Clutter Clearing Tips For The New Year

Many of us are spending a lot more of our time in our homes due to the lockdown measures we now face. As this is an ideal opportunity to declutter our homes, I hope my clutter clearing tips for the New Year help provide support for our well-being and bring positivity into our lives.

Chi energy flows into our homes and workplaces through windows and doors. The home we live in and the place where we work can be an accurate reflection of our lives and therefore if Chi is moving too fast or stagnating this means that some area of our life or business will be affected.

Clutter is the biggest obstacle to a smooth flow of Chi because it creates a blockage that prevents it from moving easily. If the house or workplace is cluttered then the Chi will circulate sluggishly around. This stagnation will, in turn, affect the occupants making them feel confused, sick or stuck in a rut. For the workplace and business, this could cause financial struggles, disappointments, argument and failures.

Beneficial Chi moves in curves, flowing gently like water in a stream or air in a light breeze. This is how we would like it to flow into our homes and workplaces.

Before we explore the clutter clearing tips in detail, it is important to understand what clutter really is, why we collect clutter and how clutter affects us.

Defining clutter

Clutter can be defined as anything which is not

1. Genuinely useful
2. Genuinely cherished or loved
3. Orderly

Additional items which are broken unfinished or out of place count as clutter at least temporarily.

Only you can decide if something is genuinely useful or loved…….It is how you perceive it.

Physical clutter in the home or workplace creates blockages in the Chi flow which reflects blockages in your own life or working environment and therefore can significantly affect your well-being and ability to be successful.

Have you ever cleared out a cupboard, loft, garage, etc and felt better for it?

Why do we collect clutter?

Understanding why we collect clutter is a critical first step to letting go of it.

• Might come in useful some day
• Sentimental reasons
• Unwanted gifts
• Inherited attitudes from parents
• A belief that more is better
• Buying things you don’t need from persuasive advertising
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders
• Security – It makes you feel good to have lots of stuff even if you don’t use it.

How can clutter affect you?

And as you will see, the negative impacts of clutter can be quite extensive!

• Having clutter can make you feel tired.
• Having clutter can keep you in the past especially if you keep things from a previous relationship.
• Having clutter can affect your body weight as you do not have the motivation to look after yourself.
• Having clutter can make you feel ashamed as you may not want people to come to your home.
• Having clutter can confuse you as you will not know where everything is.
• Having clutter can cause depression.
• Having clutter can make you disorganised and can also be a fire risk.
• Having clutter can block the positive energy flow and therefore stop the positive energy – Chi nourishing your life areas.

Clearing Clutter

Here are three methods to deal with clutter

• The let nature take its course method (things will never change and probably get worse).
• The wait until you die and let your relatives sort it out method.
• The go for it method. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND CLEAR IT YOURSELF.

Getting started

Making the decision to get started is the hardest part. There are a few things to consider before you fully embrace our clutter clearing tips.

• Handle your emotions about clutter. Be positive
• Motivate yourself
• Decide where to begin
• Decide how fast to do it
• Make a list and cross it off as you do it.

Clutter clearing tips for the New Year

So, let’s get going…

•  Decide that clutter clearing is important and make time for it.
• Start small (choose one drawer, one cupboard, one shelf, one small room
• Get a friend to help you. (particularly helpful with clothes).
• Don’t ask “might this come in useful someday?”
• If you don’t like to throw things away, take them to a charity shop.

Remember that every item you throw away can release energy. Being clear of clutter is the best way of getting a new lease of life.

It can be scary when you start clearing clutter, so if this is the case. Just let a few things go and see how you feel. It will become easier as you go on.

If you have a problem with a partner or your children collecting clutter, then lead by example. Don’t clear someone else’s clutter.

During sorting out your clutter it will fall into four or five categories.

• A rubbish box – This is definitely junk destined for the dustbin
• A repairs box – For items which need repairing, altering etc. Only put things in that you want or need and set a time limit on repairing them.
• A recycling box – For things to be recycled, sold, exchanged, given to charity shops or someone else.
• A transit box – For things that are on their way to another place in your home
• Dilemma box – For things you are not sure about. If not used after 6 months then they should be removed.

The clutter test

Does it lift my energy when I think about it or look at it?

Do I absolutely love it?

Is it genuinely useful?

Try and keep your home 80% clutter-free in key areas.  Once you get on top of your clutter issues, stop clutter before it starts, get organised and use things and let them go. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel in your home.

Article by Jackie Tyrrell of Feng Shui Pathway

If you are interested in finding out more about clutter clearing and/or Feng Shui please visit www.fengshuipathway.co.uk for more information and/or check out the Feng Shui articles on the HLE website. Jackie runs regular workshops including online options during the pandemic.

Header image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay