Intuition is "the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference."[1] There are all sorts of beliefs about intuition. Some believe it's just some remnant of our animal roots, others believe it's just a complicated function of our brains, and others believe it comes from God.
Whatever it is, a good relationship with your intuition can help you be happier, healthier, and have a greater sense of purpose in your life. So what does it take to improve that relationship? Just a little information and a choice or two.
Whatever you believe about intuition, it involves a lot more choice than most people think. You choose what you believe about where intuition comes from. You even choose what you believe about how "good" your intuition is. You choose what you are going to do with the intuitive information you get. The power of choice is that you can change your mind, that is you can change your choice.
Start paying attention to anything that comes to you that might be intuition. Pay attention to how often people say things like "it just feels right" or "I get the impression..." Learn more about your own intuition. Then comes the "hard" part - choose to follow your intuition and see where it leads you!
If you are interested in exploring how you experience intuition in your life and in learning how you can make your intuition stronger, Know Thy Health is offering a class called Guiding Your Life With Intuition on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Please see the Know Thy Health website for more details.
[1] Merriam-Webster, s.v. "Intuition," http://www.merriam-webster.com/ (accessed October 26, 2010).
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Take a Nice Hot Bath
Okay, so when it comes to taking care of yourself, this one may seem kind of obvious. When you're tired and achy, or just need some time alone, it might be a good time to take a nice hot bath!
The number one benefit of a hot bath may be it's stress relieving effects including stimulating blood circulation and calming the nervous system.[1] I think that taking a bath can take you away from your regular routine, away from the rest of your busy life, and into a space that's calming and relaxing. A hot bath may also, among other things, "help relieve common aches and pains associated with arthritis, menstrual cramps, inflammation, hemorrhoids, muscle pains and spasms."[1]
There are lots of ways to customize a bath. You can add bubbles for fun! (I recommend you find a bubble bath with a minimum of artificial fragrances, colours and other chemicals.) You can add Epsom salts which are reputed to have a variety of benefits to your skin and muscles. You can add certain herbs (such as rosemary or milk thistle), each with their own benefits. And then there's aromatherapy (essential oils): lavender is great for relaxing, peppermint is great for energizing and there are so many other options to choose from. Flower Essences (read here about Flower Essence Therapy) can also be used in the bath, and while they don't add any smell or colour, they will provide energetic benefits.
Remember that a hot bat is not for everyone, and this is even more true when you add herbs or aromatherapy. Be aware of allergies or irritations you may have to certain herbs or essential oils. Pregnant woman should not only avoid hot baths, but there are a long list of herbs and essential oils that should be avoided too. Be careful when you get out of the tub as there is the possibility of fainting in some people with blood pressure issues (it might just take a bad cold or low blood sugar to bring you to that point).
If you have done your homework or consulted a doctor and know that a hot bath is safe for you, it can also be good for you. Dress up your bath in your own way and it can be a wonderful way to take care of yourself!
[1] "Tips for Relaxing in a Hot Bath," Discovery Health, accessed October 25, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/relax-in-a-hot-bath.htm.
The number one benefit of a hot bath may be it's stress relieving effects including stimulating blood circulation and calming the nervous system.[1] I think that taking a bath can take you away from your regular routine, away from the rest of your busy life, and into a space that's calming and relaxing. A hot bath may also, among other things, "help relieve common aches and pains associated with arthritis, menstrual cramps, inflammation, hemorrhoids, muscle pains and spasms."[1]
There are lots of ways to customize a bath. You can add bubbles for fun! (I recommend you find a bubble bath with a minimum of artificial fragrances, colours and other chemicals.) You can add Epsom salts which are reputed to have a variety of benefits to your skin and muscles. You can add certain herbs (such as rosemary or milk thistle), each with their own benefits. And then there's aromatherapy (essential oils): lavender is great for relaxing, peppermint is great for energizing and there are so many other options to choose from. Flower Essences (read here about Flower Essence Therapy) can also be used in the bath, and while they don't add any smell or colour, they will provide energetic benefits.
Remember that a hot bat is not for everyone, and this is even more true when you add herbs or aromatherapy. Be aware of allergies or irritations you may have to certain herbs or essential oils. Pregnant woman should not only avoid hot baths, but there are a long list of herbs and essential oils that should be avoided too. Be careful when you get out of the tub as there is the possibility of fainting in some people with blood pressure issues (it might just take a bad cold or low blood sugar to bring you to that point).
