fengshuihome

Decluttering and thoughts.

| steffybot

Decluttering is not an easy task to do and will not happen fast, I love to remind all my clients it is a journey and a journey you can love too.

Here are five ideas to think about when it comes to decluttering.

1.           Treasure Your Belongings:

Focus on retaining only your most cherished possessions. Instead of fixating on what to discard, concentrate on the joy your favourite items bring. Embrace using and enjoying them regularly and consider the legacy of love and experiences you want to leave behind. Prioritize creating memories and connections over accumulating material possessions and ponder whether your family or children would value the items you’re holding onto.

2.           Homes are sanctuaries of Love, not just things:

Acknowledge that homes are more than storage spaces; they are sanctuaries for love and connection. Decluttering opens the path to a life centred around meaningful relationships, personal well-being, fulfilling work, and exploration. Shift your mindset: less clutter means more room for love and connection.

3.           The Trap of Accumulation:

Resist the temptation to accumulate more belongings. Often, decluttering isn’t about acquiring more items but having fewer possessions. Excessive storage solutions and organization systems can lead to increased demands on your time and attention. Embrace the notion that less is more for a balanced life, recognizing the costs associated with acquiring, maintaining, and managing possessions.

4.           Define True Desires and Happiness – Empower Yourself:

When decluttering becomes daunting, reflect on your genuine desires for your heart, family, and life. Consider whether you want more items to manage or if you crave additional space, time, and peace. Find joy in needing less to be happy, as an abundance of possessions often leads to dissatisfaction. Simplify your life by owning fewer things, and fostering lightness, gratitude, and happiness. True contentment doesn’t come from accumulating possessions; free up resources by releasing what no longer serves you.

5.           Create Space for Life, Not Clutter:

Resist filling every empty space with belongings or acquiring more storage solutions. Appreciate the beauty of unoccupied spaces and allow time for alignment with your desires before making decisions. Clear space for what truly matters, enabling you to be present for yourself and loved ones. Create room to love, create, heal, and appreciate the magnificence of life.

If you need help with decluttering drop me a message, or consider my declutter services below.

https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/products-services
Declutter with my help.
https://stephaniejanehomealignments.co.uk/my-products
My Do it Yourself Declutter workbooks

love and light, Steph

Embracing the Wood Dragon: A Renewed Spirit for Chinese New Year

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As the lunar calendar turns another page, millions around the world prepare to usher in the Chinese New Year with vibrant celebrations, rich traditions, and a sense of renewed hope. This year holds special significance as we welcome the Wood Dragon, a symbol of strength, growth, and adaptability. In this blog post, let’s explore the essence of the Chinese New Year and delve into the unique qualities associated with the Wood Dragon.

The Chinese New Year: 10th Feb 2024.

Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in the world. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is steeped in centuries-old traditions and customs. Families come together for reunion dinners, homes are adorned with red decorations symbolising good luck, and the air is filled with the crackling sounds of fireworks.

The Chinese zodiac, consisting of twelve animals, assigns each year to a specific animal sign, along with one of the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The combination of the animal and element creates a unique energy that shapes the characteristics of the year. This year, the spotlight is on the Wood Dragon, offering a distinctive blend of vitality and resilience.

The Wood Dragon:

The Dragon is a mythical creature in Chinese culture, symbolising power, good fortune, and success. When combined with the Wood element, it adds layers of growth, flexibility, and renewal. The Wood Dragon is associated with the energy of a flourishing forest, representing strength that comes from adaptability and perseverance.

Characteristics of the Wood Dragon include creativity, innovation, and a strong sense of justice. This combination fosters a spirit of renewal and the ability to navigate challenges with grace and agility. People born in the Year of the Wood Dragon are believed to be charismatic, ambitious, and compassionate, embodying the spirit of leadership and growth.

Celebrating the Wood Dragon:

As we embark on the journey of the Wood Dragon, there are various ways to infuse this energy into our lives. Consider incorporating natural elements like wood and greenery into your home decor to create a harmonious and revitalising environment. Engage in activities that promote personal and professional growth, tapping into the dynamic energy of the Wood Dragon.

