PART 1 – CLUTTER
This week in Part 1 of my latest blog read about how to clear the clutter in your house to create positive energy in your home and surroundings.
Take a look around your home and plan the de-cluttering process in stages. Your house is your outer skin, so do the decluttering over a period of time so that it is not overwhelming and so you can enjoy the process. It is also better to take time to do this because you will be making decisions about what to keep or let go of and you do not want to have any regrets.
Clutter should be kept to a minimum because a clutter-free environment promotes productive activity. Don’t be too ruthless about what you get rid of. Sometimes items that remind you of who you are and where you came from form part of your identity and those pleasant memories can stir positive feelings which is good for you. You can always review items again at a later stage and do another swoop and declutter some more. Clutter constitutes:
- Items of clothing in your wardrobe that you never wear or haven’t worn for a long time
- Out-of-date food, medications and cosmetics
- Old newspapers, magazines, leaflets and paperwork
- Damaged or dirty goods that cannot be rejuvenated or rescued
- Things that are no longer useful to you but could be useful to someone else
Cupboards and shelves that always have a build-up of unused and unwanted goods should be cleared out regularly so that the de-cluttering process does not become a time-consuming, tiring exercise that you dread facing into. This usually applies to things you use all the time, such as food stored in your kitchen.
Ensure you carry out repairs and maintenance as and when required – a stitch in time saves nine – to ensure your ‘outer skin’ not only looks good but works correctly too. It really will save you time and money to stay on top of maintenance.
Tackling jobs to clear the clutter from your mind will help reduce your stress levels, and the headspace this will bring means you can focus on the important stuff.
Ensure there are no obstacles in your home and enough circulation space throughout so that you can go from room to room without undertaking an obstacle course! Think of what would happen in the event of a fire at night and you were trying to escape in the dark. Free up traffic space and lay out your furnishings more spaciously, such as allowing enough space for diners to pull out their chair, and space for visitors to navigate their way around a central coffee table to your sofa.
Before disposing of items, contact charity shops in your local area as they could greatly benefit from your unwanted goods as long as your things are in good condition.
Once clutter has been cleared away, let go of it – don’t rush out and replace it all! Remember the golden rule: ‘less is more’.
Next week in Part 2 – Cleaning, read about how to freshen up the energies in your house to create positive energy in your home and surroundings.
