decluttering

Unveiling the Mysteries of Feng Shui: Creating Harmony in Your Living Spaces

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Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice, has been gaining popularity around the world as people seek balance and harmony in their living spaces. This art of arranging one’s surroundings to promote positive energy and well-being has a long history rooted in Chinese philosophy and cosmology. In this blog, we’ll explore the fundamental principles of Feng Shui and how you can apply them to your home.

The Basics of Feng Shui

Chi (Qi):

The Life Force Central to Feng Shui is the concept of Chi, the life force that flows through everything. In your living spaces, Chi should flow smoothly and harmoniously to promote well-being. You can enhance the flow of Chi by keeping your home clutter-free and well-organized. Remove obstacles and create open pathways for energy to circulate.

2. The Bagua: The Energy Map

The Bagua is a fundamental tool in Feng Shui that divides your living space into nine areas, each corresponding to different aspects of life, such as wealth, relationships, and health. By aligning these areas with specific colours, elements, and decor, you can promote positive energy flow and enhance specific aspects of your life.

3. Yin and Yang:

Balance and Harmony Feng Shui seeks to balance the opposing forces of Yin (passive, receptive energy) and Yang (active, assertive energy) in your home. Achieving this balance involves considering the placement of furniture, colours, and lighting. For example, too much Yang energy in a room can make it feel chaotic, while too much Yin energy can make it feel stagnant. The goal is to find the right balance for your space and needs.

Practical Tips for Applying Feng Shui

  1. Declutter and Organize Clearing out clutter is essential in Feng Shui. It not only allows Chi to flow freely but also promotes mental clarity and reduces stress. Get rid of items you no longer need and keep your space tidy.
  2. Balance the Five Elements Incorporate the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) into your home to create a balanced environment. Each element represents different qualities, and their proper integration can improve your well-being. For example, wood elements can be introduced through plants or wooden furniture, while water elements can be added with fountains or reflective surfaces.
  3. Personalize Your Space Feng Shui is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s essential to adapt the principles to your personal preferences and needs. For instance, if you find that a particular colour or decor choice makes you feel more at ease, incorporate it into your design while respecting the basics of Feng Shui.
  4. Mindful Furniture Placement The placement of furniture in your home can significantly impact the flow of Chi. For instance, your bed should be positioned so that you can see the bedroom door but not in direct line with it. This allows you to feel safe and in control while you sleep.
  5. Light and Colour Proper lighting and colour choices can affect the mood of a room. Bright, well-lit spaces promote positive energy, while soothing colours like blues and greens can create a calm atmosphere. Pay attention to the natural light in your home and use appropriate artificial lighting as needed.

Feng Shui is more than just interior design; it’s a holistic approach to living in harmony with your surroundings. By applying its principles, you can create a home that not only looks beautiful but also nurtures your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, the art of Feng Shui can help you find balance and harmony in your living spaces, promoting a happier and more fulfilling life. So, embrace the wisdom of Feng Shui and start creating a sanctuary that truly resonates with your soul.

Autumn time to chill more.

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As Autumn approaches, it’s essential to take some well-deserved time to recharge your batteries. Life can get incredibly busy, and it’s easy to find yourself constantly on the move.

While your schedule may already be filled with a bunch of commitments, consider if there’s anything you can gently remove from your plate. Maybe one Saturday afternoon, you could simply sit outside and immerse yourself in a captivating book. Picture yourself indulging in a long, luxurious bubble bath or even spending the entire weekend in your cosiest pyjamas, baking cookies, and enjoying a movie marathon, all without the rush of chores and responsibilities.

The charm of Autumn lies not only in the allure of pumpkin spice lattes and snuggly sweaters but also in its subtle reminder that constant productivity isn’t sustainable. Just as nature takes its time to slow down and rest, so should you.

This Autumn, make a conscious effort to embrace a slower pace. Consider saying “no” to additional commitments and giving a resounding “yes” to the pursuit of relaxation. Transform this season into a personal holiday where you prioritize self-care and well-being.

In my own life, I’ve been reminding myself to ease off the accelerator. Instead, I’ve been relishing quality time with my family, taking off more time and rearranging my working hours and day. Even diving into captivating new books, especially at night times.

So, how can you slow down this Autumn?

Take the sights of the trees changing, the darker days and the change in weather as a sign it is okay to slow down.

In Autumn, nature begins to get ready for the winter hibernation and we can too.

Work From home tips and tricks to create good Feng Shui energy.

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Working from home has been a new normal for some time and becoming more and more popular.

It has its advantages such as working from home can bring many benefits to your lifestyle, help reduces financial expenditure, see more memories as a family. However, can sometimes bring more challenges such as it is hard to separate work and personal life, and finding or creating the right work environments.

Feng Shui is about connecting the building to the energy of the earth and using the elements water, wood, earth, fire and metal. You can learn more about this here. What is Feng Shui blog.

In this blog, I will share tips to create a positive and conducive work-from-home office environment by leveraging the ancient art of Feng Shui.

6 top tips to work From Home Feng Shui tips.

1. Do not mix work and personal life.

It is good to physically separate your workspace from your living space. Do not use a bedroom as an office space unless you remove the electronics from the bedroom at night. Set clear boundaries and clear intentions between work time and home job time.

2. Be organized and declutter.

Always keep your working desk organized and free of clutter after your working hour. Clutter can generate stagnant energy and affect your health and mood.

3. Ensure ample lighting and well-air ventilation.

Get into an area with as much natural light as possible, if the natural lighting is not possible, you can utilize a table lamp instead link to this UV desk light can help this,  https://amzn.to/3QvKUDv . Working in such an environment can lift your spirit as well as boost your energy level.

Open all windows to encourage airflow, so that the stagnant energy can be replaced by the crease new one. It will refresh the environment and create a more conducive space to work in.

4. Always Be in Command Position.

Always locate your desk in the command position, this is where you will sit with your back against a strong wall and be able to see the door. If this is not possible ensure you have a tall strong back supporting chair, and even place a small mirror on the deck to see the door/ room.

5. A Nice View Does Matter

Avoid sitting in the position facing the wall because you will feel that there are many obstacles or hurdles ahead of you. Try to have something motivational like inspiring quotes, or images of inspiration to you, in sight or on your desk. Remove distractions that may keep your mind off the task at hand.

6. Look Out for “poison arrows”.

Looking around your surroundings and checking for any “poison arrow”, can have a negative impact on your physical and emotional well-being. This is looking for sharp pointing angles pointing towards you from likes of furniture, walls and the point coming towards you.

If you have these ‘poison arrows’ try to move areas or the items, if not possible try to soften them with fabrics or plants in front of them.

In conclusion, everyone has a different situation when working from home, so the most important is to feel great and energized. Feng Shui can help create and connect you and the areas you are in, Each area, home, or office all individual.

Want more individual help with your office space please reach out to me on https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/contact-me/

Much Love, Steph x

Clutter and your health

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Can clutter make us ill?!

Have you ever really thought about how your clutter is really impacting your life?!

Yes, it can weigh us down.

Yes, it can keep us distracted.

But is it really making you ill or stressed?!

Stress used to be a huge factor in my life, but I never thought it from my lifestyle of clutter!

I saw my clutter as an organised mess, things in places and storage units and boxes piled high but as I say ‘organised’.

But it was slowly eating at me, seeing stuff everywhere, having to move one thing to get to another. Opening one box in the loft to bring back the past and trigger my anxieties. The home felt so cramped and busy.

I thought I was the perfect Mam, and childminder having so much on offer to the children in my care as well as my own.

How stress from clutter makes you ill.

Motherly’s Article, It’s Science: Clutter Can Actually Give You Anxiety explains the science of cortisol: “No matter the ways, reasons and means by which the creep of stuff exceeds our ability to mentally and physically manage it—all of it amounts to stress. Clutter can trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which can increase tension and anxiety and lead to unhealthy habits. Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to stress by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).”

Also, according to a Cornell University study from 2016, stress triggered by clutter may also trigger coping and avoidance strategies, like eating junk food, oversleeping or binge-watching Netflix.

Stress can affect our physical and mental health negatively and it can result in:

*Disrupted sleep.

*Increase in blood pressure, blood sugars and heart rate.

*Decreased immune function.

*Depression and/or Anxiety or both.

Yes, I know there many things in life other than clutter that can stress us out. But clutter is a stress trigger we can control.

When you are carrying too much stress, it demands all of your energy and attention. “It is difficult to maintain a state of wellness over time when our body energy is channelled into coping with stress.” – Anne-Marie Gambelin.

Here is a great science-based article to read more too: https://www.mother.ly/home/its-science-clutter-can-actually-give-you-anxiety/https://www.mother.ly/home/its-science-clutter-can-actually-give-you-anxiety/

So, what can we do to help control the clutter?

Ultimately decluttering is the only option to remove clutter from our lives.

Licensed Clinical Professional Counsellor, Joyce Marter says that purging unneeded items from our homes is like deleting files to create space on your computer. In this article, she says, “Suddenly, the whole operating system is more efficient… this decreases stress and increases your effectiveness personally and professionally.”

Do you know  how to declutter, if you are not sure download this: Free download

By approaching decluttering as a challenge/ fun experience or experiment removes some of the stress.

Do you find letting go a struggle?!

Be gentle with yourself and move the things you want to release. You can simply box the things you are unsure about and put it away for 30-60 days. If you don’t miss it, need it or even forget what’s in the box altogether, it’s easier to let go.

Remember why you are decluttering, having strong intentions or improving health and more will help you stay on track.

Your home environment will make a difference in how you feel. Every positive change you make and every tiny step take towards a healthier life will provide confidence and momentum to make the next change.

Even if you are as healthy as you want to be, ask yourself how clutter is contributing to your life.

Is it weighing you down or adding value to your life?

Does it make you happy or frustrated?

Are you holding on because you want to or because letting go is hard?

Why Reducing Clutter Improves Mental Health

Decluttering can promote productivity and improvements in mental and physical health.

As well as

*Better focus. Removing physical distractions.

*Higher self-esteem. Improving your areas can restore feelings of competency and pride.

*Better relationships. As less conflict with family or roommates as things are more tidy, organised and easier to find.

*Lower risk of asthma and allergies. Decluttering can prevent pests and reduce dust, mould, and mildew, which may trigger asthma and allergies.

*Improved lifestyle and well-being. It’s easier to prepare healthy meals in an orderly kitchen. And most people sleep better in a neat room with a tidy bed.

Need help?

If you need help with decluttering, I also have some options available to help you

One, work with me https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/products-services/

Two, not local get my downloadable https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/my-products/

Still unsure book a call with me: https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/contact-me/

Paperwork and decluttering

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Decluttering when it comes to paperwork.

When we come to decluttering paperwork can often be the hardest and biggest section you have to sort.

I am aware that a lot more has now gone online but in today’s blog.

I will give you the time frames for how long you should be keeping paperwork from banking, children and more.

I hope you have found these helpful for looking at paperwork and decluttering.

For further help on decluttering. Please check out my services

https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/products-services/

Balance your home card pack!

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Amazing things are coming….

Lately I have been quiet as I have been working hard in the background on my Balance your home, achieve your dreams card pack. Well over the weekend I was able to make myself a mini sample set up and I went live on my Facebook page showing them off…Find it here. 

Replay here!

If you do see the live, please feel free to share with other who may be interested too.

I have made these cards to bring Feng Shui elements into your home. 

So have a think about your home hard…take a look at it from the front door throughout each room and see what your feeling?!

With the Covid pandemic and us being at home a lot more than usual the energy of the home may have changed…

What would you like to bring into your home?! 

*Better communication?! 

*Loving relationships?! 

*Calmer atmosphere?!

These cards are a way of brining Feng Shui mindfully into your home.

Bring a new balance to your home and start helping the positive changes and energy in…by using these and taken action your home will begin to further help you achieve those dreams.

They include

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Room by room layout tips…from kitchen to bedrooms.

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Room affirmations and space to write your own

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Space to write own intentions for that room

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Protection aids, like Ganesh, as images and call in chant.

