IN THE NEWS
Last Tuesday, I was forced to work from home because maintenance men were entering my suite (I always assume their fingers get stickier when no one is watching).
With a bad case of brain paralysis, I reached out to Melonie Arscott, geomancer, feng shui specialist, and intuitive life coach, at Melo Spaces, to get some tips on pimping my home office to heighten my creative mojo.
“The physical elements of our environments and how we subconsciously process them can strongly influence our states of mind, including our productivity and creativity,” she told me. “If you make tiny adjustments to your office, you’ll set yourself up for fluid inspiration generation.”
Ummm…yes, please. I’ll have some of that!
I took detailed notes, as she spoke.
• Nix EMFs: “First and foremost, cut down on high levels of EMFs; they make you tired and your brain foggy,” she advised. The easiest way to do this is by introducing plants—which reduce air pollution and noise— and flowers—which bring about chi—into a space.
• Auditory arousal: “There is nothing more soothing than the sound of flowing water,” she said and suggested placing a mini water fountain in my office. She also recommended fast-paced classical music—Baroque period, for example—as it stimulates brainwave activity.
• Colour psychology: “Colour ignites the mind and revives the spirit,” according to Melonie. Yellow and orange work the best to get the creative juices flowing. Small hints of colour, like on a mouse pad or vase, are sufficient to trigger fresh ideas.
• Guiding light: “Expose your office to as much natural light as possible. The sun is nature’s antidepressant,” she joked. But if natural light isn’t available, she recommends opting for full-spectrum lighting.
• Crystal light: “Hanging a spherical multifaceted crystal by a window so it can reflect sunlight light will bring more yang (active energy) into a dark room and promote motivation,” she added. Even if you don’t have a window, you can hang it somewhere where your room lighting will bounce off of it.
• Scent stories: “Essential oils can also awaken your inner innovator,” she concluded. “Peppermint oil is great for headaches when dabbed on the temples, and simply breathing it in relieves fatigue, but keep it away from your eyes.” Additionally, orange oil decreases anxiety and elevates mood levels, while cinnamon oil reduces frustration. These particular oils should not be applied to the body, though—best to invest in an aromatherapy diffuser.
For best results, Melonie recommends having a customized consultation and environmental report prepared. She is currently rebalancing the energy on her website (that is, it is under construction) but feel free to reach out to her for more info at support@melospaces.com.
Items listed in this post, like crystals, essential oils, and aromatherapy diffusers, can be found at crystal, new age, and health food stores.
Women's Work
Five tradeswomen show what it takes to excel in the evolving world of construction
Melonie Arscott
Millwright Apprentice
Hinton Scaffolding Solutions Inc.
“My interest in the skilled trades has been going on since I was 18. My father is an auto mechanic millwright, and even though he never let me help him because he was very old-fashioned, I always loved taking things apart and building things.
“A program in Alberta called Women Building Futures opened up an amazing door for me, equipping me with important skills and helping me to connect with an employer at the end of my training. I chose to apprentice as a millwright because you get to do a little bit of every other trade and work with all different kinds of tradespeople. I’m a company representative while Hinton Scaffolding gets off the ground in Ontario, but I was a CLAC member on the tools recently.
“I love working with my crew and the camaraderie among the team members. I also like the precision of the work. When you’re measuring something, you’re working in thousandths of an inch and using state-of-the-art tools to get the exact measurement that you need. At the end of the day, you feel like you really accomplished something great.
“Succeeding in the construction industry is about more than the trade-specific skills you bring to a work site. You need essential skills like math and English, as well as social skills like a good attitude and a sense of humour—nobody wants to work around someone who’s miserable!
“You’d be surprised how many true gentlemen you bump into on construction sites. I’m not saying everyone’s a gentleman, but a lot of men are fathers and brothers and uncles who show you a lot of respect for what you do. Some men are old school and have prejudices against you, but you just have to accept that it’s the way some people are. You can’t change them; you’re there to do the job.
“It’s important to always be yourself—don’t change for anyone! Walk in with an open mind, go in and get your feet dirty, don’t hesitate, and don’t be afraid. Always be thinking outside the box about what you can do to make the work site better.”
Women in skilled trades networking reception
