Are you often ‘stressed out' in the office? Do you have trouble maintaing a positive, productive & creative outlook while at work? Are you often many sick?  If you answered yes to one or all of these questions, then you need to take a close look at your office environment. This is the place that you spend eight (8) plus hours a day trying to get work done, juggle phone calls, deal with client conflicts and combat office politics.

Feng Shui, the 4,000-year-old art of placement in one's home and office space, is built on the theory of balance and harmony in your environment. Yet, in the United States, the office is the ‘final frontier' when it comes to incorporating balance and harmony in our workspace.

Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, Donald Trump, Virgin Airways and its billionaire owner Richard Branson, and thousands of wealthy and successful businesspeople all over the world, employ Feng Shui in their office space. Why? Because it works! Companies find that if their employees enjoy where they work, they are happier, less stressed, less likely to get sick and stay with your firm. It only makes sense to respect your office environment and make it a productive, healthy, balanced place to work.

The following are a few Feng Shui concerns that need to be addressed when creating the optimum work environment for you and your employees:

Clutter- This is always a challenge, but the more clutter you work around, the higher the stress level of the company. Clutter that rises above your head, even if it is on a bookshelf, has an oppressive, overpowering feeling. Files left scattered on the floor and in the hallway create tension, anxiety and even depression. In Feng Shui, Chi', the live force energy that has to be able to flow smoothly and undisturbed throughout your office environment. Unobstructed Chi' is a very important component to a healthy work environment. Clutter blocks Chi' and stagnates the energy in the office. Stagnant energy has a heavy, oppressive feeling. It impacts not only your staff's moral, but also productivity. An unproductively office is less money in your pocket. So clean up that clutter now!

Your Desk - The position of your desk dictates power according to Feng Shui doctrine. The desk should be as far away from the door as possible. You should be able to have an unobstructed view of the door from where you sit. If this is impossible, a Feng Shui cure, such as a mirror needs to be employed. Your desk should not be in direct line of the door. Being able to have a clear view of the door in your office equals success and more money in your pocket.

Color - Color affects the mood and tone of your office. Be sure to live with the colors you love. Keep in mind that light colors invigorate, while dark colors and deeper tones can make you and your employees feel oppressed. Too much dark wood has a heavy, ominous feeling. Feng Shui is all about balance. Use lively, energetic colors to accent and uplift the energy. This will help with moral, creativity and productivity.

Adding Plants and A Water Element for Balance- Placing a water feature such as a fountain in your office has a remarkable affect on everyone. Clean, fresh running water is invigorating and also soothing to listen to. Depending on your office size, a larger, wall mounted water feature is preferable over a tabletop one. In Feng Shui, water also equals wealth, so be sure to keep the fountain in good shape and the water clean. Living plants add life to any space. They are also great stress busters and help soak up toxins in the air. Think of plants that have smooth, round leaves such as Fichus or Rubber Plants. Avoid Cactus. That equals cutting Chi' and will have a negative affect on the harmony you are trying to create.

Light- Light is a Feng Shui cure and the right amount of light is important to our health and well being. Indoor lighting is artificial lighting that needs to be bright, like daylight, but not glaring. The healthiest type of light is "full spectrum light" or living light. It consists of all seven (7) colors of the rainbow. This type of light is used in Europe, especially Scandinavia. The Europeans have discovered that their employees had fewer health problems when they installed living light. The unhealthiest light is the fluorescent bulb, which is present in many US offices. Its constant flickering causes headaches, nervousness, eye problems and other health problems.

These are just a few ways you can start to enhance your office environment.  A full Feng Shui consultation will address your company's location and environment in depth and offer practical and potent cures. Feng Shui is very mainstream in most corporate offices in Asia and parts of Europe. They realize that our work environment directly correlates to our health, happiness, creativity and productivity. After all, it's a proven system that has had great success for over 4,000 years.