Transform your Journey on the Net into a Harmonious Experience

Here are some tips to improve the energy flow where your computer lives.

The center of the room is the place where all energy collects. Emphasize this area with a rug, or place your desk here.

Bring the life outside the room into it. If you’ve won medals in a particular sport, keep them here or display photographs of your loved ones. Feng Shui suggests that this brings in positive energies from your relationships with others – but it could work as a simple reminder that you have a life besides the computer.

Don’t place your desk against a wall – it blocks the flow of energy. If the room is too small to move the desk, place a mirror on the wall so that the chi (energy) is reflected back into the room.

Ensure you can see the doorway and out of a window from your desk. Energy from both will flow towards you.

A cluttered desk indicates a cluttered mind. Make sure you keep your workspace tidy and free of stuff that might be better off in the bin. Empty fag packets, pizza boxes, old post-it notes, etc.

The Most Important Component

The relationship between a person and a machine is a complex one. At times, it may seem that you are at the beck and call of your computer rather than the other way around. This is not the case. You are the most important component in your system – when you make mistakes, your computer makes mistakes and energy is wasted. To take control of the machine, you must first take control of yourself and ensure that you are working to your optimum.

Studies suggest that it’s best to take at least a five minute break from your computer every 20 minutes. At a push, you can stretch this to a 15 minute break every hour. Use this time to exercise your body and mind away from the screen. Don’t watch TV –that’s simply replacing your screen with another – have a walk around, stretch your limbs, do Taebo, jump on a trampoline, use a bullworker, exercise with weights. Sit quietly and clear your mind.

The easiest way to regain focus is to perform a simple breathing exercise. Take a deep breath, using your diaphragm rather than your chest muscles – if you’re doing it properly, your stomach will rise before your chest. In many Eastern philosophies the solar plexus is the energy center of the body. Hold the breathe for a couple of beats, then exhale forcefully through your mouth until there’s no air left. Repeat this up to three times, then resume your normal breathing pattern.

When we’re tense, we tend to breathe more shallowly, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in our bloodstream. This simple exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain and helps you to relax.