How to Feng Shui Your Clutter

Whether you are dealing with cramped office space, sharing a desk with a co-worker, or work at home and have difficulty separating recipe cards from business cards, paperclips from earrings, many of us have trouble with overwhelming and invasive clutter in our workspace. The traditional Chinese art of Feng Shui can be used to help rid us of our mess. This ancient method of directing the Qi, or flow of energy, though a physical space holds relevance especially in today’s fast paced society. Taking a few easy steps to help de-clutter your office space using the principles of Feng Shui can have an incredible affect on your work productivity, creating a positive atmosphere conducive to productivity and success.

Things You'll Need

• Organizational products
• Folders
• Filing cabinet
• Pen/pencil holder
• Office space

Instructions

1. Out with the old. Take some time get real with your stuff. Look through all your old boxes of papers; not all of them may be important documents that need to be held on to. If it is not absolutely necessary that you keep it, throw it out. Do this with paperwork, old office supplies, unused gifts and any other miscellaneous items that seem to be lying around. If you don’t use it on a regular basis now, chances are that you won’t do so in the future. The only exceptions are items that you really enjoy having around, like a piece of art or a picture of you with friends. If these items bring a smile to your face, keep them, but if it’s an item you don’t use or even enjoy, waste no time in getting rid of it.

2. Get organized. Now that you have trimmed down the amount of stuff you have lying around, get it organized in a way that works for you. Set up a filing system for your business cards, important documents, and /or client information. Don’t just put all this in a box or folder; label it, date it and have a system of organizing it. If you look up clients by name, alphabetize your filing system, or to keep track of your billing or receipts, use a chronological method of filing. Make sure the system makes sense for your purposes.

3. Make it presentable. Many office supply stores and organizational stores now offer inexpensive office and supply items. Take advantage of these offers. Many of these items can be purchased online, but if you are choosing items such as decorative boxes to go on shelves, be sure to take measurements first to ensure a good fit. Remember, if you spend $50 on photo boxes, filing cabinets, and functional in/out boxes, but save $300 on an office temp, late fees, or lost paperwork due to your clutter, it is money well spent.

4. Set up a system. Once you have done all this work, the key is to keep your new workspace clutter free and organized. Have an established place for all your incoming and outgoing mail. Go through it at the beginning of each day and get rid of what you don’t need and file the rest. Have an inbox for all your coworkers or employees and do not let them put anything on your desk. Go through your inbox once a day. At the end of each day, remove any unnecessary clutter so that you can begin the next day clutter free.

5. Add the final touches. To help improve the overall look of your workspace, try making a few changes with your office walls and furniture if you can. Don't just focus on your desk, focus on the areas around your desk as well. The desk chair should be against a wall if possible and the desk should face outward towards a door or entrance. The walls should contain a few large pieces of artwork instead of many smaller ones. Natural light is best, so try to place seating near a window. With these changes in place and your workspace already de-cluttered, you will enjoy your working environment much more. You’ll be surprised at the positive influence these few ideas can have on your working environment. Business will be invited in, negative energy directed out, harmonious relationships between coworkers will be encouraged, and productivity will ensue.