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Happy New Year Feng Shui Decluttering Tips, Round Two (Part 1)!

1/27/2012

Bagua 4: Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories! Part One!

How are you feeling about all those periodicals you went through? Haven’t recycled them or gotten rid of them yet? Get to it!

If there isn’t anyone else to encourage you to do this- I will. You can do this! I have many clients who started out thinking that going through their homes was an epically impossible feat, and by the time we were done, they were relieved and amazed. It can be done.

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Happy New Year Feng Shui Decluttering Tips!

1/20/2012

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It is the New Year! This is an excellent opportunity for one to make resolutions, adopt new habits, and ditch old ones! This can be an overwhelming thought, but if you are anything like me, a clean home and work environment means a clean mind that will be abundant with new ideas, projects, and goals!

This can often seem like a monumental process, but if you break it down into smaller goals, the big picture will be much more attainable.

I found a pretty decent step-by-step guideline at www.fengshuiforus.com. It breaks down all aspects of Feng Shui, but for my purposes (and for the declutteree's sanity!) I am breaking this down into smaller, "bite-size" portions.

Try a day by day, or a week by week. Set aside time (even if it is just 15 minutes at a time) to commit yourself to a cleaner, healthier lifestyle... you will be pleasantly surprised at how you can incorporate this into your day-to-day enjoyment!

Remember: It takes 21 days to make or break a habit! Only YOU can start that journey... today!

Basically, the Feng Shui principle is to break your living space into 9 "Bagua", or "Life Areas":

Career, Life Mission and Individuality
Marriage, Relationships and Partnerships
Health, Family and Community
Wealth, Prosperity and Self Worth
Center of Good Fortune and Gratitude
Spirituality, Helpful People and Travel
Children, Creativity and Entertainment
Wisdom, Self Knowledge and Calm
Fame, Reputation and Social Life

"Feng Shui For Us" specifies:

"Please keep in mind that these are not general housekeeping and organizing tips, but rather advice on how to deal with certain kinds of items when we feel they have gotten out of hand."

Where to start? It varies from person to person. Some people say start with something small, so you feel that sense of accomplishment and strength to tackle something bigger. My theory is to start with the biggest, most daunting area (which sometimes requires help... don't be afraid to ask!), and after that everything else will be gravy.

One would think to commence with number one and work your way down the list. Sometimes not so true. In this instance, it seems a good place to begin.

So, starting today, or this weekend... try this one:

1. Career, Life Mission, & Individuality. This is the room you walk into that is closest to the main door of your house, if you follow Feng Shui.

However, who wants to walk into their house after a hard day's work and the first thing they look at is a mess? I don't necessarily agree with the ""Feng Shui For Us" process on this one, so here is my spin on the concept of this segment:

PERIODICALS: Magazines, newspapers, newsletters, bulletins

Got stacks of magazines kicking around that you don't know what to do with? Everyone has their different opinions about this. Recycling old magazines can be case sensitive (I had a client who kept Cook's Illustrated magazines because she already paid for the magazine, why pay for an online subscription as well?), but for the most part... you have read them, enjoyed them, now recycle them!

If you DO have recipe magazines, one idea is to cut out the recipe, or tear out the page, get a 3-ring binder, and start your own personal cookbook! If you do this, you must commit to putting these the pages and cutouts in an organiser or book. Otherwise, they really should go.

With little exception, there is no reason to keep many if any (other than current) magazines and newspapers (most information is accessible on the interweb), unless you need kindling for the fire. Once a new magazine comes in, the old one should go out. If you make this a habit, it will become second nature in a very short period of time! The hindrance for most people seems to be the lack of "jump start" to initiate the process.

Make a date! If necessary, recruit your friends, significant other, kids, or relatives to join in the process. Make a plan! Make sure you know when recycling day is (or load up the car and make a trip to the recycle center). If you are feeling particularly saucy post an ad on your local Craigslist or contact your local schools to see if anyone needs magazines or newspapers for art projects. Make a deadline! If within a week no one has gotten back to you or responded to your ad, follow through with the initial plan and get rid of those periodicals!

Finally... celebrate! If you enlisted the help of others to get this job done, celebrate by ordering a pizza (or in my case, my niece and nephew love making tacos at home!). If it's just you, take a bubble bath. Enjoy a glass of tea (or wine). Sit back, pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and start imagining what you can accomplish next! Which is...

Next: 4. Wealth, Prosperity and Self Worth (a.k.a. "clothing clutter!)

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Happy New Year Feng Shui Decluttering Tips, Round Two (Part 1)!

Happy New Year Feng Shui Decluttering Tips!

moxy.

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