Q & A: any Feng Shui tips for schooling from home?
Q: “any Feng Shui tips for schooling from home?”
A: can we all agree 2020 is the year that keeps shouting, “plot twist!”? like, how our homes have become the new classroom.
so, if you have a kiddo(s) schooling from home, let Feng Shui help you institute a little more structure and stability. here are my top 5 suggestions:
ZONE A ‘SCHOOL’ SPACE.
create a designated space where school will happen. you might be tempted (hello, wireless world!) to let class *be* wherever your student lands that day. however, this fluidity interferes with an important signal to the brain – an environmental trigger that says *LEARNING HAPPENS HERE.* a reserved area requires your kid(s) to SHOW UP. and because it is the same space – day in, day out – it minimizes the potential for ‘new’ distractions. and better attention equals better learning!
RESPECT BOUNDARIES.
your teenager might prefer to hole up in their bedroom and ‘school’ from bed. parents, if at all possible, avoid that scenario. i talk a lot about bedrooms – especially for adults – but those same rules apply to our kids’ spaces. bedrooms are our refuge from the world. when we allow classmates and strangers into these spaces virtually, our sacred reprieve becomes contaminated with everyone else’s energy.
now, if your kid has to school from the bedroom, create a spot in the room for school – either at a desk or in a chair. and if the bed is the only option, have them sit at the foot of the bed – instead of cushioned where they sleep.
it might seem over-reaching, but simple choices we make daily literally wire our brains. and for our kids, learning and practicing healthy boundaries now leads them to comfortably communicate clear boundaries later.
AVOID HARSH LIGHTING.
you’ve likely heard me ‘light up’ about the importance of, well, light over the years. light is energizing; it creates a sense of community and safety; and it generously boosts our moods. however, there are distinct differences in the quality of light sources, so keep this in mind where your kiddo schools. bright light may be invigorating – even helpful getting kids into school mode – but day-long exposure is overstimulating. and overstimulation often leads to increased stress levels. choose a space where daylight is dominant, if possible. encourage multiple breaks from the devices and screens throughout the day. and if necessary, periodically switch from overhead lights (yang energy) to lamps (yin energy) – giving your kid a break from that glaring pressure.
INTRODUCE PLANTS.
in my book and on the blog, i’ve discussed the positive health effects of having plants – both at home and in the office. the same exposure holds true for your littles. here’s why: (1) a plant near their school space will shade them from getting screen burn. (2) plants absorb the EMFs coming off the screen / computer and purify the air, which makes breathing easier (and lowers stress levels). (3) plants naturally keep us company – and in a socially distanced school year, that is VITAL!
CLEAN UP EVERY DAY.
this is going to sound a lot like the importance of making your bed, but it has to be said. when the school day is done, pack up the bag; clean up the #sfh area; and put ‘school’ away.
yes, i know the kids will be right back there tomorrow.
yes, i realize this requires finding a space for the school stuff to go.
and, yes, i am aware it feels like more work to do / enforce.
you know what else it does?
it provides your kid a ritual, and rituals are great for countering uncertainty and confusion.
it teaches your kid to not let their work forsake personal time and space.
and it gives them a break from the ‘public intrusion’ that happens when school shows up on their home turf.
A FEW BONUS SUGGESTIONS:
if your kid / teenager seems more focused on what’s happening ‘outside’ the house during the day, move them away from (or partially cover) any large windows nearby.
cleanse the space weekly with a little lavender or eucalyptus spray. if you need to wake the space (or your chicks) mid-week, diffuse the air with lemon, lime, or orange essential oils.
have more than one floor at home? keep the learning pod on the main level as this space has more Yang energy than the rest of the house.
encourage your kids to keep electronics (phones, iPads, etc.) out of the room – and if that’s not possible, require it all be turned off at night!
even though this year has us all in a bit of a freefall, there is some good news here: most learning – no matter where your kid physically attends school – has always happened at home. so, recognize this moment as an opportunity to instill some *good life* habits and rituals that will very likely stay with your kiddo well beyond their years under your roof! xo
