Which direction does your desk face? Do you think your work performance is affected by whether you are facing North, South, East or West? It does.
Fascinating cutting-edge research in the field of neuroscience, shows how facing a certain direction is critical for integrated brain functioning and maximum mental performance.
That’s right. Based on the principles of Maharishi Ayurveda’s sister science, Maharishi Sthåpatya Veda(MSV),studies on peak brain function show that the firing patterns of neurons (brain cells) in the thalamus (which regulates sensory information & levels of awareness etc), are significantly different depending on which direction a person is facing.
Cells in the nervous system detect and respond to changes in body position. Look in one direction and a specific set of neurons activate. Look in another direction and a different set activate.
So what is best direction for optimal brain performance while you work?
East.
That’s right. From the research findings, it is strongly indicated that facing east is by far
the best direction to face, for peak work performance and all round mind-body integration.
Next best is facing North. South and West are considered unfavourable and should be avoided where possible.
Tips:
1. If you are struggling at work with concentration, focus, decision-making or any other mental functions, or it’s a relatively easy thing to change your home or work station/desks orientation, change it so that you are facing true east.
2. If east is just not possible, go for north as your second-best option.
3. If you can’t get exactly east or north, go for north of east or east of north.
References: Journal of Neuroscience 15 (1995): 6280-6290; and Processing the Head Direction Cell Signal: A Review and Commentary’, Brain Research Bulletin 40 (1996): 477-486.
Bonus Tip: Success for Meetings/Negotiations/Presentations
Don’t think the direction you face is only important at your desk. Your thinking, decision-making and clarity, will also be improved when facing east (or north) when conducting business meetings etc.
Of course, you need to take into account who else your dealing with. If you’re selling something and are perfectly clear on your pitch, you may prefer your audience to face east, so they ‘clearly see’ the benefits.
If presenting at a meeting, is it more important that you present the information clearly, or that the audience can assimilate the information better? Vary the direction you face to suit.
* Studies suggest the east for more creative thinking. north is better for more ‘clear thinking’.
Give it a try and see if notice any differences.
* Important Note:
If you ever invite me to speak to your group, I’m happy to face west, so that the audience can face east…just to give people every chance to ‘get’ my jokes. Often, they need all the help they can get.
Have a Laugh: Speaking of Facing Certain Directions: Know any Technicians?
During the French Revolution a priest, a lawyer and a technician were lined up at the guillotine to be beheaded.
They were given the choice to look up or to look facing down in the guillotine.
The priest said, “Well Heaven is up, so I’ll look up, so I can see where I’m going.”
They placed the Priest in the guillotine facing up and released the blade. The blade stopped just inches from the priest, so they let him go, thinking it was a miracle.
The lawyer thought, “Well if it worked for the priest, it might work for me,” so they placed him in the guillotine looking up. They released the blade, and it stopped just inches from the lawyer, who claimed he can’t be executed twice for the same crime, so they let him go.
The technician thought, “Well why not?” So they put him in the guillotine looking up, and the technician said, “Wait a minute! If you swap the red and the blue wires over, you might make this thing work”.
