According to the governing principles of feng shui, the ancient art of Chinese space alignment, rejuvenating your life can be as simple as moving things around. Do you find yourself feeling more stressed or anxious when your home is a mess? According to feng shui philosophy, that’s because there is a direct relationship between your space and the way you feel when you’re in it. “There’s a Chinese concept that everything is filled with chi, or with energy, [and] the chi is going through the space,” says R.D. Chin, a feng shui architect in New York City. “You want to have it go in a nice smooth fashion — as easy as possible.” First and foremost, Chin recommends open spaces to encourage the chi, or positive energy flow, to fill your home in a way that best supports you. This can done by paying attention to your space and what makes you feel good or bad when you’re in it. “I think feng shui is much more of a universal human philosophy and the Chinese happened to create words for it,” Chin explains. “We all have spaces. We have our bedroom space, we have our office, we have our apartment, we have New York City, wherever we live — that affects us." We sat down with R.D. Chin to discuss his expert feng shui tips, from proper bed placement to decluttering your work environment, to create zen for the New Year.
1. Clear Your Clutter
“The flow of energy is about having it feel easy to move around from room to room. It feels good,” says Chin. “You don’t want to be tripping over your clothes or stuff to get into a room.” Cleaning up your laundry and putting things back in their place after using them will help you feel less overwhelmed, both in your physical and mental space, so you can finally stop worrying about what’s next on your to-do list. RELATED: How to Tidy Up and Spark Joy in Your Life
2. Make Use of Natural Light
Recent research, published in September 2018 in Harvard Business Review, surveyed over 1,600 North American employees and found that natural light and views of the outdoors were considered the top office perks, outranking perks like on-site cafeterias and fitness centers. The study also found that 47 percent of employees admitted to feeling tired due to the absence of natural light in their office. So open those windows, let the light in, and get that energy flowing.
3. Bring Nature Indoors
“Orchids, bamboo, it could be any plant — just bring some green energy into the space,” says Chin. “They enhance the flow of energy or chi to enjoy the space.” If you have a bare room, try adding a plant to the mix to bring a grounding energy into your space. If you lack a green thumb (hey, no judgement), faux plants can also be a great option.
4. Make Your Bedroom a Sanctuary
“Create an environment that’s very peaceful, or create an environment that really nurtures your soul,” he explains. According to Chin, the placement of furniture in the bedroom merits careful consideration. It is ideal to have a bed situated so you are looking towards the door, though it is thought to be bad luck to have a bed placed so that your feet point directly out the door. Chin also advises his clients to avoid putting large mirrors in the bedroom. In feng shui, large mirrors are thought to create too much energy and prevent restful sleep in the bedroom. Chin’s advice to couples sharing a bedroom is to have matching end tables on each side of the bed. Matching end tables are thought to create a sense of harmony and balance in a couple’s relationship. “Try to keep your bedroom as simple as possible — a couple of these nice elements would be really helpful,” Chin says.
5. Separate Your Home and Work Environment
“Your home energy I would categorize as more of a yin — much more quiet; this is where you want to relax and let go of the things you do during the day,” says Chin. “[Whereas] the office is a much more yang energy — a lot of activities going on; you have your computers, meetings, and lots of walking around.” If you happen to work from home, try to separate a place in your home where you work and a place in your home where you go for comfort and relaxation. RELATED: The Work-Life Balance Conversation We Need to Be Having
6. Get Rid of Electronics in the Bedroom
A new study published in December 2018 in the Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering found that the blue light emitted by smartphone screens throws the body’s circadian rhythm out of whack and reduces levels of melatonin. Even worse, research published in February 2018 in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences linked night exposure to blue light with an increased risk of developing breast and prostate cancer. “By not having these electronics in the bedroom, at least you’re trying to separate the different energies,” says Chin. “The bedroom is really [a place] to rejuvenate your soul and calm yourself. Try to have no TVs, computers, or phones in the bedroom as much as possible.” If you can’t help but look at screens at nightime, try to avoid looking at bright screens a few hours before going to bed.
7. Hang Artwork that is Multidimensional
Chin recommends hanging photographs of nature in your space, or artwork that allows you to look into a distance. “Paintings with layers or a horizon will help reduce stress. It also helps soften the space.”
8. Work in a Commanding Position
“Find a desk where you can see everything in front of you and not have too many people coming from behind you. When you’re in a position where you can see everything, you feel a bit more in control,” he explains. “Your focus and attention will be much better.” Chin also highly recommends adding natural elements, like plants and crystals, to your work space. Natural elements will help bring grounding energy to a place that has more of an intense “fire” energy. RELATED: Financial Stress and Wellness: Understanding the Problem
9. Create a Quiet Space
“Create a quiet time for yourself, even for 5 to 10 minutes, or whatever you can do. If you can, [try to] be in nature, and don’t turn on your phone.” A quiet place for yourself can be anywhere: a room in your home, a place in the city, somewhere in nature, or anywhere you feel like you can just take a breath. “We’re just trying to balance ourselves amid all of this stuff that’s surrounding us,” says Chin. “That’s what feng shui is: It’s a balancing act.”
