simple shui | 9 ways to cue the career refresh!
every office + creative space has the potential to help us stage our own success. and when our personal working environment looks and feels connected to the reality of success, it punctuates our ambitions with an exclamation point. so, whether you’ve started a new job or are ready to “take off” professionally, here are 9 ways to shui your office like a boss:
- assume the power position. in shui, the ideal placement for a desk is to face the doorway – a little off to the side instead of directly in front of the door. ideally, when arranging an office, we want the solid support of a wall or heavy furniture behind us, like it’s “got our back.” you also want to be able to see anyone entering the office to avoid experiences, like not seeing what’s coming up behind you; people talking behind your back; and/or feeling out of the loop.
- have your own back. a high-back chair says executive; a lower-back chair suggests managerial. in fact, these are often the design terms for filtering the stylistic difference. so, choose accordingly. and if you can’t power position your desk, buy a high back desk chair – and it’ll provide that “i’ve got you” support.
- boost support. horizontal patterns and shapes hold energy in place. so, use this to your advantage when starting a new job or stepping into a new role. hang horizontal art. use square baskets or trays as a catch all. if you have an affinity for stripes, make sure they run horizontally to unify energies and encourage reception.
- clear the desk every day. if i stopped by right now and calculated how much free space there is on your desk, what would my sum be? when a workspace is bogged down by paperwork, guess how we feel? always leave your desk clean + clear when you’re finished. this increases productivity and job satisfaction. if that’s not motivation enough, take one guess what ritual top entrepreneurs around the world have in common? a clean desk. yes, even necessity likes to feel beautiful.
- keep clutter off the floor. otherwise, it weighs new/good business down.
- climb the career ladder. flank tall bookcases behind your desk (if possible) – not only are they a form of protection and support, their shape suggests upward mobility. in addition, any vertical shape energizes its environment. so, switch to vertical stacks + lines to accelerate speed when you feel the doldrums pulling you down.
- go the distance. an open landscape print on a facing wall can be liberating. not only does this bring in nature – a symbol of growth and nourishment – it provides plenty of room to embody and pursue all your big ideas!
- find your flow. when it comes to career energy + Qs, moving water represents prosperity, abundance, and steady flow. you can bring this in with actual moving water – fresh flowers (change the water regularly), a fountain, or a coffee maker. do yourself a solid, though, and make sure the WATER moves into your space. if the water “flows” toward the door, so will all that do(ugh) ray mi.
- shui your home base. give your home office a thorough purge, cleaning, and rearrangement. oftentimes, professional splinters can be held in place by secondary spaces – like your home. revitalizing your home office is like turning the soil – it will promote the idea that life in the new space will have ample resources/nutrients and space to grow/thrive. xo
