Over 365 million people in the world own a computer. Whether its purpose for you is research, connectivity, entertainment, functionality or work, your dependence upon it can take up a significant portion of your life. With so much time in your life dedicated to this digital machine, you are going to need effectual ways to deal with the downside of all that it comes with. Here are four different tips to immediately implement.
Protect
Protection is a basic tenant of Feng Shui. Ancient Chinese formed early concepts of Feng Shui based on protecting themselves from the elements and from enemies. When you take protective actions to enhance your peace of mind and diminish your vulnerability, you are strengthening your chi. You can protect your computer by making sure you have an external hard drive that is programmed to do an automatic daily back up of your computer. This small investment can become a lifesaver in the event of a computer catastrophe. Install any protective software, virus detectors or firewalls if needed.
Leave Space
In the same way that you want to have plenty of free space in your surroundings for the chi to flow freely, not get jammed up and have plenty of room for good things to come into your life, you also need to have ample space (or memory) on your computer for the same reasons. Sort your files by size and double check to see if you really need the large files that are taking up the most space. Often you will find unnecessary duplicates. When you push the limits of digital capacity, you are setting up your computer to crash or move slow. Sluggish, slow moving chi without ample free space is not condusive for new opportunities to come into your inbox.
Motivate
Choose a password that inspires you. This is a simple yet highly effective way to send your higher self a positive reminder. Make it relate to a goal you are trying to achieve, a profession you always dreamed to have, or a state of mind you are striving for. Change up your screen saver or desk top image regularly to generate a fresh and positive energy. Give thought to the image that you see everyday on your desk top.
Ground Yourself
My friend Kate Hanley is a yoga instructor and founder of MsMindBody.com. Hanley is the Ultimate Ambassador of Chill and wrote the book “The Anywhere, Anytime Chill Guide”. I have found her how-to-not-freak-out-tips to be unique and highly effective. (Especially her tips for dealing with road rage – but you’ll have to read her book to get that one.) I asked her to share her greatest tip for dealing with chilling out with the computer and here is her suggestion:
“Every major mind/body tradition considers the earth to be a source of stability and strength. To literally “ground” yourself when dealing with the bits and bytes of the electronic world, uncross your legs and place the soles of both feet firmly on the floor. Even if you’re 12 stories up in an office building, this simple movement will help you stay focused, alert, and less likely to get pulled away by the latest Twitter storm. Better yet, stand up while you check your email and Facebook. It will keep you energized, promote mental focus, and prevent you from frittering away too much time on aimless surfing. It will also help your muscles not get kinked up and give your bones some work to do during the day, which will help them stay stronger over time.”
So there you have it. Protect, leave space, motivate and keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!
