Your choice in office furniture goes beyond just something to sit on. The furniture at a desk can make the difference between a productive worker, or an unproductive worker. An atmosphere that is pleasantly furnished and follows a few basic Feng Shui ideas is the best place to get things accomplished.
Using Ergonomics –
Biotechnology or ergonomics is the relationship between a worker and their environment. This area of study is similar to the applied science categories of human physiology and biomechanics. It also looks at work furniture and studies how the worker interacts with it. The purpose of this concentrated effort is to design pieces to better assist an individual to be the healthiest and most efficient possible. Many factors can influence a worker’s productivity, comfort, and work environment which include the positioning of the computer keyboard, chair height, supportive armrests, and how high the computer monitor screen is.
The Use of Feng Shui in the Work Environment:
Feng Shui is a Chinese design principle which stresses a flow to the environment creating a harmony in the space. When the placement of furniture is done correctly, the room will inspire feelings of tranquility, well being, and abundance. If furniture is placed incorrectly, the opposite feelings with be created. To better understand this idea, sit with your back against the wall, feel the support on your back; now view your surroundings and imagine a balance of yin and yang. Counter dark colors with light, give textures of smooth and rough to surfaces, soften hard sufaces with items like fabric, metals or rocks. If there are defined edges or prominent pillars, these can be minimized through the use of houseplants. All files and papers should be neatly arranged so as to encourage the free flow of chi energy. Mirrors are frowned upon, they are considered to reflect negative energies which are detrimental to the harmony of the environment.
Furnishings To Use
The necessary items for a functional work space include pens, paper, file storage, chairs, desk, lamp, stamps, and printer ink. If planning to use a desk for both a computer as well as writing area, you will need to be sure it is large enough to hold everything and still have plenty of spreading room. An ergonomic chair will be adjustable at almost every level, the arms, height, back. As much natural light should be able to enter the workplace as possible, while overhead lamps of desk lights should also be used. Offices lacking in light for the employees to strain their eyes, so a good desk lamp is a must. Paper filing tasks will need file cabinets or a unit in a desk drawer depending on the needs.
An office space that uses Feng Shui principles, ergonomic designed furniture and is inviting to the worker will create an easily usable productivity.
It can be inferred that companion plantings have been around for a while, and have their place in the annals of agriculture history. Some of the earliest written documents on gardening discuss these relationships. Early settlers discovered American First Nations people were using an interplanting scheme of corn-bean-squash that balanced the requirements of each crop for light, water, and nutrients.
Over in Europe, Dutch farmers in the 19th century planted hemp around their cabbage field to eliminate nasty pests, mainly white cabbage butterflies. It is still a common practice nowadays for farmers and organic gardeners to grow more than one crop at the same time in the same area – this is a technique that is intended as a solution to many farming and gardening problems.
Companion planting, simply put, is the act of making plants help each other out and enhance each other’s functionality by planting them next to each other – some of the benefits include improved plant growth and less chances of getting hit by disease. But do not think solely of the pests being driven away when trying to choose your companion plants. Some other considerations include how plants would contribute or take away from the soil or how certain herbs, when planted next to your vegetables, can affect their flavor.
Avoid the juxtaposition of heavy feeders or plants with shallow roots. Having a strategic and well thought-out pest management system is imperative in most gardens, and one of the best weapons that can help achieve this goal is a fusillade of companion planting in an effort to drive those pests away. For instance, you can plant chives and garlic among your peas and lettuce to drive aphids away. Most bugs are dissuaded by the presence of marigolds in gardens of all kinds. Rosemary, thyme, sage, catmint, hyssop, or mixtures of all three between rows of cabbage helps deter the white cabbage moth. Potato beetles can be repelled with horseradish planted on the sides of your potato patches. Aphids can also be defeated and sent off by two different kinds of plants – garlic (which works best near roses) and Nasturium, which works in different parts of the garden.
As the limitations and ill effects of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other modern practices become more apparent, scientists and researchers have begun to look at the old-fashioned method of gardening and farming. So down with the new and up with the old – companion planting is a method that is both functional and aesthetic in nature while remaining healthful and wholesome. In essence, companion planting allows us to help bring a balanced eco-system to our landscapes, allowing nature to do its’ job.