"Vacation" from Clutter

When you go on vacation, you carry only what you will need for the time you are going to be away from home. That's one reason vacations are so relaxing... we get away from the overwhelm of too much stuff. If you can easily go for a week or two without the majority of the stuff in your home, you can probably live without a whole lot of it forever. Asking yourself, "How long could I live without this item?" can help to clear out a lot of stuff.

Of course, one of the things that makes home "home" instead of a hotel room is that it is full of all those things we love but which don't travel with us. Somewhere in the middle there's a state of perfect balance: the freedom and peace of a vacation, and the comfort and pleasure of being surrounded by the things we love... without the clutter!

"There are a lot of books about getting rid of clutter, but this program is a life-changing experience."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

Clutter-Clearing and Weight Loss

If you've been meaning or hoping to slim down, think of clutter clearing as part of your weight-loss strategy. Clutter in your home surrounds you with a lot of stuck, stagnant energy, which makes it harder to lose weight. Clutter also leads to lack of energy and motivation, which makes it harder to lace up your running shoes or put start that exercise video playing.

When you clear your clutter, you release that stuck energy, and some of the energy that has "stuck" to you in the form of extra pounds may also clear away on its own. An added benefit is that you will feel more energized in an uncluttered space, and are likely to be more enthusiastic about exercising.

Keep clutter clearing in mind as you work on your eating habits, too. Next time you reach for that donut or slice of pizza, recognize that what you are doing is cluttering your body with empty calories and excess weight. Do you really want to do that?

"I have gone down two sizes and 20 pounds. I have no other excuse of why that should be except doing the clutter-clearing. Because of the outer physical clearing, some things in my inner world had to get cleared as well. But after that the weight came off me."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

Taking a Break from Clutter-Clearing

When the clutter-clearing bug bites, you'll probably start off at high speed with lots of enthusiasm and, more likely than not, with some unrealistic goals about how much you can accomplish in a short period of time. Inevitably, the day will come when suddenly you feel exhausted. That's normal, so don't feel you have to keep going at top speed until it's all done. Take a break when you need to, and be alert to exhaustion that's a sign of emotional resistance, not just physical fatigue. Clutter-clearing often brings buried emotions to the surface. Slow down when you have to, and use a journal or notebook to explore any issues that come up for you.

"I've had my money's worth already even though I've only tried a little bit of Lesson 1, because the empathy helped me face the discomfort and confusion of sorting and throwing away rather than doing something else that seemed more important all the time."
~ Clutter-Free Forever support group member

Creating a 'Clutter-Free Zone' - First Step

Your first clutter-clearing goal should be to clear out a specific space somewhere in the home to be your "Clutter-Free Zone" - a place where you can retreat, relax, and regroup as you go through the upheavals of dealing with the rest of your stuff. For many people this space is in the bedroom or a comfortable chair in a quiet corner someplace else in the house, but you may have a different spot that's even better for you. For example, if a long soak in a hot tub is your favorite way to unwind, you might wish to de-clutter your bathroom first, to make that space as soothing and tranquil as possible.

"Because of this program, my whole attitude and energy have changed.... I have made more progress in the past few weeks than I have in years - just since I began your ebook and lessons. I am easily letting go of things that I couldn't before." ~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member

What Clutter Clearing Can Do for You

You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits of clutter clearing simply by imagining your life free of all the negative effects of clutter: lack of focus and clarity; feelings of being professionally, creatively, spiritually, and/or romantically stuck; insufficient time and attention for self and family; increased stress, irritability and depression. Wouldn't it be great to be free of all these? For more, read this excellent article by Stephanie Roberts: What Clutter Clearing Can Do for You.