Participate in traditional Chinese New Year festivities, such as dragon and lion dances, parades, and lantern festivals, to absorb the positive vibes of the season. Embrace the spirit of unity and family, as these are key aspects of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Conclusion:

The Chinese New Year, with the arrival of the Wood Dragon, brings a sense of renewal, growth, and adaptability. It is a time to reflect on the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future with optimism. As we celebrate the richness of Chinese culture and the symbolic qualities of the Wood Dragon, let us welcome the new year with open hearts, ready to face the challenges ahead and embrace the opportunities for growth and transformation.

New Year incoming

| steffybot

Let’s embark on this journey together, embracing the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui to create a positive and uplifting environment. Soon the New Chinese New Year will be here and welcoming in Spring, Feb 10th 2024 will see this energy shift.

So, here are some of my top tips to help call in this new energy.

1. Clearing the Clutter:

Start the year with a clean slate by decluttering your living space. Remove any unnecessary items that may hinder the flow of positive energy. A clutter-free environment allows the chi (life force energy) to circulate freely, bringing balance and vitality into your home.

2. Enhance Wealth and Prosperity:

Activate the wealth corner of your home or office by placing symbols of abundance, such as a money plant or wealth bowl. This is within the Southeast area of your home. Working with magnetic north compass directions. A great time to clear out that old money energy esp within your purse/ wallet.

3. Harmonize Relationships:

Create a harmonious atmosphere in your relationships by paying attention to the relationship corner of your home the Southwest. Add elements in pairs, such as candles, artwork, or decorative items, to promote love and unity. A balanced and harmonious space can strengthen connections with your loved ones.

4. Boost Career Success:

To enhance your career prospects, focus on the north area of your home or office. Introduce a vision board, plants for growth and décor at inspires you in your work. Keep this area well-lit and clutter-free to encourage a positive work environment.

5. Set Positive Intentions:

Harness the power of intention by setting clear and positive goals for the year ahead. Write down your aspirations, dreams, and wishes on a piece of paper and place it in the north or southeast area of your home to amplify the energy of your intentions. Then start to take actions over the goals.

Upcoming Events:

Join us for an exclusive Feng Shui workshop on the New year energy the Wood Dragon.

As we navigate the energy shifts of the new year, let’s cultivate positivity and embrace the potential for growth and transformation. Wishing you a joyous and prosperous 2024 filled with positive Feng Shui energy!

Love and light,

Steph

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.

Before taking on a consultant.

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There can be many reasons why someone may want to take on a Feng Shui consultant like:

*Buying and moving into a new home. Very popular in areas like Singapore.

*Major life changes e.g., new baby and health.

*Wanting to improve your luck in life.

*Things may be feeling off or stagnant.

When working with Classical Feng Shui, we are working with buildings’ energy and its connection to the energy of the earth. We will use time, location, and remedies to help support the home or building, implementing the 5 elements where needed to help enhance the good energy we see and reduce the negative, Earth, Fire, Water, Wood and metal are the remedies we will advise. As well as informing you of the home’s general good/ negative feng shui.

5 Things you should know before engaging a Feng Shui consultant.

1. Proficiency in their skills and tools.

The Feng Shui consultant must possess the capability to understand their schooling of teaching, there are many different schools of Feng Shui, however, your consultant must be knowledgeable in their skills and knowledge.

2. No hard selling of sky-high-priced Feng Shui products.

Clarify if Feng Shui item is required before engaging the Feng Shui consultant. Practice caution and compare prices when buying them. You will be shocked that the price difference can be a few thousand pounds for the same item. In a nutshell, there is absolutely no need to decorate your house like a temple/ knock down walls or do a building remodel.

3. Know what the package includes.

It is important to know the package you are getting in engaging their service. How will they work with you, share their knowledge and what sort of work will be expected of you too. Many consultants should be asking for information regarding the home as well as all the occupants. You also don’t want to be caught in a frustrating situation when there are upselling along the whole journey.

4. Affinity and First Impression Counts

Before buying into a package, it is advisable to meet up/ talk with the consultant to ask some questions and also feel the affinity. It is easy to arrange such meetings via online tools.  Many consultants will advise a discovery call to check you are both a fit for each other.

5. No Major Renovation or Hacking Required

Proper Feng Shui assessment does not require you to do massive hacking or extensive renovation. Feng Shui is about tapping and harnessing the favourable energy in the right sector of the buildings. No consultant should be asking you to remodel a home/ building. However, this could be done when working on a new build project so it will be built to the best of luck.

Took book your discovery call book here

Back to school and feng shui tips to help.

