8 easy steps to organize your desk

1. Clear the clutter: If it’s paper, file it, scan it, or throw it away. If it’s something that needs to be taken care of, do it now. Edit your desk essentials – do you really need 15 pens in your pencil holder? Your desk is valuable real estate and should be kept as uncluttered and clean as possible.

2. Sit so that you can see the door clearly. Nobody likes to be surprised when they are focused on their work. If you have a clear view of the door, you can see what’s coming, literally and figuratively.

3. If you have a blank white wall behind your computer screen, it can cause eyestrain and fatigue. If the wall is big enough, add artwork. Something beautiful, inspiring, or action-oriented (a sailboat race, a waterfall, running horses… just make sure it’s an image that has positive meaning to you. DO NOT show artwork of sinking ships, a battlefield or dead or decaying items, all of which provoke negative feelings)

4. Add a healthy live plant to the left corner of your desk. This is symbolically the wealth area of ​​your desk, and you must nurture and care for a healthy growing plant in this area (symbolically you are nurturing and caring for your prosperous career when you care for this plant, so be careful with it). My favorite plants for this area are a lucky bamboo (easy to keep alive), a jade plant (a favorite in Asian culture because its leaves are shaped like coins), or a flowering plant (the orchids are beautiful and have been in bloom for quite some time). DON’T LET THIS PLANT DIE ON YOUR DESK…as soon as it starts to deteriorate, get a new healthy plant to replace it.

5. Add two personal photos to the right side of your desktop, in pretty frames. This is the relationship/love area of ​​your desktop, so choose your photos carefully. I suggest a happy photo of you with your loved ones and a second photo of your children, your pet, or something you love. If you love to travel, you can use a photo of a favorite destination or a place you want to visit.

6. Add a tabletop fountain to the north of your office. Keep it small and elegant. And yes, it should be as close to the north point of the compass as possible in your office. (If you have an I-phone, you can download a free compass app that can easily tell you where north is.) A fountain in the north keeps the vital energy “chi” flowing in your office space. Be sure to keep this source on 24/7, even on weekends and when you’re out of the office. If you turn the fountain on and off, you are turning the energy of prosperity on and off…which will start and stop your career advancement. I love adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil to my fountain, which creates a subtle yet fresh fragrance throughout the day and has the added benefit of helping you stay alert.

7. Add a candy or treat dish to your desk and keep it filled with a popular non-melting treat. Encourage quick visits from your office co-workers. A smile and a happy hello from your co-workers will lift your spirits, keep you engaged, and bring a constant flow of energy to your workspace.

8. Keep positive affirmations handy. You can achieve this in several ways; Famous quotes that inspire you hanging on the wall/computer/or wherever you can see them; Books that inspire or instruct you in career advancement; a screensaver for your computer that has positive or motivational messages. Or add something personal to your desk or office that symbolizes success for you.

Of course, there are many Feng Shui techniques that will apply to your specific office design, but here are some common tips that anyone can incorporate to make a positive change today!