I love being paperless. Not only does it save trees, time, and space, it keeps my visual environment clear of clutter. Overall, being paperless lends itself to a better feng shui-ed space.

Or does it?

We still have the same amount of ‘information’ (arguably much more than ever before) filed and stored as before our Digital Age. It’s just floating around instead of stacked in file folders, cabinets, closets, desks, and so on. Information – which is really just energy – has essentially become less dense, but nevertheless it’s still energy. Instead of manila file folders in a filing cabinet, we can store the same information in a digital file folder on a computer and perhaps even on our smart phone. And so is the case with photos, addresses, phone numbers, tax returns, money, and virtually any piece of information you can think of.

In fact, the Digital Age is even turning physical objects into etherical energy. After all, my iPhone can morph into an alarm clock, a zen garden, a newspaper, a camera, a voice recorder, a board game, a Bagua Map, a flashlight and much more. Amazing! Before long, it might just become my nightstand.

As we have become less dense with this digital revolution, we still have to be mindful of the energy that floats around us. While we may have less physical objects around us, we are still overwhelmed with information. And so we must be conscious of what ‘information energy’ we have hanging around us that might in fact be clutter. (Clutter being anything that is no longer in our highest and best interest to keep.) Here are five places where digital clutter may be lurking in the ethers near you:

1. Phone contacts – When was the last time you updated your phone contacts? Chances are, there are people in your contacts that you no longer socialize with, do business with, or want to talk to. Clear them out. Although your phone may be able to hold a 1000 more contacts, you still need to make space for new people to come into your life. This is a great way to bring new people into your life – business, friends, or romance.
2. Computer file folders – If your computer file folders were in a filing cabinet, would it be bulging over by now? Probably so. Clean them out. Better yet, organize them while you’re cleaning them out if you haven’t already. And still while you’re at it, take the time to back up your important documents. Store any documents that you would be lost without if your computer crashed on a zip drive, or email them to yourself, or upload to Google docs so that they are stored somewhere else besides your hard drive.
3. Photos – Staying on top of photos seems just as difficult digitally as it was back when we had negatives. They at least don’t take up as much space, but that’s because we never get them printed! Are your digital photos strewn all around your computer, along with various online companies depending on who has the best deal? If so, take the time to store them all in one place on your computer in labeled folders. Commit to one online photo company so that all of your photos to be printed are in one place. And then have the ones you want to keep printed. The photo book option that most companies have is great for those of who don’t do scapbooking as a hobby.
4. Desktop icons/Phone apps – Is your computer desktop full of icons that you rarely, if ever, use?   These can cause some serious visual clutter that can lead to a cluttered mind. Sift through your icons to see if there are some you can remove. Removing the icon doesn’t remove the software, so you can still access the Program if later desired. Of course, this isn’t the case with phone apps. Periodically, go through your phone apps and delete the ones that didn’t live up to their hype or that you’ve lost interest in. It will just highlight the ones that you do use and love.
5. Bookmarks – Has your list of bookmarks become so lengthy that you feel like you are surfing the entire web trying to find something. Go through your bookmarks and delete the ones that are no longer of interest to you. For bookmarks you want to keep but don’t use that often, categorize them into folders, such as Recipes, Travel, and Good Ideas. In doing so, you may come across some great bookmark sites you’ve forgotten about. This is what clutter does – it hides the good stuff.

Where else do you have digital clutter?

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, blogs or books, a writer spends her day pouring herself out, emotionally and intellectually, onto paper and into the world. It can be a very vulnerable place. This is one reason why having an office space is so important and, more specifically, having your own office space – a space that is yours and yours alone without distraction.

Location

Bloggers usually work from home, again, thanks to the low overhead. But, finding adequate office space comes with challenges. If square footage is an issue, then home offices become an afterthought only to find themselves sharing space with a guest room, kitchen table, or the corner of the living room. And so it takes some creative planning of a space to make a home office work for writers.