If you have done your homework or consulted a doctor and know that a hot bath is safe for you, it can also be good for you. Dress up your bath in your own way and it can be a wonderful way to take care of yourself!
[1] "Tips for Relaxing in a Hot Bath," Discovery Health, accessed October 25, 2010 from http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/relax-in-a-hot-bath.htm.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Lip Balm Addiction
It's fall-time in Alberta, and that means it's time to pull out the old chap stick tubes and lip balm containers to prepare for the bitterly dry and cold winter. Many of us use these products to help protect and moisturize our lips. There are countless number of different options available, from various flavours, medicated balms, options of moisturizing ingredients, and different types of wax.
But how do you feel about eating petroleum products? And what about taking in artificial colours and flavours? And are you happy about the possibility of ingesting a long list of other chemicals? If you aren't interested in eating any of these things, it's probably not the best idea to be putting them on your lips.
And then there's lip balm addiction. Some people use lip balm so much and have their lips so moisturized that the lips stop moisturizing themselves. Then they're stuck using more and more lip balm. Also, there are so many chemicals in lip balms that your skin may become irritated by any of those chemicals, causing them to feel dry, once again leading you to think that you need more lip balm.
So in the land of winter, what can you do to keep your lips moisturized? Well, avoid most commercial chap sticks and lip balms - they may be bad for your lips and bad for your health in general. You may be able to find some healthier options online or in some health stores. But the best option is to make your own lip balm. There are dozens of recipes to be found online. You'll need to find your petroleum wax substitute such as beeswax, cocoa butter, or shea butter, and then some carrier oil like sunflower, canola, or grapeseed oil. You can add some essential oils to make them smell fabulous (you can make it your own personalized aromatherapy lip balm), and some honey or other flavour to make it taste good (a little bit is bound to make it into your mouth).
True, it will take some time to make your own lip balm. But you can make enough at one time to last for ages and maybe even make enough to give as stocking stuffers. And this little bit of time will not be for nothing - it will be an investment into your health.
Whether you choose to buy your lip balm or make it yourself, try to limit how much you use it. If you feel the need to apply more as soon as it has worn off, you are probably using too much. Try a different brand of lip balm in case you are reacting to some ingredient in the lip balm. Or better yet, try fulfilling your need for moisture from the inside out - drink more water!
But how do you feel about eating petroleum products? And what about taking in artificial colours and flavours? And are you happy about the possibility of ingesting a long list of other chemicals? If you aren't interested in eating any of these things, it's probably not the best idea to be putting them on your lips.
And then there's lip balm addiction. Some people use lip balm so much and have their lips so moisturized that the lips stop moisturizing themselves. Then they're stuck using more and more lip balm. Also, there are so many chemicals in lip balms that your skin may become irritated by any of those chemicals, causing them to feel dry, once again leading you to think that you need more lip balm.
So in the land of winter, what can you do to keep your lips moisturized? Well, avoid most commercial chap sticks and lip balms - they may be bad for your lips and bad for your health in general. You may be able to find some healthier options online or in some health stores. But the best option is to make your own lip balm. There are dozens of recipes to be found online. You'll need to find your petroleum wax substitute such as beeswax, cocoa butter, or shea butter, and then some carrier oil like sunflower, canola, or grapeseed oil. You can add some essential oils to make them smell fabulous (you can make it your own personalized aromatherapy lip balm), and some honey or other flavour to make it taste good (a little bit is bound to make it into your mouth).
True, it will take some time to make your own lip balm. But you can make enough at one time to last for ages and maybe even make enough to give as stocking stuffers. And this little bit of time will not be for nothing - it will be an investment into your health.
Whether you choose to buy your lip balm or make it yourself, try to limit how much you use it. If you feel the need to apply more as soon as it has worn off, you are probably using too much. Try a different brand of lip balm in case you are reacting to some ingredient in the lip balm. Or better yet, try fulfilling your need for moisture from the inside out - drink more water!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Coincidence, I Think Not!
When I was writing my blog post on the Human Energy Field, I was horribly frustrated about how hard it was to find good research and information about energy healing. Despite my belief that this "stuff" is real, I started to doubt myself. Am I just crazy? Is my belief some big self-delusion? The repercussions of these possibilities were putting me in quite a mood.
