How Clutter Negatively Impacts Success, Health, and Relationships

When people ask me how they can improve their lives with Feng Shui, my usual response is:

“Have as little clutter as possible”.

I often get odd looks when I go on to explain that clutter is one of the top obstacles, along with a lack of self-motivation, preventing you from leading a happy, healthy & successful life.

Feng Shui is a powerful, once-secret method that uses colour, elements, and form to make subtle changes in your home or workspace, helping to create balance and harmony while inviting success and new opportunities into your life.

Some may be sceptical of how simply adding a green cushion to a sofa or removing a candle from a specific area in the living room can lead to more money, better health and stronger relationships. What would I say to those people?

Have an open mind, and see where this journey takes you.

Feng Shui is not a religion, nor a belief, but an absolute way of life.

Energy is all around us.

In human beings, animals, plants, things we can see and touch and things we cannot.

Truly feeling a shift in energy, whether good or bad, requires a person to be wholly present in the moment, free from thought and expectation.

The environment plays a huge part in the decisions we make, how we act, how we cope with hardship, and how motivated we are to achieve.

The feelings you experience when you are sitting near a slow-flowing river on a sunny day, compared to the ones you experience when you are stuck in traffic in the pouring rain.

Two very different environments, providing two very different experiences.

Why is decluttering so important?

Considering we spend most of our time at home or at work, why wouldn’t we want to create a supportive environment that encourages us to make better choices, respond more positively, and live happier, healthier lives?

Although it may seem confusing, applying Feng Shui is pretty easy and widely accessible, allowing people to incorporate it into their home and work environments.

Clutter is one of the main causes of Sha Qi.

For those that are not familiar with that term, Sha Qi is stagnant energy- one that we strive to avoid in Feng Shui at all costs.

Decaying, destructive energy that is believed to bring bad luck, sickness and misfortune.

Imagine trying to cook dinner around a toddler, with overflowing cupboards and no way of accessing the ingredients quickly, or trying to sleep surrounded by stacks of washing.

Now imagine opening the cupboard and seeing everything clearly, and quickly whipping up a lentil dahl around an active 3-year-old, or getting into bed with freshly made sheets and no washing in sight.

Hopefully, you will understand the point I am trying to make, and you should have had two very different experiences, with the second being the favoured one.

I emphasise the importance of decluttering to all my clients, and it is usually the very first topic during a home consultation.

Qi energy enters through our windows and doors in a strong, healthy state, and, providing nothing is in its path, will flow freely throughout the building.

Physically noticing this would be how you feel when you open all the windows on a beautiful Spring Day, or, to be fair, if you’re like me, opening them every day.

While we have little control over the exterior land formations and the quality and quantity of Qi they provide to our environments.

We do have control over how best to use it.

Excessive belongings cause Qi energy to become trapped and stagnate.

This is why I promote the importance of having as little as possible to prevent it from being an obstacle to success.

Believe me, I know how big a task it can be.

It can feel hugely overwhelming, and many will avoid doing it for many reasons.

It takes time, it can bring up past negative memories/emotions, or it could just be that you do not know where to start.

The benefit, however, is vital in allowing uplifting energy to flow freely, promoting healthy, inviting spaces that enable you to be the very best version of yourself.

How to successfully clear the clutter for good

There is no denying that decluttering is a huge job.

The number of times I have been optimistic and emptied my whole wardrobe on the floor, only to run out of time and put it right back where it was.

So, my first tip would be little and often. I like to follow Marie Kondo’s way of focusing on one category at a time.

For example, start with something fairly easy, like socks, before moving on to t-shirts, trousers, and so forth.

You can then work your way up to the harder, more sentimental categories, such as family photos and children’s artwork.

This includes chipped, broken or unused items- in particular broken mirrors, which will distort or reflect negative energy and broken clocks, which will inadvertently stagnate time and hinder progress.

Essentially, if it can’t be repaired or is unused, you may find it draining your personal energy and obstructing the flow of positive energy.

That leads me to the condition of your Feng Shui cures & enhancers.

While they can be used from year to year, if you find they are damaged or tarnished, it is time to remove them, as they may be doing more harm than good.

The same goes for those who appease the flying stars with colours and soft furnishings. If the burgundy rug you are using to enhance the #9 looks tired and old, with stubborn stains that just won’t budge, then it’s time to replace it.