These come in a sturdy storage box, so are great pack just for you or even as a great gift… £24.99 plus postage. Pre orders open, delivery soon as arrive to here.

You really can start creating your dream home using these cards. 

To Pre-order contact me. 

Bring the energy you desire into your home.

Sample view

Letting go when decluttering

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I often get asked about Letting go.


This is a interesting topic when your on a decluttering process. Everyone will be different. For some its so easy but others more problematic. 

Why?

We are human and many of use have a emotional connection to items and belongings. 

This can either be from your own personal experiences or even somethings from our upbringing/ past. 

Some people have less of an emotional tie with items, and thats all fine as we area all individual. 

However if your struggling to let go of items but deeps down you want to here are some tips and points to consider:

1) Does it work for its intended purpose, if clothing does it fit? 

2) Have you used i tin the last 12 months?

3) Why are you holding onto it, e.g. ‘just incase’ thought?

4) If you saw it in a shop now would you get it?

5) Does it bring a good warm feeling to you now?

6)  Why is it sentimental to you?

7) Remind yourself of your intent to declutter…What are your trying to create. then recap the 6 tips.

If you have looked at the tips above and still feel you need to keep it, where can it be best stored. 

If you feel you need to keep it for a little  longer but ultimately want to get rid of it, start moving it closer to the door.  Place it next to door in room it belongs, the to the other side of door, then to inside the front door. then outside then to bin or charity. 

To declutter is a journey and not everything will be easy to let go, or even needs to be lot go.

Also remember why your decluttering, what is your bigger vision. 

There if often some good medications on YouTube for letting go if your into this extra sort of process. these area a great extra tool to work on your subconscious mind.  

Want the above as a download, here it is. Letting Go TIps

Need further support or accountability, 

 I also run a Facebook group.

Join us there for motivation, accountability and more.

 support group

Children’s toys and storage.

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Children’s rooms and the amount of toys can become very overwhelming.

When children grow from babies to toddlers, young children and teens. Their likes and interests change a lot. I found going from baby to young children easier to get rid of things, you can clearly see the child outgrown their toys and equipment.

However now as my children range from 6 to 10, as well as childminding children under 5. I do find myself hauling more, with thought like “oh x child will like this…I’ll save for when y gets a bit older” then I find myself storing and hauling more things than needed, for that just incase moment, or that memory likes to particular toy.

Quite often, if you really watch your children play 80% of them toys will not be played with or played with on limited time. Removed from box touched and then just left to the side, this creating more untidiness.

Suitable storage for your space and needs is paramount here. My living room used to look like a nursery, when I redecorates it I realised I wanted my home back.

I changed the unit from open toy storage to ikea kallax sysem. This resulted in not only children less likely to get everything out on offer but make more selective choices. It also allowed my living room to look like a home more. These kallax units have great multi functions, storage and display abilities. I have toys in here for all ages, husbands play station accessories and my girls hair accessories and no one knows. They co win variety of sizes,colours and box or cupboard solutions. And not badly priced.

Helping hands.

You can get them to help, although find lot time myself when they help you end up playing with the things or become less willing to part with them due to now being in sight. I love getting the children involved but often say, “well not see you use it in a while, how about we take it to charity then children less fortunate than you can give it a new experience”, this creates the more likely to part with it knowing someone else will love the toys just as much as them.

When sorting toys there maybe broken or have missing pieces, I find emptying out everything and starting a fresh helps you may find it’s all there but in different boxes, that way saving games and toys from landfills then help you them make a decision to keep or charity them.

For younger children, audio like a tidy up song is great use. They will hear song and know time to tidy, many nurseries and ore schools use this system, so find out if yours does and which one then use at home too.

Minimise what they have.

E.g. Lego. Every child loves Lego, but do you really need several boxes of it, are they organised into sets or just all piled into boxes, then if that the case do you keep the instruction manuals to rebuild and if you do are all pieces there. We have millions of Lego and I mean millions, one year we sorted it all out and actually split up our supples to my parents for when we visit, that way they children get to Keep it, just at alternate home. Now too as children get Lego themselves or as gifts and like to keep as sets we ask people or we buy suitable storage box for that set.

