Hopefully going to work each day is a joyful experience for you. As they say:
If you love what you do you will never have to work a day in your life.
Perhaps you started off “in love” with your jobs, but as the years have gone by some of the enchantment has worn off. Entering your office space has started to feel vaguely “uncomfortable” but you can’t figure out why.
There are simple things you can do to make the space you are in, if not the job itself, joyful and stress-free again.
And since the office is where most of us spend thirty percent of our lives (and half of our waking hours), it is a good idea to find ways to make the experience as beneficial and comfortable as possible.
First Of All, What Exactly Does “Zen” Mean?
In its original sense, “zen” referred to a type of Japanese Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and intuition.
However, most of the time when you hear something referred to as “zen”, it is used to mean peaceful and relaxed. You can probably think of spaces that were relaxing and “de-stressing” from the moment you entered them.
Does this describe your office? If not, here are some things you can do to help:
Remove The Clutter
Have you ever noticed that when you go into a cluttered space you start to feel uneasy? This is because there are simply too many things “clamoring” for your attention.
The space could even be perfectly clean and organized, but the sheer volume of things in it creates a feeling of discomfort while making it hard to pinpoint the source of said discomfort.
The first step to achieving a zen office is adopting the “less is more” approach. Get rid of unnecessary items and store as many things as you can (neatly) out of sight in a drawer or cabinet.
You’ll be surprised by how quickly this one small change can lead to better peace of mind.
Surround Yourself With Natural Tones and Lighting
Being close to nature is a relaxing and peaceful state to be in. As much as possible, bring nature inside with you by choosing natural tones for your walls and decor, furniture made from natural materials, and natural lighting from windows or bulbs meant to emulate natural light.
There is nothing less zen than fluorescent bulbs and harsh, metallic furniture.
Choose A Theme And Stick With It
This one relates to the first suggestion of removing the clutter, but with a few key differences:
Just as having too many items in a space can disperse attention in a negative way, having multiple or even competing themes can have the same effect.
If your desk is made from natural wood but your filing cabinet is made from laminate and your chair is bright blue, you are going to have a problem.
Each piece might be great by itself, but when combined with the other pieces it can get a bit dizzying.
And dizzy is not zen.
You want to look like you had a plan when you designed the space. And the only way to do that is to…..
…..have a plan.
Consider ordering all your furniture and office supplies at one time to ensure they all match. If budgetary constraints prevent this, pick a theme and slowly work toward it piece by piece.
Believe me, your inner peace will thank you.
These are just some of the easiest ways to improve the zen of your office. Give them a try and start reaping the peaceful and relaxing rewards!