How to Use Feng Shui and Ergonomics at the Office

You may not realize it but if you are an office worker or do the majority of your livelyhood sitting at a desk or computer, you need a good comfy spot to position your tush and keep your brain energized. If you've walked away at quitting time with a headache, neck pain and otherwise ill feelings, it may not be just the fault of the annoying coworker sitting behind you!

Two approaches to personal comfort at the office are Feng Shui for interior design and Ergonomics of your office environment.

Feng Shui-(pronounced fung schway) has been an important part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. It is the placement and design of your space (and my space) to enhance the flow of energy. Feng Shui pros advise that by making harmony and balance come to your physical environment, you will bring about good luck and prosperity in all areas of your world. The concept is spreading rapidly in North America and many use it for their homes. Since you spend the majority of your time there, what better place than the office to incorporate the Feng Shui experience?

If your office is at home, Feng Shui experts advise that since energy enters from the front door you should set up your home office in the front of the house. Contrary to this I've also read where having your work area in the back left of the home is also a good place as that is the "prosperity and abundance" area of the home. It is advised that by following the "Bagua", a labeled chart that you can overlay onto the layout of your home or office, you can see what parts of your area need improvement.

Here are a few Feng Shui influenced suggestions:

1. Place candles or plants in significant areas of your space.
2. Put a symbol of your goals somewhere in the office area.
3. Unclutter and get rid of needless items.
4. Use warm light to brighten dark corners
5. These sources used for this article prove to be good reads for more enlightenment: The Feng Shui Doctor : Ancient Skills for Modern Living by Paul Darby and 10-Minute Feng Shui Room by Room : Hundreds of Easy Tips and Techniques for Prosperity, Health, and Happiness by Skye Alexander.

Without going too far into the depths of Feng Shui belief, it is enough to say that an uncluttered approach to keeping your work space happy, could possibly help with your happiness in the long run.

Ergonomics - The contemporary definition of the word refers to designing the workplace environment for maximum safety and efficiency. Painful problems like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can develop if you are repeating tasks within an Ergonomically poor environment. According to the BIFMA Ergonomics Guideline at www.bifma.org/standards/pdfs/UTFFColor.pdf some Ergonomically correct tips are as follows:

1. An adjustable chair is a crucial component of a comfortable office space. If you don't have one, look into getting one as soon as possible.
2. Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet are comfortably flat on the floor.
3. Adjust the arms of the chair so that your arms are supported by them from elbow to wrist. The old belief that no arms on the chair is best is now bogus information.
4. Make sure that items you use most often are within reach.
5. Your computer monitor and keyboard should be at a height that doesn't cause you to slouch, reach repetitively or look upward constantly.

More information on Ergonomics in the office is available at http://www.ergonomics.org/. An excellent book on the subject is Ergonomics For Beginners: A Quick Reference Guide by Jan Dul (Author), B. A. Weerdmeester.

Whether or not Feng Shui or great Ergonomics or (ideally )both is implemented into your office environment, just remember it is your office space. You have a right to be comfortable. Personalize your work place so that you feel energized and you can be happily productive at your job!