Real talk…sometimes I have a tendency to over-analyze, be slightly obsessive, and work myself up into a frenzy. This could be because I’m stressed about a decision I need to make or I desperately want to know / control the outcome of something. This often causes me to procrastinate or get lost down a rabbit hole of possibilities and analyzing options.

THANKFULLY - I found feng shui!!

Uh, what’s that have to do with anything? You might be asking…

Well, feng shui is all about energy, and what I desperately need in those moments is to clear my energy. No matter what kind of funk you might find yourself in at times – there’s one perfect place I’d recommend you start:

Clear your clutter.

Maybe you feel like this…

Clutter? Really? Do I have to? What’s that even have to do with feng shui??

One of the foundational concepts of feng shui is energy flow. You want there to be an easy, open, lively flow of energy throughout your space. In a more physical sense, if there are boxes, clothes, toys, magazines, etc piled up around the house, it not only blocks you from moving around easily, it blocks the flow of positive chi from moving around your space.

In a more psychological sense – if you’re hanging on to old computers at the bottom of your closet, clothes that don’t fit anymore, books you’ll never read again, broken appliances, or items you or your family have just outgrown – that’s a drain on your psyche.

Every time you see those items, thoughts and feelings might come up like…

guilt: “ugh, why haven’t I taken care of that already?”
procrastination: “I’ll just shove it in the attic and take care of it later.”
frustration: “why can’t I ever find anything to wear in this closet??”
shame: “I’d really love to have them over for dinner, and I could never let anyone see my house like this.”

And the list goes on.

These emotions pile up and can manifest in feelings of lethargy, stuckness, overwhelm, procrastination, depression, and even begin to impact our physical health.

That’s why clearing your clutter is foundational to improving the feng shui of your space. Before any other enhancements can begin positively shifting the energy of your space, if clutter is weighing you down, there’s a slim chance you’d experience benefits from any other feng shui practices.

What exactly falls into the category of “clutter”? Anything you don’t use, don’t love, isn’t functional, or don’t have a home for.

AND – I know clearing your clutter can be a daunting task, so where do you start? Here’s a method that’s worked for me:

Put it on a calendar: To have a deadline for something helps to create a little sense of urgency. This could be a dinner party you schedule where you’re committed to having the kitchen and living room completely cleared up, a garage sale you send out invitations for where you have to be ready with everything you want to sell / give away, or a donation pick up you schedule and promise to donate used clothes and furniture. N
Ritualize it: It can transform the experience if you begin by setting an intention. What do you hope to make space for by clearing your clutter? How do you want to feel in the end? Before you pick anything up – do something that energizes you and gets you in a positive state of mind. Maybe that means you take a shower, go for a run, light a candle or sit down to meditate.
Create a method: Set a time frame you’ll put aside – maybe 30 min at a time, and decide on the areas you’ll tackle first. I prefer going room by room, or even breaking it down into smaller areas, like THIS bookcase. Have boxes or bags ready and separate items by: give away/sell, trash/recycle, or keep. Make sure you then put a date on the calendar for actually getting rid of anything you’re not keeping!
Be consistent: keep the momentum going by committing to doing a little bit every day. Be mindful when you’re thinking about purchasing or bringing home a new item – think back to – do I need this? do I love it? do I have a place for it? It’s also a good practice to be in that every time you buy something new, you clear out another 1 or 2 things you no longer need.

This is also a perfect practice to weave into the changing seasons. As winter draws nearer and you’re pulling out your warmer clothes, why not take some time to de-clutter and really have a fresh start?

Call me crazy, and there’s nothing better than an organized closet of clothes you love, kitchen cabinets where you can find everything easily, or just clear SPACE to move and breathe where your most meaningful items can actually be appreciated.

Try it out and enjoy a fresh space and a fresh state of mind.