Doom, Gloom & The Power of Brooms

Have you heard about The Depression? Whether you get your news from the radio, the TV, a newspaper or online -- it's big news. So far, I've heard we're headed for a depression, we're in the early stages of a depression, we're in the middle of a depression, we're going to be in a depression, or we're already in a depression. Great. Dealing with the winter season is depressing enough. YUK. What a lousy way to begin 2009.

I'm not sure we need to buy into all that negative news so early in the New Year. We can think about something other than The Depression. Besides, if the depression is coming soon or if it's already here -- there's nothing we can do to stop it. We can't control it.

So, let's change the subject from something negative to something positive.

We have a new beginning. Get out the eraser -- clean off the board -- we have a clean slate -- twelve new months -- right in front of us! Let's see if we can figure out some things to do that can lift our spirits.

Here's an idea! We can change our work environment to make it more positive. How about some good feng shui?

Do you work under fluorescent lighting? Have you noticed you've been feeling a little fatigued? Could be the lights. Studies indicate that when people work under cool-white, fluorescent lighting they become more irritable, have more headaches, develop eyestrain, and seem more fatigued than people who work under full-spectrum lighting. Can you bring a lamp into your office area? If not, a full-spectrum light bulb might just be a small change you can make to perk up your mood.

Is your office area looking a little drab? Do you look around and feel like you're working in a dreary institution eight hours a day? Does it feel just a little emotionally sterile to you?

How about introducing a little color into your work world? Maybe your employer will let you paint the walls if you have an office. If you can't paint the walls, or if you work in a cubicle, you can bring in a little sunshine in other ways.

Think about getting a plant. Lucky Bamboo is great. You can find some inexpensive plants in the floral department at your local grocery store. You probably have an area in your cubicle or on a file cabinet where a plant would love to live.

Get some artwork. Artwork doesn't have to be expensive. You can get a couple of greeting cards with nice images, frame them in inexpensive frames and hang a couple of them on the wall. If you can't hang anything on the walls -- you may be able to find a place to put a standing framed piece. Maybe you can get some inspirational pictures, signs, quotes, or affirmations and add them to your work area.

Here's the easiest way to create good feng shui in your work environment. Get out the furniture polish, cleaning products, paper towels, and get to work. Take everything off your desk, shelves, filing cabinets, and give everything a good cleaning. Pitch the stuff you don't need. Clean up the clutter. You'll start your New Year off, literally, with a "clean slate".

Feel free to share any ideas you may have that can bring in a little sunshine and color into your work environment!