The first step is to select one location for your workspace. Ideally, this is a designated home office. But, it could be a sitting chair, your bed, or the kitchen table. Whatever the space, it is important that you make this your space. In other words, this is the place you go to write. Similar to meditation, when you use the same space, it will help you drop in quicker to the flow. Also, in doing so, you are making writing a priority.

A note about writing in coffee shops: Some people need the stimulation of other people around them to get motivated to write. For others, however, it can be very distracting. So, experiment and notice what works best for you.

Desk Placement

The most important consideration for any office is desk placement. When sitting at your desk, you should be in “Command Position”. Simply put, this is the position that makes you most ‘in command.’ Every room has a Command Position. The Command Position emerges from our instinctive need to have visible control of our environment.

The ideal Command Position would be with a view of the door from your chair, a view out a window, and a solid wall behind you. This may mean moving your desk into the room away from the wall. If this is absolutely not possible, then place a mirror to where you can see the entrance in the mirror. If you do not use a desk, but instead a counter or even your lap, it is still important to face the door entering the room. You want to feel in power and confident in your space – whether you are home alone or working amongst a 100 colleagues in a business office.

In this photo, the writer’s office also doubles as a guest room. The desk faces the door, but is not directly in line with the door (that would result in too much chi energy coming in). It would be better if the window was not right behind her. Why? A wall behind you provides support and for writers in an isolated profession, feeling supported is crucial. Keeping the blind closed is helpful so that there is not a feeling of being exposed.

Clear Clutter

Also notice in this picture the lack of clutter. It is imperative to have an uncluttered space when writing. Our mind is directly affected by our environment. So once you designate your workspace, then declutter it.

Size of Desk

The size of your desk will depend on your preference. Everyone likes or requires a different amount of surface area. For some, an executive-size desk makes them feel more powerful. For others, it’s just another place to collect clutter. I prefer a desk that will fit my laptop, tea, and my cell phone. I work virtually paperless and prefer to keep everything either on my phone or computer. In this picture of my previous office, you can see that while my desk is relatively small, it takes center stage in my office. It faces the door without being in direct line and not being right in front of the window either. Find a desk or surface that fits your style and is comfortable. If you are physically cramped, then your creative juices will not be free-flowing.

As said in Field of Dreams, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and so is the case if you designate a workspace that feels good to you. You will be more likely to write, enjoy writing, and be successful in your writing.

______________________________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

ORDER FENG SHUI YOUR LIFE NOW!

This is a repost from Unclutterer.com.

We all know that a cluttered home or cluttered desk causes a cluttered mind. But researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have backed this claim up. They published the results of a study they conducted in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience that relates directly to uncluttered and organized living. From their report “Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex”:

Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system.

Or, to paraphrase in non-neuroscience jargon:

When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.

The clutter competes for your attention in the same way a toddler might stand next to you annoyingly repeating, “candy, candy, candy, candy, I want candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy …” Even though you might be able to focus a little, you’re still aware that a screaming toddler is also vying for your attention. The annoyance also wears down your mental resources and you’re more likely to become frustrated.

The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other physiological measurement tools to map the brain’s responses to organized and disorganized stimuli and to monitor task performance. The conclusions were strong — if you want to focus to the best of your ability and process information as effectively as possible, you need to clear the clutter from your home and work environment.

This research shows that you will be less irritable, more productive, distracted less often, and able to process information better with an uncluttered and organized home and office.

Thanks Unclutterer.com!

Did you know that, similar to tv ads, we have subliminal messages all over our home?

Since we live, breathe, eat, and work in our home, it becomes one of those environments where we start to lose objectivity of our surroundings. Perhaps there is a lamp in the corner that you don’t particularly like, but have just gotten used to it to where you don’t even notice it anymore. Or do you?

Your conscious mind may not, but your subconscious mind certainly notices it, remembers it, and stores all memories and associations with that lamp. Imagine then what it picks up with family photos on the wall.