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It is almost time for the back-to-school madness, getting yourself and your children back into school life routine, did you know that many parenting tips are actually from some Feng Shui principles.

Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese system of balancing our physical environment to promote harmony and a sense of well-being and connection with the energy of the Earth.

While learning the art of placement can help you create optimal living within your home, it can also help you and your children create a more efficient, less chaotic system for staying on top of all aspects of their education, including homework and school bag organization, that will help in a long way of reducing school life stresses.

Bringing Feng Shui into your child’s regular routine can keep things running smoothly for the whole family. Even when the children have already gone back to school this year, these habits and principles will help them, and you keep things on the right track.

Here are 8 tips on how to use feng shui the organization of your child’s back-to-school routine will help you maintain your sanity all year long.

Create a “day before” routine.

A day before routine will help remove clutter from the home/ bedrooms so the school day can start off on a better more organised vibration.

Set a timer on your phone for 30 minutes that you and your kids can use to get everything cleaned and organized, then set another for 2 minutes just to put any cleaning supplies away.

When you start the timer, give the house a quick run over, including a quick swish of the bathrooms, a sweep or vacuum, flat surfaces wiped and finishing off with cleaning your kitchen sink.

Put out the clothing for the next day, often the uniform ready, inc underwear. Make sure all homework is completed, packed lunch ready, and bags with all equipment and PE kits as needed. Place shoes and bags by the front door and pack lunches near the breakfast. This will all help the morning time as everything is ready and in place to help the day run smoothers and independence in your children. There will also be fewer “Mam where my shirt” issues, lol.

Within Feng Shui’s perspective, messiness can block the flow of chi and cause arguments and other distractions. We want to reduce these ready to start the next morning as positively as possible.

Set boundaries for yourself and your kids.

However, your lifestyle is, you’ll need to set boundaries for both your work time, children’s time and some much-needed “me” time.

Use this time to prepare for your day, organize your things and your thoughts, or have a quiet reflection.

By setting these boundaries, you will guarantee that there is a time for you to focus on what you need to get done, so that you won’t become overwhelmed when taking care of your children’s needs. This will help you stay focused in the morning and relaxed, and this will flow better. Work with what suits you best.

Simplify your family’s living space.

The living room is a space where you, members of your family, and friends all gather. Therefore, it’s important to ensure this space has good feng shui and welcoming to all who enter it.

All it takes is a little decluttering and balancing of elements in the room. Cleaning one shelf, one drawer, or even one tabletop per day, it’ll be a great idea to have your kids do the same. Teamwork is key, and we all know children learn through role modelling rather than constantly being told what to do.

Being consistent with this concept is key. This tidying method is a great habit for them to learn and keeps the feng shui energy in the living room fresh and vibrant. Add it into your day-before routine too.

Rearrange your child’s room.

The command position is an important concept in feng shui. It means that we can see the door from where we are sitting, cooking, working or sleeping, but are not in line with it.

For younger kids, it can be ideal to put the bed against a wall as it makes them feel secure at night. For older kids, move the bed away from the wall, and add bedside tables on either side, as it gives them more independence and room to move around as they grow, as well as balancing stability.

If you don’t have room and the bed is in line with a door, place something between it and the door. Have a strong wooden headboard on all beds.

Set up an area devoted to homework only.

This can be a space in their room or somewhere else suitable. Over time, they will start to associate this space with homework, and it will improve their focus. Even if you only have a combined space develop this into their daily routine and doing homework will become a habit.

Keep your child’s use of electronic devices limited and not in their bedroom.

Electromagnetic force (EMF) is the energy that emits from electronic equipment and phones. It is recommended to move electronic equipment and TVs from all bedrooms.

If your kids have their cell phones/laptops, encourage removing them from the bedroom or placing them away in storage solutions.  It’s also best to keep TV out of a young child’s room.

Clear clutter from underneath the bed

A feng shui staple to help kids to sleep and feel better is to remove anything stored under their beds so the energy can move freely. Having an open-based bed helps the energy flow better and keeps away stagnant energy, if you need to store stuff, try to keep it to essentials, like bed linens and be extra organised and tidy.

Establish an evening routine.

Get back into bedtime routines to help you and your children get a good night’s sleep ready for the following day. Also here don’t forget the day before the routine.

I hope these tips help you to build a routine that will help you daily in your family’s school life.

Want further help on your home and Feng Shui, check out this Blog.

Love, Steph.

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/