Zen My Office

Whether it's a style of lamp or soap, you can buy all kinds of Zen products. But what does it really mean and why is it resonating with so many people? Zen stems from Zen Buddhism and the idea of being fully present in the moment. Closely tied to meditation, it's about mindfulness and a state of conscious awareness. Today the term is associated with a kind of simplicity, a minimalist aesthetic that seems to resound with people living in a busy world. Zen design is a natural fit for your home office, where you want to be at your conscious, centered best.

So how do you achieve Zen-ness in your office? Start with simplicity, and work with light, open space and balance. Zen style often incorporates natural materials. Install simple flooring - a wood, neutral carpet or a simple tile. Choose an earth tone or cool paint color. You might choose to paint one accent wall with a bolder color choice - just keep it clean and uncomplicated.

Your furniture should also be simple, with clean lines and basic colors. Nothing too loud, bright or distracting.

Choose simple window coverings like unbleached cotton or bamboo blinds. The walls should be fairly bare with just one or two pieces of art.

Even if you're not ready for an all out redesign there are a number of steps you can take to achieve a more Zen-like office space. Embracing the idea of simplicity, the first thing you need to do is get rid of all the clutter. Your office should inspire calmness, not craziness or anxiety. Your desk should not be a resting spot for every knick-knack and family photo you own. Choose one or two of the best and put the rest away. Put things into your desk drawers, use organizers and containers to clean up your desktop.

Get a filing cabinet and establish a filing system - don't leave your bills and receipts on your desk. Get an inbox and an action box - everything that needs action goes into the latter. The inbox is for everything else. On a regular basis (weekly at the very least), act on the items in the action box and file, shred or recycle everything in the inbox. And be firm with yourself - edit on a regular basis. Once a year, go through your filing cabinet and recycle or shred everything you don't need.

Find a simple, comfortable chair that you can work in and away you go - with an uncluttered space and an uncluttered mind you will reach your full mindful potential.