A couple of days after I published the post, I brought Sarah to the bookstore. I was wandering around my favourite section of the store when my eyes were drawn to a book sitting face up on the shelf. It was called "The Energy Healing Experiments." What a "coincidence!" Here was a book on the precise topic I was looking for. (It's a fantastic book by the way and I'll write about it another time!)
Well, the point is that I don't really believe in coincidence. I know that the book I needed was there for me because I asked for it. Psychologist Carl Jung called such meaningful coincidence "synchronicity." The idea is that objects, thoughts or events that are related to your desires are attracted to you, and sometimes these things seem to appear by coincidence.
I remember when I would have considered all of this to be complete nonsense. I completely understand that point of view but I am no longer able to live with it. For one, it is just so much more fun to know think that every coincidence is really a wonderful gift to help me on my way. And the more I hold this belief, the more I can see that the coincidences in my life have been special learning opportunities for me.
Take note of the coincidences in your life, no matter how small. Examine what it took for that coincidence to occur and imagine what the coincidence could mean. You may learn incredible things about your life through your coincidences!
A couple of days after I published the post, I brought Sarah to the bookstore. I was wandering around my favourite section of the store when my eyes were drawn to a book sitting face up on the shelf. It was called "The Energy Healing Experiments." What a "coincidence!" Here was a book on the precise topic I was looking for. (It's a fantastic book by the way and I'll write about it another time!)
Well, the point is that I don't really believe in coincidence. I know that the book I needed was there for me because I asked for it. Psychologist Carl Jung called such meaningful coincidence "synchronicity." The idea is that objects, thoughts or events that are related to your desires are attracted to you, and sometimes these things seem to appear by coincidence.
I remember when I would have considered all of this to be complete nonsense. I completely understand that point of view but I am no longer able to live with it. For one, it is just so much more fun to know think that every coincidence is really a wonderful gift to help me on my way. And the more I hold this belief, the more I can see that the coincidences in my life have been special learning opportunities for me.
Take note of the coincidences in your life, no matter how small. Examine what it took for that coincidence to occur and imagine what the coincidence could mean. You may learn incredible things about your life through your coincidences!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Acupuncture
A few years ago, one evening I started to get a horrible pain in my abdomen. The next morning, the pain was gone and the next evening it started all over again. The pain came back every day for several weeks. I finally noticed that the pain always followed eating protein (especially meat and cheese). The doctor couldn't tell me what it was and put me on a three month wait list for a not-so-pleasant test. So my options were to wait months for a test that may or may not tell me what the problem was, never eat protein again, or try something completely different. Well, I decided to go with that last option and what I chose to try was acupuncture. One single treatment later and I have never experienced that pain again!
If there's one complementary therapy that is truly gaining credibility in conventional medicine, it's acupuncture. There are tons and tons of studies that show that acupuncture can be beneficial in a number of conditions and diseases. Some of these include pain, addiction, AIDS, infertility, and cancer treatment side effects.[1] Acupuncture may also be helpful with migraine headaches, hypertension, osteoarthritis and any number of other issues.
In acupuncture, special needles are inserted into the skin at special points (called acupoints) which lie along energy meridians.[1] These needles help enhance the flow of qi in the body (see my explanation of qi and energy meridians). There are over 1,000 possible acupuncture points so you need a good acupuncturist to determine exactly what points will work for you and your unique situation. Your practitioner will interview you, take your pulses (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, there are 12 different pulses to check), and look at the surface of your tongue. Every individual is unique and the acupuncture points are selected for the individual, not just the disease or condition.
Some people are terrified of needles, which I can understand. All I can say is that acupuncture needles are much thinner than needles used to give vaccinations or take blood. There are generally 10 to 12 needles per treatment and they are generally left in place for 20 to 30 minutes, though treatments can vary greatly.[1] Though you might feel a slight prick on your skin as the needle is inserted (depending on how sensitive you are), acupuncture is mostly pain-free. That being said, acupuncture is not for everyone and should be avoided if you have bleeding disorders or are taking blood thinners.
If you are interesting in exploring if acupuncture is right for you or you're looking for other alternative health options, come try a personal health consultation at Know Thy Health.
[1] Larry Trivieri, Jr. and John W. Anderson, eds., Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 2002), 62-70.
If there's one complementary therapy that is truly gaining credibility in conventional medicine, it's acupuncture. There are tons and tons of studies that show that acupuncture can be beneficial in a number of conditions and diseases. Some of these include pain, addiction, AIDS, infertility, and cancer treatment side effects.[1] Acupuncture may also be helpful with migraine headaches, hypertension, osteoarthritis and any number of other issues.
