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Which Way Should You Face Your Work Desk?

Whether you work at someone’s office or you work from home, you are probably looking to be as productive as possible. An easy way to do that is to determine which direction a work desk should face. It may not sound like a significant factor, but it can mean the difference between hours of productive work and distractions.

So, which direction should a work desk face?

According to the Journal of Neuroscience, the best direction to face while working is the east because it boosts mind-body integration. Additionally, it is auspicious to sit facing the east according to Vastu Shastra since the sun rises in the east, making it conducive for financial growth.

Read on for more helpful ideas on how to position your work desk.

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Best Ideas on How to Position Your Work Desk

Let’s explore some of the best ideas on how to position your work desk for optimal productivity. It’s important to consider, however, there is no absolute right or wrong way to go about this. Everyone has different preferences, so what works for you may not work for someone else.

1. Work While Watching the Door

You should work while facing the door if you can ignore distractions well. Facing the door may also mean that you are open to others coming to you for communication since they can see what you are doing.

When working in an office with other colleagues, you may want to have your desk facing the door.

You may be thinking, why should my work desk face the door? The answer is that sitting with your back to the door can close you off from your coworkers in an office.

With the door behind your back, people won’t be able to tell when you’re busy or free, so they might interrupt you during an important task. Or, you might feel more alone since you are essentially closing yourself from the environment and don’t get to see what everyone else is doing at work.

Additionally, working while facing the door means that you get to keep an eye on your surroundings. This is especially important when you are working from home and you have kids with you. Working while facing the door can give you a much-needed separation to focus while being able to supervise the area.

However, facing your desk to the door does require you to work well with distractions. If you need more help focusing, you may find that looking at the rest of the office keeps you from working.

2. Work While Looking Out the Window

Working while looking out the window can be beneficial if your work involves creative tasks. If your window has an amazing view, it can make your workdays more pleasant. It may also allow natural light to come in as well.

The next question you may have on your mind is, should your office desk face a window?

If you find it hard to work in the same environment every day, you may want to look outside. You can watch as the view changes from the morning to the afternoon.

Different views can help inspire you, so facing the window is perfect if you have a creative job. Moreover, working while looking out the window gives you an easy way to take breaks from your current task. All you have to do is look up at the window and see what’s happening outside.

Now, looking at the window may not be the best option if there are a lot of distractions. It can also be difficult if you live somewhere with a lot of rain. The dark sky might make it harder for you to focus on your work. Unless, of course, you find peace and solitude from the gloomy skies and gentle thunders.

However, facing your office window can mean facing away from the door. In that case, you can consider placing your desk so that you can see both with your peripheral vision.

3. Prevent Distractions By Facing the Wall

Facing the wall is an effective method to focus and eliminate distraction. However, it can be boring in the long run, so you may want to switch things up.

Some people can work well when they face distractions, while others need help focusing. So which way should a work desk face if you don’t handle distractions well? Consider facing your desk toward a wall.

Facing the wall can work wonders in eliminating distractions. It is extremely useful when you need to keep your head down and focus on a certain task that requires your full attention.

Alternatively, if your office is big enough, you can place your desk in the middle. But you don’t have to sit in the direction of a window or door. Instead, you can face the back wall so that you can limit visual stimulation. Just be sure to properly hide the cords when the table is in the middle of the room.

When you have a small office, facing a wall can make the room feel even smaller. If your desk is up to the wall, you may feel like you have no space. But it can be a great way to help you focus if being in a small space doesn’t make you nervous.

And if you get more distracted by notifications or other things, having your desk face a back wall might not do you any good. It may be a good idea to turn off your phone too.

4. Use Feng Shui for Optimal Productivity

In feng shui, the placement of your desk and workspace (in and outside of your home) represents your career, so it’s best to choose how you place your desk wisely.

If you like the concept of feng shui, you can make it work in your office.

One of the best desk positions in feng shui is the commanding position. This is where you face your desk in the direction of your office door but not quite in line with it.

For example, in an office with a door in the corner, you can place your desk in the middle and have it face the wall with the door. If you want to minimize distractions, you can put your desk along the walls.

Another option to try when using feng shui is to put your desk at an angle. An angle can help encourage change and growth, and it’s useful when you want to move up in your career.

You can combine this with the commanding position so that you can see the door. That way, you can benefit from both positions.

5. Face the East

Vastu shastra is a traditional Indian system of architecture originating in India. It describes the principles of design, layout, space arrangement, and spatial geometry.

Which direction should a work desk face for productivity? According to Vastu Shastra, a Vedic scientist, the best direction is east. Some studies suggest that facing east can help integrate your mind and body, and you can think more creatively.

Facing north is another suitable option, and it can help you think clearly. If facing east in your office has your face away from the door, for example, you may want to face north.

If you can, avoid facing the west or the south. Those directions can make it hard to focus and get work done. When east and north don’t make sense, you can face the northeast direction. Then, you can combine the benefits of the two best directions.

6. Experiment and Find the Best Position

Of course, a simple trick to finding the best desk position is to experiment and figure out which one works best for you. Since everyone is different, everyone should decide what they like for themselves.

Test out a few options if you can’t decide, which direction should a work desk face. What works well for someone else might keep you from being productive. You should consider the office where you work and the job you have.

Then, you can decide if it makes more sense to face the door or the window. And you can think about how facing east or north can help you get into a flow of work.

Give yourself a few days with each position to see how long it takes you to complete a similar task. If one position helps you get more done or if it makes you feel more comfortable, you can stick with it long-term.

Alternating between sitting and standing can not only help you become more productive, but it can also reduce the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle. If you want to try working while standing, consider trying out a standing desk converter.

Vastu for Workplace

Aside from the direction you face when working, Vastu for Office also addresses the following aspects to help create a harmonious balance between positive and negative energies at work:

  • Office Environment

According to the art of structure placement, the office should be surrounded by crowds and traffic. A good hustling and bustling environment is a sign of a prosperous business. 

  • Direction of the Office Building

If it faces the northern directions of the north, northwest, or northeast corner, the office is bound to become very prosperous. These are favorable directions that deliver good energy and luck.

  • Eating at Workstation

Avoid doing it. Based on Vastu for Office, the work area is meant only for working and business dealings and nothing else. Doing anything outside of these activities on your workstation may draw in negative energies that could affect your business.

Which Direction Will Your Work Desk Face?

Whether you got a new office job or have hit a work slump, you’re probably wondering, which direction should a work desk face. For better or worse, one direction isn’t the best position for everyone.

Depending on your office and personality, you may want to face the door or the wall. You might want to face your desk to the east. Or you might want to use feng shui to choose the right location. Either way, consider your needs and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Kelsey Stewart

As a freelance writer working from home, I enjoy writing anything related to office productivity and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Have a nice day! 🙂

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