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!
