“From joy all beings have come.
In joy all beings are sustained.
To joy all beings return.
This is the highest teaching
This is the highest teaching.”

From The Upanishads

Have you ever been in an organization, a workplace, or a professional relationship where things went unsaid and unresolved…and it became uncomfortable and an energy drain on everyone involved? When there is an ‘elephant in the room’, it is a huge energy sinkhole.

Especially in this time of many of us working from home, communication with coworkers can be even more challenging…and yet it is even more essential to making things run smoothly. My philosophy is that good communication makes any organization or team work better…and the absence of it can derail even the smartest and most capable teams.

If you would like support with a challenging conversation at work, please let me know! (Hint: if you get nauseous every time you think about confronting someone, that counts as a challenging conversation…and you don’t have to go it alone!)

And now:

How are you supporting yourself in your home office??

I want to offer a few Feng Shui and coaching tips for how to make the most of your home office (or continue to thrive in your work even if you don’t have an actual home office). These tips are designed to assist you in keeping firm boundaries for yourself between

Work …………………………………. and …………………………………. Life.

5 Feng Shui Tips for WFH

1. Choose a dedicated space in your home for work, and only do your work there. In the age of WFH, it’s easier than ever for the line between work and the rest of our lives to blur…and even disappear. It can be convenient to open your laptop at the kitchen table while you’re wolfing down yogurt right before your next Zoom meeting, but I recommend against this! Choose a spot as your home office (even if it’s just a corner of the living room) and keep your laptop there during work hours!
2. Whenever possible, work with your back towards a solid wall, and in a position where you can easily see the door(s) into your space. If we feel vulnerable at our back—or know that we might be surprised by someone coming into our space without us noticing—it can be a subtle yet real drain on our energy and focus throughout the workday.
3. Make your workspace pleasant and inviting. Take stock of your current home workspace:
   1. What is the view from your desk or table? Is there sufficient airflow? Enough light? Is your chair comfortable, and does it support your back and spine?
   2. If you have photos or objects that inspire you and remind you of your purpose, place those where you can see them throughout the day.
   3. Place a (healthy! Alive!) plant or a vase of fresh flowers where you can see and enjoy it/them throughout the day.
   4. Take breaks to move around, stretch, breathe deeply, and enjoy the view out the nearest window.
4. Get dressed for work. Most of us would not show up at our office in our sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt, (you know, the one you spilled ice cream on late last night while watching Netflix?). It’s so easy to roll out of bed and straight into our inboxes…and I believe that both the quality of our work and our overall wellbeing suffer as a result. Take the time to fully wake up; wash your face; get dressed; put on some jewelry; comb your hair…and then arrive at your desk on time!
5. Observe regular work hours. (I admit: this one’s a challenge for me.) As much as possible, set a regular schedule…and keep it. When the workday is done, close out of your work email, turn off your computer and phone, and go for a walk. Even if you come home and turn your laptop right back on, find a way to mark for your body and your whole nervous system that work is over for the day. When you get back from your walk, you can fire up Netflix…and go get more ice cream.

If any of this seems impossible (for example, you don’t see how it could be possible to reserve time at the end of the workday every day because you simply have way too much to do), [let’s talk.] In my experience, there’s usually a way to make this possible. It takes an ‘up-leveling’ in the way we are prioritizing and focusing earlier in the day. I would love to brainstorm with you to get accountable for protecting ‘off-time’ for you in your day and in your week.

Upcoming Events

The Path of Privilege

1-on-1 and small group sessions held on an ongoing basis. Sessions last ~1.5 hours. Follow the link below for more info, or email me at lucy@lucyclairecurran.com to set up a time to meet.

As I have been grappling with owning my social identity as a White woman, I have developed an Intentional Creativity offering for other White women who want to explore their privilege and step up as allies for BIPOC in their lives and communities. You can learn more about this offer [HERE.] Please note: No painting or art experience required. This is a safe space to be messy!

**Please remember that choosing if and when to opt into this work is part of our privilege. There’s no time like the present to dive into this work. You can do it!!**