Spring Into Clearing Your Clutter!

Spring is traditionally the time that homes were cleaned from top to bottom.  It was when windows and doors could be thrown open to let in the fresh air, and open wood burning fires were no longer being used, so smoke could be cleaned from the walls. 

These days Spring is still a wonderful time to get busy and clear away the Winter cobwebs. There's a natural instinct to have a good clean out as the weather starts to improve and there's new growth right outside your door.

The hardest part is always getting started, but once you do you'll find that all the stagnant energy trapped in the clutter will be released for you to use in other ways. 

So where DO you start?

Step 1 ~ Get motivated.  Sometimes easier said than done... motivation can come and go in a fleeting moment for me... but if I need some prompting I always go back to my favourite book "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston.  Check out the bagua diagram and read up on how physical clutter affects all aspects of your life, health and wellbeing... that should be a good start!

Step 2 ~ Open your curtains, blinds, windows and doors and let the light and fresh air flood in!  It's amazing how light can change the way you feel about the space... it also allows you to see things that maybe have been hidden in the gloom of those dark Winter days.  Sometimes just re-arranging the furniture can make the space feel better!

Step 3 ~ Prioritise... if you're like me you'll need to start small and get some "instant" results or boredom will set in quickly! Make a list of what is bothering you the most... which area of the house is the most cluttered?  Or which area of a room is the worst?  If in doubt TAKE PHOTOS of the room / space.  It's amazing how things become clearer and you can be more 'objective' when you see the space in a photo.

Step 4 ~ Use "sorting boxes".  This is a great time saver that I use.  Grab a few cardboard boxes, label them with categories like... "charity", "rubbish", "keep but relocate"... and make sure you have one labelled "decide later" for things that you can't make a quick decision about!  Using the boxes saves you from wandering around the house putting things away because if you're like me you get distracted really easily.

 

Step 5 ~ Get the "clutter" off the premises!  If the stuff is for donations, then stick it in the car and drop it off at the charity the next time you go past.

Step 6 ~ Give the space a really good dust and vacuum... maybe even use a bunch of sage to "smudge" the house after you've cleared and cleaned.  It's amazing to feel the energy change after this process is completed.

Step 7 ~ Celebrate!  Take some "after" photos and compare them to the "befores".  Treat yourself, share your success with a friend, invite someone over to show off your new space, be proud of your efforts!