There are different kinds of clutter: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Often these overlap – one type of clutter can cause another type of clutter. Physical clutter can be having too many possessions to fit into the space you have available, but even if you have more space than possessions, especially if you do not use them regularly. Physical clutter can be clothes that no longer fit or are no longer in style, an out of control...

Have you ever had one of those days where you go to find something and it isn’t where you thought it was? It is so frustrating! It happens to me more often than I would like: My new camera vanished. After a frenzied search around the house, I found it a few hours later exactly where I’d left it: in a purse I don’t usually use but took on a weekend trip.  A certain grey jacket not worn since last fall...

There are times when things (objects, projects) in our lives seem to fit the bill of clutter, but are hard to let go of. This is a time to be especially kind to yourself because there is usually a reason for holding on.  Sometimes, holding on to the past is a way of keeping the door open on a part of your life that is almost over. It is similar to being immersed in a book you really enjoy or strongly identify with. When the book ends, your...

When I downsized my belongings five years ago, I gave away or disposed of nearly all of my Christmas decorations, keeping only those I truly loved. I didn’t have a lot to start out with, but I did have a collection that spanned a few decades…what is it about holiday decorations that brings out the sentiment? As we grow and change, our decorating tastes change to match. Often our homes reflect that growth, but holiday decorations tend...

Where does your clutter live? Under your bed? In the attic? The Basement? According to feng shui principles, the places where [tag]clutter[/tag] takes root is meaningful but we are often not aware of what that meaning is. The following examples do not have to be true all the time of course, but something definitely worth thinking about as you clear your clutter. Attic: Represents things hanging over your head, goals or dreams beyond your...