Your home may be lurking with subconscious minefields that are negatively programming your mind. Do you have furniture that is broken or leaning? What subconscious meanings are the images in pictures or artwork depicting? Do you have items sitting around that you don’t really like, but feel you should keep for one reason or another?

Because our subconscious has no filter, it constantly picks up literal messages.

So, for example, a cracked mirror could distort the way you see yourself. A desk with a wobbly leg can affect how you stand up for yourself. And, of course, a cluttered desk or room always leads to a cluttered mind.

While these subconscious minefields are powerful, they are as easily changeable.

First, take an objective look around your home.  Look at the imagery in your artwork.  See your furniture and accessories as if it’s the first time.  If you are unsure what a particular symbol means to your subconscious mind, then look it up in a dream dictionary.

Then, plant positive imagery in the form of photos, artwork, or even affirmations around your home. Also, any items that you don’t just love, get rid of them. Chances are your subconscious mind really doesn’t like it! Become conscious of your surroundings and you will become more conscious throughout your daily life.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Also check out the NEW Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook.  NOW AVAILABLE!

In Feng Shui we call this the ‘Command Position.’

The Command Position is used to position our desk with the same rules applying to our bed. The rule is that you want to be facing the door (but not directly across from the door). The point is that this is psychologically where we feel the most in Command. This applies even if you work from home and no one ever comes into your office. You still will feel more in command, more in charge, and more powerful in this position. That energy will emanate throughout your work and work day as a result.

I recently noticed that I subconsciously (and now consciously) seek out the Command Position wherever I go. For example, at the gym. I use the treadmills that are situated in the best spot of the gym: I can see everyone who comes through the door; I can see out the windows; and better yet, I am looking off the 2^nd floor. I find myself doing this at Starbucks too and other places where I get to seat myself.

I must admit that it’s partly to see if I know anyone coming in the door. But I also feel more in charge of my day. We all know location, location, location is the crux of real estate. And this too is the case on a more micro level. The corner office, the penthouse, and the cat bird’s seat have long been the sought after locations. So when you have the opportunity, take the power spot. Choose power. You may be surprised at how your life shifts.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Also check out the NEW Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook.  NOW AVAILABLE!

One of the best things about being a writer is that there is virtually no overhead. All you pretty much need is a computer and some discipline. However, it is for this reason that a designated office space is often overlooked for writers, not to mention a feng shui-ed office space.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, blogs or books, a writer spends her day pouring herself out, emotionally and intellectually, onto paper and into the world. It can be a very vulnerable place. This is one reason why having an office space is so important and, more specifically, having your own office space – a space that is yours and yours alone without distraction.

Location

Writers usually work from home, again, thanks to the low overhead. But, finding adequate office space comes with challenges. If square footage is an issue, then home offices become an afterthought only to find themselves sharing space with a guest room, kitchen table, or the corner of the living room. And so it takes some creative planning of a space to make a home office work for writers.

The first step is to select one location for your workspace. Ideally, this is a designated home office. But, it could be a sitting chair, your bed, or the kitchen table. Whatever the space, it is important that you make this your space. In other words, this is the place you go to write. Similar to meditation, when you use the same space, it will help you drop in quicker to the flow. Also, in doing so, you are making writing a priority.

A note about writing in coffee shops: Some people need the stimulation of other people around them to get motivated to write. For others, however, it can be very distracting. So, experiment and notice what works best for you.

Desk Placement

To recap my article, Feng Shui for the Workplace: Where to Place Your Desk, there are a few things to keep in mind when setting up a workspace. The most important consideration for any office is desk placement. When sitting at your desk, you should be in “Command Position”. Simply put, this is the position that makes you most ‘in command.’ The Command Position emerges from our instinctive need to have visible control of our environment.

The ideal Command Position would be with a view of the door from your chair, a view out a window, and a solid wall behind you.

