What is clutter, really? Clutter is disorder. Clutter is confusion. Clutter is what we don't want keeping us from finding and enjoying what we do want. Clutter is blocked energy.

Could you live without clutter? Would you even like to? What kind of life would it be? A life without wasted time looking for things and lots of room for good things to come to us. A life where the things we love are front and center, easy to enjoy and proudly displayed

Live Without Clutter

How do you live without clutter? Are there simple secrets? Here are ones that work for me

Secret #1

Choose order and clarity. Notice the bad vibrations caused by unwanted or out of place objects.

Do you feel better when you put things back where they belong? Do you feel relief when you give away unwanted things or trash broken and outdated belongings? That's how life will be once you decide to live without clutter.

Secret #2

Start with one area and keep it sacred. Even if it's just a closet shelf or the dining room, take away absolutely everything except furniture. Then put it back only very slowly. If you start to feel "stifled" ask yourself these questions:

1. Why do I have this?
2. Does it still mean to me what it did the day I received it?
3. Can I let it go now?

The memory of how we once felt can be more powerful than its present usefulness. If you are ready to let go, take a photo and have a good-bye ceremony and then give it away so you can live without clutter.

Secret #3

Once you clear your space, controlling what comes in is the key if you want to live without clutter. Prime offenders are mail, white elephant gifts and impulse purchases.

Don't let anything come into your space unless something goes out. Everything should enhance or fill a need. If you replace your towels, give away the old ones or demote them to rags. In fact, the "rag trade" is a very efficient way to dispose of bedding and clothing not really good enough to donate.

Secret #4

Before you acquire something, visualize whether something you already have can fulfill the same need. This particularly applies to kitchen gear, tools and, for the ladies, shoes and handbags. Most every desired acquisition should go on a Thirty Day List. If you still want it after thirty days, go ahead and bring it home.

Secret #5

Try to resist hoarding and imagining "I might need it some day." Yes, you might, but more likely you won't! So let it go to someone who truly does need it right now and go ahead and live without clutter.

Secret #6

Don't bring mail into the house. Truly. Most of it is junk. Open it over the recycling bin, if necessary, and leave most of it there. If you receive a newspaper, remember it is called "news" the day you receive it; after that, trash it and live without clutter!

Secret #6

Give gifts of love, hospitality and service instead of more clutter. And enjoy the wonderful space you've created. Congratulations!