank Montagna

Copyright 2004 by Darrin Zeer.
Illustrations copyright 2004 by Frank Montagna.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Zeer, Darrin.
Office Feng Shui : creating harmony in your workspace / by Darrin Zeer.
p. cm.
eISBN 978-0-8118-7842-5
1. Feng shui. 2. Success in business. 3. Environmental psychology.
I. Title.
BF1779.F4Z44 2004

133.3337--dc21 2003007906

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

http://www.chroniclebooks.com

Organized office...
ORGANIZED MIND!

What if you arrived at work and it felt like home? How would that be?

Work is too often associated with negative images of stress, tension, multitasking, and tight deadlines. Since we all spend so much of our lives on the job, why not transform our offices? Imagine working in an environment that helps you relax while accomplishing plenty at the same time. Office Feng Shui will guide you down a path to create simple, conscious living in the workplace.

Feng shui, considered the art of placement, is a five-thousand-year-old philosophy that originated in China. The term feng shui literally translates to wind and water, symbolizing the subtle energies that flow through our environment. The mystical, creative forces of feng shui are quite simple to put into practice; they require little expense and they produce powerful results. Office Feng Shui offers suggestions on how to create an organized workplace that looks good, feels good, and is empowering to whomever works in it.

Ive translated the ancient Chinese art of feng shui into a modern, practical guide with quick tips so that anyone can easily understand and implement them. Ive also adapted feng shui maps for the desktop and the office. You will find helpful tips whether you are trying to find the best location to sit, cleaning out your files, searching for peace of mind, shuffling the stuff on your desktop, or rearranging your entire office. Experiment with some of these suggestions to see if they dont create pleasant and positive changes in your work attitude, your productivity, and your peace of mind. Try randomly flipping the book open for instant relief, or go to the Quick Help Guide on page 9 to receive some helpful tipAnd remember the Office Feng Shui mantra: To clear your mind, clear your work space.

Take care of your office... its where you spend a large part of each weekday.

For a fresh perspective, look at your work space through a visitors eyes.

Be open to change in yourself and around you.

Pay attention to the details.

Try implementing Office Feng Shui ideas into your work space each day to enjoy more calmness and productivity.

To understand the art of feng shui, its important to be aware of the powerful, hidden forces that surround us.

On a very subtle level, beyond our ability to see, lies an ocean of energy that ebbs and flows in and around us. The Chinese refer to this energy as chi (pronounced chee). In the world of business we need to pay attention to the chi in our work-place. A clean, organized office space with everything in order allows energy to flow and frees you up to calmly mastermind your projects.

Keeping your personal space in order opens the flow of chi and stimulates your creativity.

At times, all of us are affected by messy desk syndrome. Especially during busy times, paper can pile up and chaos can slowly creep in. Clutter creates stagnation, reduces your effectiveness, and leaves you feeling lethargic and confused. Dont be hard on yourselfthis is normal and okay for short periods. Instead of tackling the mess all at once, you may find it helpful and therapeutic to take little organization breaks at various points during your day. Do it first thing in the morning to help you get started on the right foot. Or, try making a weekly date with you and your stuff. One week organize your contacts (Rolodex, address book, etc.), the next week your computer desktop, and so on.

The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.
Seneca

Though your desk has limited space, it is one area in the office where you can freely make feng shui enrichments.

For this book Ive created a Desktop Map of Success, which is divided into five interrelated circles. The five circles are called Calm, Courage, Care, Connections, and Creativity. These are the cornerstones of a successful career. You can meditate on these areas of the desk or turn to Desktop Celebration! on page 20, where you will find specifics on how to enrich these areas of your work life using object placement and other feng shui practices.

When youre calm and focused, you will succeed in all your projects.

It takes courage to tackle all the work challenges that you face day after day.

Demonstrate care and compassion for yourself and those you work with.

When you reach out, you can make powerful contacts with clients, coworkers, and everyone else you interact with.

When all of the other desktop circles are in balance, you will have unlocked the key to unlimited creativity. Let this creative-power spot in the center of your desk be the launchpad for your success.