5 Feng Shui Back to School Tips to Establish Stronger Cognitive Function and Reduce Stress

1. The buzzing sound of “Declutter” will continue to be the #1 starting Feng Shui suggestion during these current times because our society has adopted somewhat of a clutter-bug lifestyle. As the saying goes, less is more. This is essential for everyone to practice. 

A team of UCLA researchers in 2012 32 Los Angeles families and found that all of the mothers' stress hormones spiked during the time they spent dealing with their belongings.” Belongings included material goods, paperwork, and even their children’s toys. For the dad or father figure that lives in the home and children, please help out with keeping things tidy. This lifestyle change requires a team effort. To the best of your ability, make it a priority to establish the healthy habit of balancing routine and structure; verbally, visually, and energetically.

2. Minimize Electronics in the Bedroom. Researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston conducted a study to understand the impact of electronic devices on circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. In short, the team found that those who had read LE-eBooks in the hours before bedtime reported lower subjective sleepiness and showed decreased EEG delta/theta activity. 

Just about everyone uses computers daily. To negotiate this habit, the practice of Feng Shui is asking for you to find a balance. The bedroom is a place of rest, rejuvenation, and reconnection. If any room in your entire home that you could reduce or totally remove major EMF’s, it would be from inside your bedroom. 

Reference for Brain Waves: Delta waves (.5 to 3 Hz) are the slowest brain waves and occur primarily during our deepest state of dreamless sleep. Theta waves (3 to 8 Hz) occur during sleep but have also been observed in the deepest states of Zen meditation

3. To give students stronger cognitive function during the day, allow natural light to filter into the classrooms. A study conducted by Productivity and Buildings Science program found “Classrooms with the most daylighting had a 20% better learning rate in math and 26% improved rate in reading compared to classrooms with little or no daylighting.” Of course use common sense with this suggestion. If your classroom requires a reduced amount of light, that is just fine. If anything, it's best that the main communal areas of the school (lobby, offices, hallways, cafeteria, library, etc) make up for the lack of light in other classrooms. 

4. Establish a Commanding Position. This becomes a metaphor for the occupant sleeping, working, teaching, or studying to ‘see’ unlimited possibilities and have clearer focus while also being able to avoid unnecessary situations in daily life. In other words, its symbolic for that person to always remain in their ‘personal power.’ This position also references a protective stance and energetic support.

5. Mindfully select and display images that inspire, strike curiosity, and motivate. You could implement this suggestion at home, in the office, and in the classroom. At home you can choose more personalized imagery. Think about what strikes your curiosity and inspires you. Is it the arts, technology, engineering science, astrology, or something of your own creation? Only you can answer this. 

It could be displayed through artwork, objects, books, word art, sculptures, or even instruments. At work you could establish a more professional representation of those visual inspirations. At school, the teacher could choose to display untypical posters that feature different role models, quotes, positive affirmations or imagery, thus helping to introduce new perspectives about the topic being taught, life, and the world we share. Again, for all these environments the selection will have to be customized to the function of each space. 

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Laura Cerrano is a Full-time Certified Feng Shui expert with 20+ years of experience. She provides bi-coastal consultations and workshops for residential, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies, and healing facilities. She is currently conducting research for her upcoming book that focuses on bridging the gap between the ancient wisdom Feng Shui and modern day science to establish the practice of Feng Shui as a credible form of health care.

Cultivating Postive Character Development with Feng Shui

There is an assumption that if you Feng Shui your home, then all things will change for the better. To a certain degree, yes, change happens. Keep in mind though, if you choose not to transform the character within, you might end up inheriting the same looping lessons that keep you stuck.

When choosing to Feng Shui your home, you are also cultivating stronger positive values and personal characteristics. Most of my clients when first introduced to Feng Shui tend to disregard the life sections associated with Character Development. They include one or a combination of these Ba-gua map life sections; spirituality, family, creativity, fame and helpful people. Each life section is equally important as one will support the other in order to function at full capacity. 

i.e. spirituality helps cultivate healthier morals and values, creativity promotes problem solving, helpful people encourages clearer communication with yourself and toward others.   

Some quick insights to keep in mind when Cultivation Postive Character Development:

• Learn to hold yourself and others accountable.

• Become clear with what your morals and values are. This could also be presented in the format of understanding who your ‘role models” are. Who do you turn to for guidance to have an honest opportunity for self-reflection? It could be a trusted friend, family member, coworker, mentor, or a combination of resources (books, videos, etc).

• Be comfortable with growing pains. Living on earth is no picnic. Infact many will refer to Earth as school. It's a place of learning, sharing and for those who choose to participate in their life's mission, growing spiritually. In other words, be ready to work on yourself. Feng Shui is one of many methods out there to assist with your journey. Learn to shift your perspective of "life's lessons" not as 'bad luck' and more as it's what I have come to experience. At the same time, remembering to foucus on the good expeinces. That helps to cultuvate more postive and shine light on the percived negative.

• Pay close attention to your circle of influence. Who's supporting your efforts emotionally, who is challenging you in a healthy way, or draining you with drama? Commit to building a diverse support team, as this will help expand your character development along with your skills in communication.

• Cultivate a more global mindset. This helps broaden your perceptions about people and life events as they unfold. Becoming more dynamic in your worldview, while also being mindful of your informational sources allows for better communication when dealing with conflict.

• As my mother, Carole Provenzale said to me as a young child, ‘the legacy you leave behind is up to you.’ This insight into Character Development taps into personal and professional developments. And remember, your legacy is not just a reflection of you, it also extends to your family. So please be responsible with your choices.

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Laura Cerrano is a Full-time Certified Feng Shui expert with 20+ years of experience. She provides bi-coastal consultations and workshops for residential, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies, and healing facilities. She is currently conducting research for her upcoming book that focuses on bridging the gap between the ancient wisdom Feng Shui and modern day science to establish the practice of Feng Shui as a credible form of health care.