The Time of Day Using Feng Shui: Can you REALLY get more time out of your day using Feng Shui

Time. There is never enough in the day. I see people every day rushing to get everything done at work, rushing in and out of stores on their way home to pick up dinner or necessities and weaving in and out to trying to get home as fast as they can (though did you ever notice you almost always see them at the next traffic light?).

Rushing home to rush through dinner, rush cleaning up, putting the kids to bed, straightening up and rushing to get ready for the next day to do it all over again. I wondered if there was a way using some Feng Shui Principles if we could actually save some time, slow down a bit so we could actually create in our lives what we are supposed to have, namely a balance in life. Of both work AND play.

Of course the first topic I cover with clients is Clutter. My definition of clutter is simple: if you don?t need it, use it or love it, get rid of it! If you need it somewhere down the road, believe me it will come back to you. We ask our clients to declutter because we can?t ?let the new in? when we have so many old things around. And clutter relates to the mind as well, a cluttered environment gives us a cluttered mind that doesn?t think (or work) quite as efficiently.

Certainly, if we took the time to clean up, get rid of the things we no longer need or use and spend some more time organizing what is left, we would be more efficient, particularly in a work environment. Perhaps we don?t want to take the time to do this but think how much faster (and clearer) you?ll work when you?ve finally organized and cleaned up your desk and your entire workspace. A place for things and everything in it?s place was an old saying and still works today. We can find things, our thoughts are not cluttered and in the end, we could potentially save a great deal of time.

I thought about the Elements we use in Feng Shui and remembered a very important principle one of our mentors stressed to us over and over again. Red is the most auspicious color of Feng Shui and we were told to use the color to enliven and stimulate a room or ourselves, for that matter. We were told that on days of low energy to wear the color Red as it helps gives off the energy it emits. I not only wear it on my days of low energy, I have splashes of it around my desk and in every room. Does it actually save time? Well, when you are feeling energized you can certainly accomplish a lot more than on days you are tired. And with energy, you actually DO work faster simply because you feel better. After the clutter goes, add Red around your work area; red tassels, silk flowers, money envelopes. And wear Red when you?re not at your usual energy level to save some more precious time.

I speak often to large and small groups and always go over the Bagua with them. Although all the areas are important, I focus many times on a section called ?Helpful People.? These are the people we know and care about in life, the kind of friend or family that will bring you back or send you a gift ?because they were thinking of you.? I happen to believe (possibly because I?ve seen it so often!) that helpful people can help you in just about any area of your life. Need a job? Looking for a new partner? Enhancing helpful people adds more helpful people more to your life. These people certainly can help you save time, often people are more then ready and willing to lend a hand---when you attract more into your life you will have even more. Funny thing about helpful people is you often don?t have to even ask them, they will offer to assist you with something. Take them up on it; it will save you more time and someday likely you?ll be able to return the favor.

It?s an old principle (and not a Feng Shui Principle) but it works. Using a ?To do? list and feeling a bit of accomplishment every time you can put a check mark down (or, as I like to do, cross it off) saves time. Time remembering what you have to do, who you have to call and where you have to go can save a lot of time. Having numbers ready as well often helps as well as putting the errand, chore or call you Least want to do FIRST and getting it out of the way helps a great deal. When the biggest hurdle of the day is over and done, the others seem to flow more smoothly. Try it, just a few extra minutes at night will save you more time the following day.

We use items in homes many people don?t often use and we use them for different reasons. One item we use quite often is Crystals. The help diffuse energy, circulate energy and crystals are actually said to help promote Clarity. Hang a crystal near or over your work space or on your computer if you spend a lot of time on it. Clarity when working is essential to get our work done as quickly and efficiently as possible, saving us both time and energy.

I do think the Chinese and many other people have been onto something for thousands of years in their use of Ginseng. I personally wouldn?t start my day without it. We follow the guidelines of Feng Shui and we help ourselves promote and maintain our own energy level through many ways. This is a good one; if you haven?t tried it, it?s unlikely you?ll be without it once you do.

