Clutter-Clearing Alternatives

There are all kinds of ways to approach the challenge of clearing clutter, which Feng Shui considers one of the very first things to do to create positive Chi energy in your space.

My friend Mark sent me an article he enjoyed the other day, that provides a very specific approach to clearing clutter and simplifying your life.

I’m not sure I agree with all its advice, but what do you think?

Could this start-from-scratch approach work for you?

photo courtesy of zenhabits.net.

Lose Weight & Get Healthy with Feng Shui

The benefits of Feng Shui extend into many parts of your life, as it brings its positive effects to your health, your wealth, your relationships and more.

You’ve learned a few Feng Shui bedroom tips for getting a good night’s sleep, but what about other health matters, like staying in shape and losing weight?

Feng Shui has excellent ideas about improving and maintaining your health. Here are a few that will help focus your intention on slimming down and getting healthy this summer.

Is your kitchen in sight when you enter your home?
The first thing you see sets the tone for your experience every time you walk through the door of your home.

A first view of your kitchen – especially your stove or refrigerator – may trigger hunger pangs even if you’re not hungry. Diminish its impact by screening it from view or disguising the appliances.

For example, clearing magnets from the refrigerator will reduce its visual impact and “magnetic attraction.” You might also cover the front of the fridge with a material that helps it blend into the background.

Are your counters clear — or crowded?
A cluttered countertop creates a sense of confusion that can distract you from just how much you’re actually eating.

Bring order to the kitchen by clearing the counters of everything but the items you use every day (that’s every day).

When Chi energy has room to flow, this sense of clarity extends to the foods you consume. You’ll be more likely to prepare only what you need, when you need it.

For more great info about tuning up your kitchen, check out these Top-Ten Kitchen Feng Shui Tips.

Is your diet aligned with the seasons?
Feng Shui extends to the particular foods you eat, keeping your body in balance by eating foods that are in season.

Summertime, for example, is the season of the Fire element, characterized by hot weather, long days, and conserving energy in the heat.

The best foods for summer refresh and cool you down – salads, fresh fruits and vegetables, light carbohydrates, and raw foods.

By contrast the best foods for winter are hot, expansive things like stews, casseroles, dried fruits and beans: food that warms and nourishes us as we expend energy in the cold.

So in summer you need to watch out for a very modern challenge: air conditioning that “fools” your body into thinking it’s winter. You may be eating heavy “winter” foods just when you need to be at your lightest.

If you’d like to know more about the Feng Shui of food, please let me know.

Do you have a “cluttered diet?”
Avoid eating between meals and drink lots of water to keep your body clear, stay energized and give yourself a feeling of fullness without calories.

Is your body’s Chi energy moving?
Finally, what would a health and weight-loss article be without a reminder about the benefits of exercise!? Chi energy reacts to your attention and intention.

Keep moving and your Chi will respond with good health and a feeling of lightness, energy and clarity.

How Much Space vs. How Much Stuff?

A question came in earlier this week about how much stuff it’s ok to have in a space — is there some kind of percentage rule of thumb about it?

Here are a few ideas to help you decide if you have too much stuff:

If the amount of stuff you have in your space makes you feel stuck in any way — that’s too much stuff.

If you glance at a pile and don’t know what’s in it — that’s too much stuff.

If you can’t find what you need because so many things need to be moved to get at it — that’s too much stuff.

If the 80/20 rule applies — you wear or use 20% of your stuff 80% of the time — that’s too much stuff.

If you don’t love, use or need everything in your home — you’ve got too much stuff.

The answer will differ for each of us, and you can expect your answer to evolve over time.

How do you know when you’ve got too much stuff? Please leave your answer in the Comments!

Getting Unstuck – Treat Yourself As Your Own Honored Guest

(More) Best Feng Shui Tips For Your Office

It’s Business Feng Shui week here at Open Spaces Feng Shui.

My previous post focused on one area of the Business Bagua. Here are a few more essential tips for organizing your office and filling it with good Chi energy.

Whether you go to an office or work from home, your success is enhanced when you work in an atmosphere that supports your ability to focus and be productive.

Here are nine tips guaranteed to create a productive atmosphere in your office.

1. Use Feng Shui’s Bagua Energy Map to place things in your office. (You can download a Bagua for Business here.) For example, client files go in the Relationships area, while revenue-related items go in the Wealth corner. 
2. Declutter! Clutter accumulates fast in a busy workspace.  Clear your desktop of non-essential items, create files that support your work, archive materials you no longer work with, and schedule one day per year for a total cleanup.
3. When you move from office to office, take a half-day to unpack all your boxes so they don’t become obstacles, or worse, auxiliary pieces of furniture.
4. If possible, set up a tabletop fountain to symbolically bring in wealth and create subtle background noise.  Alternatively, a photo of a beautiful waterfall creates a similar impression of abundance.
5. High-quality file cabinets can change your life because they’re built for easy access.  Lateral cabinets are only 18” deep, so they make a sleek, yet super-functional, addition to your workspace.
6. If possible place your desk in the Command Position, facing the door. “No surprises” is something we want at work as much as possible For cubes, a small, strategically-placed mirror provides a view of the entry behind you.
7. Place a small fan under your desk to circulate air & Chi energy.  Its white noise soothes the atmosphere and provides fresh air that improves your ability to concentrate.
8. Get a “do not disturb” sign for your door or the back of your chair to reduce unwanted interruptions.
9. Give yourself an anchor with a bit of your personality — a piece of art you love, awards or special gifts you’ve received, or anything that reminds you of your uniqueness.

How are you making your office your own? Let me know in the Comments!