Living Without Chaos

Good feng shui – the part that makes living in your home a joy and a pleasure – is clutter management. Clutter blocks the flow of chi, prosperity and goodness in your life. The sad truth is that not too many people can manage their clutter easily. Some people hide it in the closet or under the bed or in drawers but that does not stop clutter from blocking flow of energy through your house and your life.

Every day, we get stuff that we have to deal with – mail, gifts, things we buy – and often we don’t have the time to deal with it or the place to store it. If clutter bothers you, and you want to invite good Feng Shui try these tips:

Sort your mail when it arrives

Our mail is a leading cause of clutter. It is also often a cause of stress if there are a lot of bills but that is another story. All you need to do is set up a basic system for dealing with your mail every day. (You can also apply it to the stacks of mail already stashed around the house.) The basic system calls for separating the mail instantly into trash, action, file, or pass to someone else.

Tidy daily

Sometimes our homes need a good big general cleaning. However, if your place is cluttered, chances are that you can benefit from a little daily cleaning. You can get started right now with a 15-minute cleaning. That is it for the day. Pick one area and just deal with it for 15 minutes. Do this every day and soon the difference will be startling.

Clean as you go

No matter what you are working on – whether it is making a meal or scrapbooking – tidy up as you go. Put things back where you got them. For example, if you are making a meal, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher or a sink full of soapy water when you are done with them. Put the empty packages and scraps in the trash. Put the milk and eggs back in the fridge when you are done with them. Wipe off the counter when you are done.

Be generous

Give away things you don’t need or use. One year the community had a “treasure exchange” where people bundled up and boxed up things they never used and took it to the community center. It was set up as a yard sale or flea market. The only difference was that no one paid for stuff.  You can do this on a personal basis. I keep stuff I don’t need in the front hallway and when people drop by I ask them to see if there is anything they want.  One person’s trash really can be another person’s treasure.

Dust

Dirt and grime block the flow of feng shui. Not only does dusting keep your place clean, it offers good feng shui.