Minimising what your children have as toys not only helps the amount they have but also helps encourage the children to engage fully with the toys your keeping. Then as above find appropriate storage solutions and areas.

Everything has its place and a place for everything.

Once you have sorted out what’s staying and leaving the home think where it needs to stay. Find right storage as above and areas for this storage.

We have another Kallax unit on our landing right outside my sons room, actually obstructing doors and light switches. My son has a cabin bed as he has a tiny room, so I have moved this unit under his bed when he resulted in better flow on our landing and more effective use of free space. With a double result of adding all kitchen rolls play next to each other and away from the open stairs.

Quiet often after seeing what your children really play with can be a great opportunity to declutter and minimise their toys. Sit and observe them playing over a few days or weeks, what do they really engage with.

There are many benefits to decluttering a child’s room or toys. And it’s a process that may take time. This is one of the services I can help to provide, decluttering by room. Ask me for more details if you need this support.

Love, Stephanie Jane, x

How decluttering and feng shui helped me.

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I have always had a interest in Feng Shui when I was younger, but lost it with life going on.

However 5 years ago originally via the Bizmums, I did our declutter challenge,I really started organizing and decluttering my home. From the last bits of my ex, children’s paintings, keep sakes to the kitchen and wardrobe draws.

I then cane across Patrica Lohan and her free group Dream life & biz creators group on Facebook. I was picking up free tips, challenge and more around how de cluttering and Feng Shui effects the home and life experiences. Knowing a little from my past interest I decided to fully invest in her mastery program.

Starting Patricia’s Feng Shui mastery course, I floor planned my home, gave its build and occupants date of birth and its direction to compass readings, within a few weeks Patrica had sent me my personal Bengal map. While awaiting this report I learnt more about the Gua, what each support within area of life, how clutter has impact and the home energy on yourself and life experiences.

Within the mastery programme its split into room tips, how to effectively declutter, why decluttering needed, theres a personal group support on things like art work in home, bedrooms, kitchens. How Guas need remedies due to energy, what they support and where to place them.

I now was ready to embrace changes I knew something needed to happen.

I started embracing the program, I installed all remedies apart from my required metal, (I couldn’t afford it). The final bits of my ex removed, all rooms decluttered, cleansed and cleaned.

I felt a major change in the house energy and general looks.

2nd year in and I got a updated report for the new Chinese year, and asked as Patrica recommends asked the metal fairy’s for help, this year I ordered enough metal for my report to cover the ground floor, low and behold double the ordered around came….life really started to change then.

That year I knew I wanted to seek out a partner so I really embraced more changes in my love and marriage gua, adding in intentions to type person I wanted to attract, how I would find them and more.

I set out in a dream/ vision board all the things I wanted to active from new partner, holidays, setting up a successful business.

Things really started to change. On a huge and small scale.

Fast forward to now, 4th year into Feng Shui my home and I have achieved all my dreams and more.

❤️I met my new husband

❤️grew an award winning childminding business

❤️cleared my ex off the house mortgage

❤️cleared all ex things and mental clutter, huge letting go process

❤️got a dog

❤️improves my physical and mental health

❤️went on life long dream holiday to the Maldives, paid in cash

❤️over come my anxiety and panic attacks, with extra help from Andrew Dalton ( also member of mastery program)

❤️got my house feeling my way

❤️more holidays and visits home to Northumberland

❤️developed my children’s resilience and love for Feng Shui, crystals and effects of universe

❤️increased size my family with 2 step children

❤️got a bigger car suitable for work and new family make up

❤️grew business income while reducing hours working

❤️cleared partners debt

❤️lots self belief, self love and personal development.

❤️published a personal development “my prefect planner”

❤️gave family and friends say my home feels calm, positive and amazing.

Feng Shui and decluttering really can impact your home, life and those living with you.

Due to seeing changes myself, as well as completing a diploma in feng shui as well as a diploma in decluttering and organisation course. I am setting out there to help and support others in using decluttering and feng shui to improve their lives and home, keep your eyes peeled for my packages

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