The effect of sentimental items

My second tip would be to make sure you are in the right frame of mind to commit to the task ahead.

I am sure you will come across items that are sentimental, whether from loved ones who are no longer with us, previous relationships, or childhood memories. These items may evoke a range of good and not-so-good emotions. Being mentally prepared will enable you to make the right decisions about what to do.

De cluttering isn’t about an empty house with no memories, although I do love the quote from William Morris:

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.

It is about understanding that everything in our environment harnesses energy. In other words, any negative or unresolved memories we hold onto could be preventing the flow of positive energy. Instead, it promotes negative energy, which, in turn, creates blockages in our lives, preventing personal growth and overall happiness.

I hold dearly in my heart memories of loved ones that I have lost, most recently my beloved Fu Dog Frankie. What brings me peace is knowing that at any time I wish, I can go internally to that memory in my own time and when I am emotionally prepared.

I find this comforting when I am removing sentimental objects, as I know they will always be with me when I choose them to be, rather than a constant memory that affects my overall happiness and wellbeing on a daily basis.

If there are certain items you are just not ready to let go of, you could move them to a less important room, like a garage. In time, you may then find you are ready to let go and instead hold those precious items in your memory.

To make space for new memories, we do need to let go of unhappy ones, and removing simple reminders around the house will help you do this.

Don’t neglect the plants

Another area to touch on, which is often forgotten about- Plants.

Prior to my transition into the Feng Shui world, Daniel will tell you I had plants in every corner of every room!

Some healthy, some I would have to tell myself would get better with a little water, only to find it made them worse.

Luckily, a number of my friends were willing to rehome the ones that weren’t thriving in our home, and I am happy to say they are doing well.

Keeping unhealthy/dead plants in our homes represents:

“Lifelessness and a lack of vitality”.

They create stagnant energy and block the positive flow of energy.

So be sure to add that onto your list when decluttering, as we want to promote growth and vitality.

If buying new ones, avoid sharply pointed ones like a Yucca or Palm- their sharp, aggressive points create a cutting energy, in turn creating tension and

Instead, opt for soft, round, aesthetically pleasing ones like a peace lily or Chinese money plant- both of which are also associated with good luck.

Remember, they need to be well cared for, with dead leaves removed, kept free of dust, and regularly watered.

If, like me, you are a plant lover and not ready to rehome, another option would be to move to a less important room.

Just be sure to compare your natal chart with the flying stars, as plants are a true representation of the wood element.

Great for enhancing the primary wealth #9 star, but not so good for the #3 wood star.

Recycle your wardrobe

The final thing I will touch on is items in our wardrobe that we no longer wear.

So many times, I have kept onto items that either no longer fit or that still have the tags on. A daily reminder that I am not as slim as I used to be, telling myself that “one day I will get back into them,” or being annoyed with myself for having zero impulse control over the spontaneous top I bought.

By making sure we only keep what brings us joy, we allow ourselves to make room for items that, when we wear them, we feel confident and emotionally good.

We want to start each day feeling motivated and inspired, not feeling guilty or shamed.

What inspires me to commit to a declutter is knowing that there are so many people in need of the items that have served their purpose for me.

There are so many ways we can recycle our belongings, whether that be donating to charity or selling online; my personal favourite is Vinted.

Not only will you promote a healthier flow of energy, but you will also help local charities support those who are less fortunate.

Clutter accumulates so quickly, and unless we are on top of what we already own, it is very difficult to know what we need.

By dedicating time to clearing every corner, you will soon find that every item has a dedicated space, which in turn will prevent it from building up.

You will still, of course, need to stay on top of it on a daily basis and be mindful of what you bring into your environment, but you should find it is a whole lot easier, as not only can you see everything, but you will know exactly where they go.

I love nothing more than spritzing the Space Clearing essential oil after a good old clear-out, and I find it helps uplift and clear any lingering negative energy.

This gives me the same feeling as a traditional spring clean—but rather than waiting for the season, I use it regularly at home and often spray it in my office at the end of the week to prepare for Monday.

I hope this article has left you feeling excited and eager to clear the clutter for good and to create an environment aligned with your dreams and wishes.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read. Your support is hugely appreciated.

Jessica