How Do I Bring the Outdoors Into My House?
Research demonstrates the importance of spending time outside in nature. Just thirty minutes a day, research suggests, can help improve sleep quality, boost the immune system, and reduce anxiety and stress. Many believe that this is essential to a person’s well-being, however, we may forget to bring this natural element inside.
What Are the 7 Steps to Decluttering Your Life the Feng Shui Way?
In the Feng Shui decluttering approach, there are seven steps to clearing clutter from your life. We refer to Karen Kingston’s book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, and the seven steps to decluttering. We have been reading this book every year to refresh our ability to explain this concept to our clients.
What is the Difference Between Clutter and Decluttering?
Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. In fact, research shows that when we have clutter in our lives, it can increase our cortisol levels, the “stress hormone.” Living in constant clutter can make us feel like we are under unrelenting assault. Where does clutter come from and how can we let it go?
What is the First Thing to Declutter?
When we approach a new client, we often discuss which direction they would prefer to go. Some of our clients prefer to use the KonMari Method®. The KonMari Method® moves in a sequence. This sequence is: Clothes, Books, Papers, Konomo (Miscellaneous Items) and finally, Sentimental Items.
Swedish Death Cleaning
Any time you drop into my house, it’s visitor ready. Most people want to stop reading right here, and say that I’m crazy or abnormal. I get it. But, I also have learned a few tips and tricks over the years, and if you read further, you’ll see it’s not as hard as it looks. It makes it easy to invite guests in for a cup of coffee on the spur of the moment.
Back to School Organizing Basics
The beginning of the school year brings with it fall weather, a more hectic schedule, and new demands on everyone’s time. While children look forward to a new school year, it can cause chaos in your home. Try a few of these ideas to get organized before school starts and the transition will be easier. Great tips and tricks for readers.
Perfectionism - Your Home Will Never Be Perfect, Get Over It
With decluttering and organizing, there is no such thing as perfectionism. No such thing as a perfectly decluttered and organized house. It’s always a work in progress. Even my house, that of a professional organizer, is constantly being updated and decluttered. I try to keep only what I absolutely need or love.
Paper and Piles: Oh My! How to Declutter Paper
A single sheet of paper takes up little room, which makes it very easy to accumulate far too many papers before you realize it. If you don’t approach the paper selection process with a commitment to getting rid of almost everything, you will barely make a dent in the volume. Keep a pending box for those items that need immediate attention.
Toss Box - How to Declutter Your Closet In No Time
Each time you touch an article of clothing, and the clothing doesn’t look right, you know you’ll never wear it again. The same is true if it’s too big or small, or it has a stain that bugs you. Put these in the “toss box.” Then, when you are ready to make the pilgrimage to the donation store, or a collection box, you’ll have things to donate.
Someday Syndrome - The Cause of Clutter
Why does she keep a pile of recipes she will never make? That’s the question for any clutter we know we don’t want but still keep. Most likely, she’s suffering from “Someday Syndrome” and having trouble letting go. “Someday Syndrome” is a form of procrastination and avoidance that keeps us stuck in clutter and old habits.
Feng Shui
When we have too many things occupying one space, or things that aren’t being utilized, this creates a blockage of energy flow. Feng Shui practitioners refer to this as clutter. A simple technique in this tradition is referred to as clutter clearing. Clutter clearing is a way to look at how to let go of things to clear energy and clutter.
Closet Clutter Chaos
Our main mission in the decluttering and organizing process is to allow you to be your best self, optimize what you already have, and make life easier and less chaotic. When we remain in the present, instead of worrying about the past or the future, we are in better touch with ourselves. This is great for our mental health.
The Uncluttered Life® and Our Organizing Philosophy
Many of us hold on to images and concepts of ourselves that no longer apply. We also hold on to clutter that reinforces that image. Holding on to things that no longer serve us keeps us “stuck” in certain emotional and physical places and patterns. It’s often tough to get out from under these patterns. We offer suggestions that help.