Decorate Your Office

Hosw do von feel When votl step iota your office iii the morning? If you don't feel energised and ready to get on with your day, your surroundings may he to blame. Your environment can affect your health, your productivity, your mood and your pro fcssiun.d image. Mal he there are problem areas in your office that could he imam ed. lien: arc some suggestions for eon: Get Organized
A sworkahie organizational system is the first and most important step in ally office redecoration plan. f here are many sway to organize tiles on the computer, in hinders, in filing cabinets or in neat piles on pourdesk. For example, one scaw to organize files on the computer is to have three folders, one For "things to do,,, one for "en rrcnt projects" and one for .,finished files." F.-matl can he organ¬ized into holders by subject matter or the sender.
If eau choose to file your important documents in binders, you can find col¬orful cloth-covered hinders that will nor only he functional hut will also look attractive.
The system you choose• should he the one that- is most natltral and ConVenient m you. It shnnld allow eon to accom¬plish sour work as efficiently as possible.
To make sure that wane system 11'111 be
Comfortable, scoot sour chair aromld and determine where you Carl easily reach within your workspace. Anything that you need on .1 regular basis should be accessible -within this horseshoe-shaped area around your chair, to your left, right or directly in front of you.

Arrange Your Space
You've probably rearranged the furniture in your house and noticed that certain arrangements seemed all wrong, while others gave you a comfortable feeling. If so, y°oulr been practicing a form of feng shui without knowing it. Feng shui (pro¬nounced Tung shwAY) is the ancient art of placement.
There are many different schools of fang shui, some of which have beliefs that many people consider superstitious, such as the belief that you should not use fur¬niture from a company that has gone under because it will bring had luck. Other schools of fang shui emphasize arranging objects tin a space to create a feeling of harmony and balance. Practitioners of feng shui from all of the various schools believe that the arrange¬ment of objects in an office can affect the employees who work there.
If you'd like to improve your office's feng shui, try these tips from Linda Block, director of the Colorado Feng Shin Guild: Desk: place your desk in a commanding position of power. Have full view of the entry and avoid having your back to a
window or door.
Lighting: Have a well-lit workspace, but try to avoid long exposures to fluorescent lights, particularly if you work in a space without windows.
Sound: try soft, uplifting background music \X4tter fountains promote peace and activate creativity and wealth.
Avoid Clutter: Choose clean over clutter. Too main piles of paper make you feel unproductive, unfocused and over¬whelmed. If you're trying to move forward in your career or your life, get rid of the stacks of paper on your desk, dean out your file cabinet or straighten a closet.
Life in a cubicle: Hang a mirror so you can see the opening behind you if your back is to the opening. Try to personalize your space and brighten it with colors to make it less sterile.
For more information, go to Cough: and search for ' eng shui office.,,

Let in the Light
Tito little light can be dangerous to your health. In some people, it can cause sea¬sonal affective disorder (SAD) which can lead to problems sueh as weight gain and depression. Take this SA I) light test from Ergonomic living by Gordon Inkeics and
Schencke to sec if insufficient light is making you depressed:
• Do you live in a place that has much less light in the winter than in the sum¬mer?
• Do you work nights and sleep days?
• Do you sleep more during the dark parr of the year?
• Do you often feel drowsy and have a hard time getting up in the morning?

• Do you feel irritable and gloomy iii the winter?
• 1)o you feel much better in the snm¬mer?
• Do you feel lethargic during the darker months?
• Does your sweet tooth keep you snack¬ing all afternoon and evening?
• If you are a woman, do yon have troll¬ble With premenstrual syndrome and related carbohydrate cravings?
• I)o y'ou gain weight in the Winter? If you ,answered yes to two or more of these questions, you rirny be suffering from SAL).
Make sure you get more light- ideally natural light-daily. Incandescent light is better than fluorescent light, so it you only have fluorescent light, add an incan¬descent lamp or two to your space.

Add A Personal Touch
Perslmalire your office with pieces that mean something to you, such as photos or awards. Photos can make your office feel more like home and add a touch of the familiar to your workspace. Awards are nintivatinnal because they are reminders of your accomplishments. The], can also Create a processional look in your office. if your art makes you feel alive, successful, inottv:ated and inspired, keep it. If not, find something else.
A great way to try new art for your office is by leasing it. Art galleries are starting to offer this option, and IC allows you the flexibility to try a piece of art in your workspace or office lobby to see how it will look. You can choose to bite it Liter to Create a pennaneiti look or change it Deco>ionallV and update the office decoration with fresh artwork. Check with art galleries in your city to see if they lease artwork.
Loth artwork and wall paint arc great ways to brig; color into an office. "Wall color will create a mood more quickly than anything eke," says lee last, professional interior designer with Forsey's Furniture Galleries in Salt Lake City, 11 ]: If yon want to create "assertive energy," try using active colors like tangerine oranges, lemons, or shades of red or yellow-red.
'16 connote strength and solidity, rich jewel tones eggplant, navy, burgundy, heather gray with cream and taupe or warm browns- will do the trick. If serenity and calm arc what you want, soft blues, greens and flesh-pink hues will help set the tone of your office.

Bring The Outdoors In
Fresh or silk plants bring life and vitality to an office. Only keep thriving, healthy plants. Tina Myers, who works at gayer in Kansas City, MO, is lucky to have a green thumb and plenty of natural light in her office. She offers these tips for growing an African violet, a great plant to add a touch of color to your environment, which she has had great success growing in her office:
• Place iii a spot with bright, filtered light.
• tlse a self-watering pot which waters the violet from the bottom so that its leaves don't get wet.
• Water with cool rather than cold water so that the roots will not get shocked.
• Give plant food to the violet every two months.
• When the blooms start to dry out, snip or pinch them off and the violet will bloom even more.
• Remove any leaves that die.
Have fun redecorating your office!