A To-Do List That Actually Works

In May of this year I learned — from Atlanta organizer extraordinaire Alison Carter — about a new way to manage my to-do list called the “Autofocus System.”

Created by Mark Forster, a time management expert in England, this is the simplest system in the world, requiring only a pen, a notebook, and a highlighter.

After using the system for three months now, I’m a fan. I’m working more efficiently than I ever have, and accomplishing so much more.

The system is “very Feng Shui” in that it balances the rational and intuitive parts of your mind. Your intuition leads you to do things on your list when you’re ready to do them, and you begin to check things off with ease.

It gives me the sense that my inner chi energy is flowing — I come to my work with joy each day, feeling that I’m doing things not because I should do them, but because I want to.

Try it and see — and let me know what you think!

How Use Color in Feng Shui

Color! It might be the #1 thing people ask me about in Feng Shui.

Last week the question of using color in Feng Shui came to the fore when a client asked me if she really had to use the color Pink to enhance her office, as some of the “rules” of Feng Shui seemed to dictate.

The answer is that you never have to use Pink – or any other color, for that matter – if you don’t want to. There are many ways to enhance a space with Feng Shui, and color is just one of them.

But color does affect your feelings in a space, and your ability cope easily and effectively with life on a day-to-day basis. (Read more…)

Q. Of The Week: Does The High Line Have Good Feng Shui?

To cut to the chase: YES!

But to back up: we went for a twilight walk on Saturday, paying our first visit to The High Line, a new park/promenade/esplanade that’s been created from abandoned rail tracks above the streets of Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.

It’s a wonderful gathering place: lots of places to sit and watch the passing scene, cool breezes above the streets, and stunning plantings of native grasses and wildflowers.

Later on someone asked me — does the High Line have good Feng Shui?

One of the main goals of Feng Shui is to bring us into harmony with the natural world, and the High Line gives us so much: views of the Hudson River (the Water element), healthy plants (Wood), great light and new ways to enjoy being with people (Fire), a beautiful pathway (Earth) and even the abandoned tracks themselves (Metal).

So whether its creators set out to achieve this or not, the High Line has great Feng Shui. I hope you’ll get to enjoy it soon!

Feng Shui at the Doctor’s

I recently needed a small out-patient procedure at the medical clinic in my neighborhood. I met with the clinician’s assistant for the testing and here is what I discovered in her space:

This young woman spends all day in a small, windowless space, doing repetitive procedures with strangers like me.

Wonderfully, though, she has found a way to keep herself grounded and balanced with this beautiful and evocative collage:

I imagine she feels warmer inside every time she catches a glimpse of it. Such a personal, unexpected touch made me smile and forget for a moment why I was there in the first place!

The Hannah Carter Japanese Garden in LA

On our recent trip to LA we were lucky to visit the wonderful Hannah Carter Japanese Garden at UCLA.

It’s such a special place — you can get a great idea at their website — and I was reminded it of it today because of the new moon; we’re halfway through the year of the Ox.

The garden contains a beautiful Tea-house with a little surprise inside.

Here’s the Teahouse:

And here’s a peek inside:

With an up-close view of the little, tiny Ox on the altar!

The Ox is the hardest-working animal in the Chinese zodiac, and it definitely feels like the right symbol for the tough year we’re enduring.

This little guy, though, looks a bit dressed up for field work

What do you think?