Confessions of a Feng Shui Consultant, Part I (with GREEN tips)

What have I been doing?

Not blogging obviously!  I've been busy, busy, busy laying some big, fat foundations.  There have been three big projects going on in my personal world.

Today I will talk about one of those projects:

Organizing Like Crazy!  I'm talking, Not Messing Around.

Those of you that know me well, know two things about me:
1.  As a feng shui consultant, I'm always singing the praises of de-cluttering and being organized because it has such a positive impact on your life.
2.  I admit, wholly, that organization does not come naturally to me.  I have to work hard --really hard -- at it.  And even then, it misses the mark a bit.

I have to come to realize that a sense for organization is a talent that a person is either born with or they aren't.  Just like some people can draw without trying, some people can organize without trying.  It is innate.  It's part of their in-bred personality.  Maybe one day they will discover the gene for it.

All I know is that I am way more in the drawing category than the organizing category of things-I-do-naturally.

So, HERE's THE CONFESSION --   I sucked it up and hired a professional organizer.

And, oh, boy, did she kick my little tush into gear.

This is single-handedly the best thing I have done for myself in I don't know how long.  She gave me a list of very specific tasks (everything from closet organizing to managing my receipts), and boy, did I have some homework.

I even cleaned out my junk drawer.  And took more baby clothes to Goodwill.  And (gulp) straightened up my art studio.  And (double gulp) cleaned out my files!!!

Here are a few tips that are simple, but I believe made a huge impact:
1.  Buy those skinny felt-y, velvet-y hangers.  Then put your closet in order by type (dress, shirt, pants) and color.  Finally, I can find my clothes.

2.  Get rid of paper.  This is eco-happy and clutter-free.  No more paper bills!  Do it now!  Just be sure to write down your password and username somewhere handy because I got in trouble with this.  You do not have to hold onto your bills anymore because they are all kept on-line.  I cleared almost a whole file drawer because of this.  Recycle all that paper, please!  (Shred first, according to Jennifer.)

everybody trash adds up!

GREEN TIP:  Remember, when thinking green, it's REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.  Ideally, we want to REDUCE the waste we use.  Signing up for paper-free bills will do that.  If we must use something, try to reuse it, rather than throwing it away.  Finally, recycle it rather than putting into the garbage where it just goes to a landfill.  It uses a lot of energy to recycle things, so it's best to reduce first, reuse second, and then, if we have to, recycle it.

3.  Containers, containers, containers.  Junk drawers need them.  Desk drawers need them.  (You know, those little trays that separate everything.)  Underwear drawers need them.  Compact disks need them.  Magazines need them.   I cannot tell you how much I love knowing where supposed "knick-knacks" go, now that I have a nice, neat home for them.  I just have to get used to the fact that I don't have to hunt for things and that they actually are in their perfect place!

GREEN TIP:  Try to avoid containers made from plastic.  Plastic is not green at all!  Check out 5 Gyres for more on that.

The name of my organizer is Jennifer Jones.  Not only does she have "the gift," she's a lot of fun to work with, AND she's got an Earth-friendly slant that we all love!

Besides the practical advice, I think the biggest thing I got out of the session was the fact that sometimes we need that outside perspective to motivate us.  In a way, I got to see what my clients go through when they call me in for a feng shui consultation!  I knew that I needed to get more organized, but Jennifer's presence held me accountable in a way.  Sometimes it just helps to have someone tell you what to do, frankly.

Today, I am reveling in the aftermath of all that hard work.  No matter how strategically placed my home is according to the laws of feng shui, it's the organization that took my it from "happy enough" to "totally dialed in."

I'm ready to rock n' roll, is all I have to say.

my humble little newly-organized home office...artwork by Pat Snow