This may mean moving your desk into the room away from the wall. If this is absolutely not possible, then place a mirror to where you can see the entrance in the mirror. If you do not use a desk, but instead a counter or even your lap, it is still important to face the door entering the room. You want to feel in power and confident in your space – whether you are home alone or working amongst a 100 colleagues in a business office.

In this photo, the writer’s office also doubles as a guest room. The desk faces the door, but is not directly in line with the door (that would result in too much chi energy coming in). It would be better if the window was not right behind her. Why? A wall behind you provides support and for writers in an isolated profession, feeling supported is crucial. Keeping the blind closed is helpful so that there is not a feeling of being exposed.

Clear Clutter

Also notice in this picture the lack of clutter. It is imperative to have an uncluttered space when writing. Our mind is directly affected by our environment. So once you designate your workspace, then declutter it.

Size of Desk

The size of your desk will depend on your preference. Everyone likes or requires a different amount of surface area. For some, an executive-size desk makes them feel more powerful. For others, it’s just another place to collect clutter. I prefer a desk that will fit my laptop, tea, and my cell phone. I work virtually paperless and prefer to keep everything either on my phone or computer.

In this office, you can see that while the desk is relatively small, it takes center stage in my office. It faces the door without being in direct line and not being right in front of the window either. Find a desk or surface that fits your style and is comfortable. If you are physically cramped, then your creative juices will not be free-flowing.

As said in Field of Dreams, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and so is the case if you designate a workspace that feels good to you. You will be more likely to write, enjoy writing, and be successful in your writing.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Also check out the NEW Feng Shui Your Life eWorkbook.  NOW AVAILABLE!

Bring balance to your mind body AND home!

Beginning Wednesday, December 1^st, 6:00p C.S.T.

presented by Author of “27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home”

Tisha Morris

Wednesday December 1^st | Feng Shui for Wealth & Prosperity | 6:00 C.S.T.

Want to attract more money, improve your finances, or change your mindset regarding prosperity? Start in your home! Using the Bagua Map, you will locate your Wealth corner, discover your blocks, increase your energy, and improve the flow of wealth and prosperity into your life.

Wednesday December 15^th | Using Feng Shui to Deck the Halls AND Declutter | 12:00 noon C.S.T.

Christmas is a time for celebrating family, getting together with friends, and well lots of clutter! If you feel like you get swept away with the season, then tune in to this webinar. We’ll discuss ways to celebrate the season while maintaining balance in your home and in your life.

Wednesday January 12^th | Feng Shui for the Workplace | 12:00 noon C.S.T.

Want to boost your business, get a promotion, or maybe even a new job? Or perhaps you keep getting passed over for a promotion. If so, then this is the workshop for you! Learn the best way to position your desk so that you will be in your power spot. Discover what may be blocking you and affirm a new sense of abundance. You will leave seeing your office in a whole new light.

Wednesday January 26^th Learn Space Clearing Techniques | 12:00 noon C.S.T.

Want to rid your home of negative and stagnant energy? There is a whole world of invisible energies in our spaces that affect all of us on some level. Learn the importance of space clearing AND how to use space clearing techniques to instantly shift the energy in your home or office. A variety of methods will be discussed and practiced so that you will leave being your own feng shui expert.

A Replay will be available for all those who register!

REGISTER HERE!

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Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).   For more information, visit her website at www.mindbodyom.com

is Back!!

Beginning Tuesdays, August 10^nd , 6:00-7:15p @ Center of Symmetry in Nashville

presented by Tisha Morris, author of “27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home”

DROP IN FOR $10 OR ATTEND ALL 4 FOR $30!

August 10^th Feng Shui for the Workplace

Want to boost your business, get a promotion, or maybe even a new job? Or perhaps you keep getting passed over for a promotion. If so, then this is the workshop for you! Learn the best way to position your desk so that you will be in your power spot. Discover what may be blocking you and affirm a new sense of abundance. You will leave seeing your office in a whole new light.