Envision your day. A minute in the morning before you get up or just before you go to bed to actually visualize your day running smoothly can work wonders. Feng Shui uses Intention in everything we do and every change we make. The laws of attraction are always in place with like attracting like. Use visualization to SEE your day going well, having more time, finishing early. And seeing ourselves having more of that precious time we all need and want so much.

Now that you?ve got more time, remember one more Feng Shui Principle. We always seek to strive balance in life (using the symbol of Yin/Yang should remind you of that). And you know what they say about all work?.. Spend some of that precious, saved time on playing to create your balance. Maybe we actually CAN save time with Feng Shui in place.

Simple Feng Shui Bedroom Tips

A bedroom is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where we can go to recharge tired batteries and rest. Unfortunately, for many people, the bedroom has bad Feng Shui and does not provide the rest, relaxation, and recharging that it should. The bedroom is also supposed to be a place of romance and connection with a special someone. Good Feng Shui can help to light the fires of romance, and make the bedroom more than just a place to hang your clothes.

The good news is, it's easy to map your bedroom according to good Feng Shui principles. You can create peace, tranquility, harmony, and romance in your bedroom. Here are some good Feng Shui tips to help in your bedroom.

The first step is to draw an outline of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Make the room roughly square, it doesn't have to be perfect. The main entrance to the room should be on the lower line of the square that you have drawn.

Next, draw three rows of three squares each, dividing the square into nine equal pieces.

Starting with the lowest row, you have the area of Knowledge in the left corner, the area of Career in the center, and the area of Help People and Travel on the right side. These three squares describe the area when you first walk into the bedroom.

The middle row of square describe the center of your bedroom. The left side is Family and Health, the center is considered the Tao, or Center, and the right hand square is the Creativity and Children section.

The top row of squares are, from left to right, the Wealth sector, Fame and Reputation in the center, and Relationships and Romance on the right.

So now, looking at your layout on the paper, it should be divided like this:

Wealth | Fame/Reputation | Relationships/Romance

Family/Health | Tao | Creativity/Children

Knowledge | Career | Helpful People/Travel

So now that you have your room organized, let's look at some objects that could be placed in those sectors to create the desired effect.

In the Knowledge sector, place some bookshelves or a bookcase. Fill it with books and other tools of self-improvement such as DVDs or audio books.

In the Career Sector, mirrors will help to reflect positive Chi, or energy and keep it flowing through your career. Water related items also help good Chi to pool in that area, increasing the opportunities in your career. If you have any pictures or objects that help to define your career goals, place them in this sector as well.

In the Helpful People and Travel sector put pictures of people who can or have helped you. Also place pictures of places you would like to visit, or places you have been and enjoyed.

The Family and Health sector is the best place to keep family heirlooms and photos. Keep plants in this area as well and make sure they thrive. Anything dead or dried is considered very bad Feng Shui, so make sure Flowers are fresh and do not display dried floral arrangements.

The Creativity and Children sector is the best place for your art supplies, any artwork you have done or are working on, and your computer, if you have one in your bedroom. Generally it is considered bad Feng Shui to have working materials in your bedroom, but if you must, this is the place.

In the Wealth sector is the place to keep your money, jewelry, or other things valuable. If you have fish, you should keep them here as they are thought to bring prosperity in this sector. The colors red, purple, and gold are also used to increase prosperity in the wealth sector.

Keep any Awards you might have in the Fame and Reputation sector. Candles are also good here along with plants, and the colors red, orange, or purple.

Finally, in the Relationships and Romance sector, place round or oval mirrors to keep the good Chi flowing. Pictures of loved ones are good here, along with the color pink. Feng Shui believes that pairs of ducks are good because ducks mate for life. If you don't like ducks, any paired objects like candlesticks or small statues will help create good Feng Shui in this area of your life.

Since our bedroom is such a reflection of who we are and what we value, it is important to start your journey to good Feng Shui here. In time, with some of these Feng Shui bedroom tips in place, you will see improvements in the areas where you are looking for help.

Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui through his articles and website.