Last fall, Canon Europe decided to hire Feng Shui consultant Dr. Simona F. Mainini to redesign their offices in order to help address “high levels of employee office stress and rage.”The company was happy with the results, and it recently released Dr. Mainini's 30-plus page report for free. It's a very readable document filled with useful advice. You can download the PDF here.

For those not familiar with Feng Shui, the report explains that it “uses natural laws to explain how the life-force energy of the planet (called “Qi”) operates in the physical environment in relation to time, space and individual human beings.”

In practical terms, it offers “specific guidelines on how to site, orient, design, and decorate the buildings where we live and work so as to harmoniously capture this planetary life-force energy and use it productively to support our health and well-being, improve our lives, and attain the goals we so industriously pursue.”

Feng Shui can be applied to the colours, light, furniture, and materials used inside an office. The report also advises people to spend time in nature, meditate, get lots of sleep and to consider taking up yoga or a similar form of exercise. For businesses, Feng Shui is used to increase productivity, reduce stress, and help the bottom line.

“In my experience, using Feng Shui to increase your business income is easy,” writes Dr. Mainini. “But maintaining the happiness and well-being of individuals is a lot more complicated.”Her report concludes with 10 tips for bringing Feng Shui into the office. I've included them below. Read the full report if you want the advanced class.