August 17^th Integrating the Five Elements of Feng Shui

The Five Elements of Feng Shui – Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood – are the cornerstones of Feng Shui. Learn how to integrate these elements in your home and find out which Elements you do and don’t want in each room. With the Five Elements you will bring a natural balance and harmony into your living spaces as well as an aesthetically pleasing environment!

August 24^th Feng Shui Astrology & Numerology for Your Home

Join me for this fun and informative session! Feng Shui Astrology, known as Nine Star Ki Astrology, originated in Japan with influences from Chinese and Tibetan astrology. In this workshop, you will discover your Personal Element, Color, and auspicious Directions. Also learn the Numerology for your home to discover what energy and medicine it holds for you. You will definitely not want to miss this one!

August 31^st Decluttering Your Life to Uncover Your Soul

If you missed this session earlier in the Summer or just need to hear it again, then you won’t want to miss it! Do you feel like clutter is overtaking your home or feel like stuff is weighing you down? In this workshop, you will learn the energetic components of clutter as well as just how powerful clearing clutter can be in creating change in your life. Learn the root cause of holding on to certain items, such as unwanted gifts, just-in-case items, and old pictures. You will leave with the tools and inspiration you need to declutter your life so that you can uncover your soul.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

Feng Shui in the workplace is gaining more and more attention as employees and employers are striving to do just about anything to survive the current economy. Although Feng Shui should be applied as a first resort instead of a last resort, it is at least getting some well-deserved consideration nonetheless.

The most important consideration for any office is desk placement. When sitting at your desk, you should be in “Command Position”. Simply put, this is the position that makes you most ‘in command.’

The Command Position emerges from our instinctive need to have visible control of our environment. We humans are most comfortable when no one can sneak up on us or surprise us. The most obvious example of this is choosing a seat in a restaurant. Most people prefer sitting where they can see the door. This is the case in your office as well.

Being in the Command Position allows you to see the entry to your office so that you are sitting in the best location to deal with whatever comes through the door. While we are hardly fighting off tigers and bears as perhaps our old brain thinks, it nonetheless provides an important energetic message for yourself and to others that you are in control of your world.

The ideal Command Position would be a direct or peripheral view of the door from your chair, a view out a window, and a solid wall behind you. This may mean moving your desk into the room away from the wall. If this is absolutely not possible, then place a mirror to where you can see the entrance in the mirror.

Properly placing your desk in the Command Position is the simplest, quickest, and most powerful way to shift energy in your job. Notice the offices of successful people in your building. You will notice that their desk will always be facing the door. Move your desk and take command of your job.

And, yes, desk placement is just as important for home offices.  Even if you don’t have co-workers, bosses, or employees come by your office, it’s just as important to feel ‘in command.’  It is a state of mind and therefore what you project out to the world and to yourself.

For more articles on Feng Shui in the workplace, check out:

Feng Shui Your Desk

A Writer’s Guide to Feng Shui Your Desk

AND my iPhone App… Feng Shui Bagua Map!

photo credit

One of my readers posed this question: What does an artist do to keep her studio clear? After all, the lives of artists, writers, and other creative people collect all types of “special flotsam & jetsam in the name of the creative process.” According to this reader, there are so many items that need to be kept that are a record of process. How do we decide if our ephemera is worthy of that?

Great question. And being a former Interior Design student and one who paints as a hobby, I can totally relate!

In my blog article, What Your Home Says About You, I note that artists tend to be more right-brained – the non-organizing part of the brain. And as I pointed out, is having your home, or especially your art studio, a little messy such a bad thing? Of course not. It’s all part of the creative process, right? Or is it?

We all have a different standard as to what is too messy or too much clutter. You know when your home or studio has gotten out of control. You feel scattered, cloudy, weighed down, or creatively stuck. That’s when you know it’s time to take action.

