NEW SPACES
I’m practically buzzing with possibility as I write this from my new North Raleigh office. The morning light pours across the hardwood in the lobby just outside my door, and I can feel my nervous system say, “Yes, please—more of that.” For years I told myself environment didn’t matter; pretending I didn’t care about aesthetics insulated me from the scarcity story that whispered, “You don’t deserve anything different.”
But when my husband and I finally upleveled our home, something beautiful happened: we expanded our internal capacity right alongside the square footage. Now this fresh office feels like another invitation to evolve—proof that the outer container can support the inner transformation. I share this because many of my high‑performing clients treat workspace as an after‑thought. If that’s you, consider this permission slip to create surroundings that nourish your body and spark your leadership.
Your Environment Is Coaching You (Whether You Notice or Not)
By Gin Burchfield, PCC, NBCHWC
The Room Is Speaking—Are You Listening?
I’m writing this in a shaft of late‑morning light that skims across my desk, catches the rim of my coffee mug, and lands—soft as a sigh—on my forearm. My inhales respond by lengthening. Shoulders melt away from my ears. That single beam of light just coached me into a different physiological state before I typed a word.
Your surroundings are doing the same for you all day long. They cue neurochemicals, posture, the cadence of your thoughts, even how generous you feel in a tense conversation. Most high performers I work with are masters of internal mindset hacks yet remain apprentices of external design. Let’s change that.
1. Clutter ≈ Cortisol
A landmark UCLA study found that women describing their homes as “cluttered” exhibited chronically elevated cortisol compared with those who used language like “restful” or “renewing.” Translation: your brain interprets visual chaos as unfinished business and fires the stress alarm.
Try This Today
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Pick a micro‑zone—just the left side of your desk or a single shelf.
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Set a five‑minute timer.
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Remove everything. Wipe the surface.
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Return only what sparks clarity for the next task at hand.
When the timer dings, notice your breath and energy. Most clients report a palpable “mental exhale” that lingers for hours.
High‑stakes meeting in five? Skip the doom‑scroll and do this reset instead:
| Minute |
Action |
Why It Works |
| 0‑1 |
Orient: Slowly turn your head, letting your gaze land on five distinct objects outside your screen. |
Activates the ventral vagus nerve, orienting you to safety. |
| 1‑2 |
Ground: Place both feet flat, spread toes, feel chair contact. |
Proprioceptive input calms limbic reactivity. |
| 2‑3 |
Breathe + Lengthen: Inhale through nose, lengthen spine 2 cm; exhale imagining shoulders dripping downward. |
Couples diaphragmatic breath with postural shift—instant parasympathetic boost. |
| 3‑4 |
Adjust One Variable: Dim overhead light, open shade, or queue focus music. |
Gives the nervous system agency; tiny environmental wins translate to cognitive confidence. |
| 4‑5 |
Set Intention: Glance at a single anchor word (post‑it on monitor) that names the energy you want to embody—e.g., Clarity. |
Prefrontal cortex loves a target; your space just became a visual accountability partner. |
Five minutes. Zero software downloads. Big return.
3. Light Is Leadership Fuel
The Neuroscience Institute at the University of Surrey showed that exposure to 10,000 lux of morning light improved executive function scores by up to 25 % compared with standard office lighting. The mechanism? Light hits retinal ganglion cells ➜ signals the suprachiasmatic nucleus ➜ modulates dopamine and cortisol rhythms that govern focus.
Practical Upgrades
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North‑Facing Window Hack: If your office window is north‑facing (low glare, steady luminance), position your main work zone within a 60‑degree angle of that light.
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Task‑Lamp Trio: Use three 500‑lumen desk lamps instead of one overhead can. The triangulation reduces shadows that fatigue ocular muscles.
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Sunbreaks: Two minutes on a sunny balcony at 11 AM outperforms a third cup of coffee—without jacking your adrenals.
Bring It Home
Your environment already has a seat at the leadership table. The question is whether it’s a supportive mentor or a relentless critic. Start small: clear one surface, invite one ray of natural light, practice the polarity drill once this week. Let your outer container rise to meet the generous, grounded, and wildly effective leader you’re becoming.
If you try any of these experiments, hit reply and tell me what shifted. I read every story, and celebrating your wins is one of my favorite kinds of room service.
With spacious courage,
Gin
UPCOMING EVENTS
I'll be excited to share details on our Networking Meet-and-Greet, coming soon!
CONNECT WITH ME
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gin-burchfield
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