Q&A Sunday: How to Improve Focus in Your Home Office

Anjie Cho June 21, 2020

I’m working from home and having a hard time staying focused. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for your question! I think a lot of people who are not used to working from home, or working from home with family around, are in a similar situation. There are definitely a few ways that feng shui can help.

First, you want to make sure your desk is in the commanding position. This means you are able to see the door from where you sit without being directly in line with the door. This position minimizes stress, and it allows you to see any opportunities coming your way.

It’s also important to consider the view from your desk. If your desk is facing a wall, this can represent a block in your career. To fix this, try hanging a mirror at eye level to expand your view. Make sure it’s not too high; you want to be able to see the reflection in the mirror while you are working. It’s also not ideal to face directly towards a window, because your energy will flow outside, rather than staying with the projects you are working on.

You can also place a small round mirror on the ceiling directly above your head where you work. Be sure that it’s fastened securely and that you feel safe. If it’s not fastened securely it could cause more anxiety and make it harder to focus. This mirror will elevate your qi, or energy, and help with mental focus and clarity. In turn, this can help to create more abundance.

Another thing that can help with focus is to clear the clutter off your desk. It’s ok to have a messy desk sometimes, if having your supplies and inspiration in front of you helps you feel creative—but if you’re having a hard time staying on task, you might want to try clearing off your desktop and seeing if that helps. This can be especially helpful when you’re starting a new project.

You can also ring a metal bell before you sit down to work. Metal helps with clarity and efficiency, and the sound of a metal bell can clear your home office space of stagnant energy.

I hope that helps!

by Anjie Cho

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If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

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How to Feng Shui Your At-Home Workspace

Guest User April 22, 2020

Anjie Cho was featured on The Werk

In the midst of these strange and stressful times, the once-annual need to do a spring clean remains a constant (despite the fact that it is, by definition, a chore). Or rather, a laundry list of them: excavate the junk drawer, vacuum under the couch, wipe the counter tops, clean out the closet. For some of us, the clean home that emerges from the clutter is true bliss. But what if spring cleaning could improve the balance and productivity of your apartment (or in this article’s case, your office), instead of just tidying a space? This is the magic of feng shui — in bringing more harmony to your workspace, it also subsequently improves your productivity, not to mention the overall quality of your work.

According to expert Anjie Cho, feng shui “looks at how to improve the flow of energy around you so that you can create the most harmony with your environment and your space.” Importantly, she says that “in terms of your workspace, this affects how well you can concentrate, how well you can do your work, and how you can position yourself so that you can have advantages.”

In other words, feng shui has the potential to do wonders for your work. And if you want to get real specific, Cho says, focus on your desk, which represents your career.

…read full article

Dive deeper into feng shui to transform your life!

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Create sacred spaces that support, and nourish.

Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for a Space With Multiple Doorways

Anjie Cho November 3, 2019

I've set up my home-office in the front dining room of my house. I have a few feng shui adjustments, but I'm unsure whether I need to use them and, if so, where to place them, as I have two doorways. Can you advise?

Nathan R., Queens, NY

Hi Nathan!

Thanks for sending your floor plan and for reading the blog!

You may know that in feng shui, using your dining room table as a desk is not ideal. If you work from home, it's best to purchase a desk and create a separate space for your work, so that you can focus on work while you're there and give yourself space from work when you're off.

That said, if the dining space is all you have, there are certainly adjustments that can help make this area work for you.

Your question is regarding two doors in the dining room area. Two doors are okay, however when you sit at your "desk," you are in line with the doorway to the hallway. This is problematic because the qi from that door comes directly towards you. The relationship of where you sit to the kitchen doorway is fine.

Some options for being in the line of qi based on the hall doorway:

You can hang a feng shui crystal ball halfway between the doorway and where you sit. You can find these in the Holistic Spaces store. This will disperse the qi coming at you from the doorway. If there's already a crystal chandelier above the dining room table, this can be used as a substitution.
Another option is to move the dining table towards the window wall (left side of drawing) so you're not directly in line with the door. This way, you remain in commanding position in relationship to both doors.

Whatever adjustments you choose to make for your dining / office space, keep in mind that it's important to separate your work from your personal life. When you're finished working each day, take time to straighten your desk and say goodnight to your work. If you can, drape a scarf or piece of fabric over your workspace when you are not working. Out of sight, out of mind! This way you'll feel comfortable and relaxed at night, and wake to a desk that's in order and ready for work!

by Anjie Cho