First off, the size of your studio space will ultimately dictate how much art and supplies you can have on hand. When it comes to art, you can fill a warehouse space just as easy as you could fill a small corner of the kitchen. For example, when I decided that I wanted to convert my art studio space from a whole room to a corner in order to do yoga, I had to downsize the amount of art materials I kept. So designating how much space you are willing and wanting to take up is the first step.

Art Cart from dickblick.com

Next, organizing units are essential. If you don’t already have proper storage, then these can be purchased from any art supply store. Have proper storage and organization in your studio so that you will at least have a standard for organization and have a place for everything. That way, when you know your space has gotten too messy for even your right-brain, you have bins and drawers to put stuff in.

If you then have too much stuff to fit into your organizing units, then it’s time to downsize. This is where the emotional aspects come into play – what to keep and what not to keep. If you keep items for inspiration, such as photos, cards, images, etc., then go through them to see what still resonates with you. You may be surprised how different you may feel about some of the items. Discard any items that you don’t absolutely love or that no longer inspire you.

What about your own past work? This can be very difficult. It took me several different clearings to finally dispose of my interior design projects. I had kept what I needed for purposes of including in a portfolio. For boards that I knew I would never need or use again, I took pictures of them before eventually disposing of them. It was difficult knowing how much time had gone into them. But honestly, I haven’t missed them since. In fact, I feel much lighter once I got rid of them. Every time I would see them in the closet, I was subconsciously reminded of the long hours I spent on them. I still keep a small portfolio of photos I took of my projects for nostalgia.

When your designated space for past projects gets too full, then it’s time to go through them to determine what needs to go. For me, I periodically dispose of my pieces of art that aren’t that great, meaning that I’ve improved since then. For pieces of art or art supplies that you no longer want, consider listing them on freecycle.org or craigslist.com. Taking pictures of your work is a great way to track your progress without being overloaded with projects. Clearing out old projects will also make room for new ideas and creativity. So don’t get too weighed down in your past projects. Instead, let creativity flow through you and your studio.

photo credit

Similar to my book to be released April 25^th, 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home, my goal with this app was to make it simple but informative. The number one thing I hear from clients is that Feng Shui books are confusing. And, yes, I agree. It can be challenging to understand Eastern concepts, particularly when written from an Eastern mindset.

This app is based on the most widely used westernized Feng Shui method, including the Black Hat or BTB Feng Shui method. Accordingly, the Bagua Map is aligned per the front door of the space, not per compass directions.

With this app you will have all the information you need to use the Bagua Map. And what I love about apps is that they are interactive!

FEATURES

• The Bagua Map can be viewed in Portrait or Landscape mode depending on the general shape of the space you want to feng shui.
• Click on each square of the Bagua Map to get all the information you need on that section of your house.
• Provides in-depth characteristics, application, remedies, and enhancements for each quadrant.
• Import or take a picture or sketch of your floor plan, room, etc. from your camera photos and superimpose the Bagua Map onto it for a bird’s eye view.
• Save your feng shui-ed floor plan and create as many as you want.

HOW TO USE

• Align the main front door of your house with the bottom of the Bagua Map screen where it says “front entrance.”
• If your front door is centered on your house, you will be walking in the Career & Life Purpose square. If the door is off-centered to the left, then you will enter through the Wisdom & Self-Awareness section. If the door is off-centered to the right, then you will enter through the Helpful People & Travel section.
• To feng shui an individual room, you will align the Bagua Map with the door entering the room with the “front entrance”. For example, the farthest, left corner of the room from the door will be the Wealth section.
• To feng shui a desk, where you are sitting is equivalent to the “front door,” which in most cases will be centered at the Career & Life Purpose section. For example, the farthest, left corner of your desk is the Wealth section.

To link to your iTunes store to download, click here! Or to find in the app store on your iPhone, just Search “bagua map” or “Tisha”.

I would love to hear your feedback!