In acupuncture, special needles are inserted into the skin at special points (called acupoints) which lie along energy meridians.[1] These needles help enhance the flow of qi in the body (see my explanation of qi and energy meridians). There are over 1,000 possible acupuncture points so you need a good acupuncturist to determine exactly what points will work for you and your unique situation. Your practitioner will interview you, take your pulses (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, there are 12 different pulses to check), and look at the surface of your tongue. Every individual is unique and the acupuncture points are selected for the individual, not just the disease or condition.
Some people are terrified of needles, which I can understand. All I can say is that acupuncture needles are much thinner than needles used to give vaccinations or take blood. There are generally 10 to 12 needles per treatment and they are generally left in place for 20 to 30 minutes, though treatments can vary greatly.[1] Though you might feel a slight prick on your skin as the needle is inserted (depending on how sensitive you are), acupuncture is mostly pain-free. That being said, acupuncture is not for everyone and should be avoided if you have bleeding disorders or are taking blood thinners.
If you are interesting in exploring if acupuncture is right for you or you're looking for other alternative health options, come try a personal health consultation at Know Thy Health.
[1] Larry Trivieri, Jr. and John W. Anderson, eds., Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 2002), 62-70.
Monday, October 11, 2010
What are Emotions?
Have you ever thought about what your emotions really are? We all have "issues" with our emotions every once in a while (if not incredibly more often than that). But do we really understand them enough to know what to do about them?
From what I understand, there are multiple theories to explain our emotions (of course it couldn't be simple!) It seems like emotions are both a reaction to changes in the body and a reaction to our thoughts about our experience. My interest is in thinking of emotion as a response to our thoughts.
Two people can see the exact same thing and end up feeling completely different about it. The difference is everything that goes on in these two people's heads. What's significant about that? Well, though not necessarily an easy proposition, each one of us has the ability to change the way we think - and if what we think affects what we feel then we have the power to change how we feel!
So how does your mind decide how you "feel" about a certain thought? What makes something a happy thought and something else an angry thought? This is also a complicated question but I think your mind basically compares your thought to what your goals and desires are and picks a feeling based on that. If you think something is getting in the way of what you want, you might be angry. If you suffer a loss to what you want, you feel sad. If you get what you want or at least take a step towards it, you feel happy. When you're wondering what to change your thoughts to, consider that you want your goals and your thoughts to be compatible.
On a spiritually-minded side note, the more you are in touch with your Higher Self (or your spirit, the Universe or God), and the more you can set your goals in alignment with that part of you, the more your emotions can become a compass for your spirit. Your emotions can become a wonderful spiritual tool, teaching you from moment to moment whether you are moving in-line with God or not.
Instead of thinking of your emotions as something that just happen to you, think of them as a wonderful tool that you just haven't quite learned how to use yet!
From what I understand, there are multiple theories to explain our emotions (of course it couldn't be simple!) It seems like emotions are both a reaction to changes in the body and a reaction to our thoughts about our experience. My interest is in thinking of emotion as a response to our thoughts.
Two people can see the exact same thing and end up feeling completely different about it. The difference is everything that goes on in these two people's heads. What's significant about that? Well, though not necessarily an easy proposition, each one of us has the ability to change the way we think - and if what we think affects what we feel then we have the power to change how we feel!
So how does your mind decide how you "feel" about a certain thought? What makes something a happy thought and something else an angry thought? This is also a complicated question but I think your mind basically compares your thought to what your goals and desires are and picks a feeling based on that. If you think something is getting in the way of what you want, you might be angry. If you suffer a loss to what you want, you feel sad. If you get what you want or at least take a step towards it, you feel happy. When you're wondering what to change your thoughts to, consider that you want your goals and your thoughts to be compatible.
On a spiritually-minded side note, the more you are in touch with your Higher Self (or your spirit, the Universe or God), and the more you can set your goals in alignment with that part of you, the more your emotions can become a compass for your spirit. Your emotions can become a wonderful spiritual tool, teaching you from moment to moment whether you are moving in-line with God or not.
Instead of thinking of your emotions as something that just happen to you, think of them as a wonderful tool that you just haven't quite learned how to use yet!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A Vote for Good Health
The time is upon us. On Monday, October 18, 2010 (that's in less than 2 weeks!), it's time for municipal elections across Alberta. I know, I know... It's not the most interesting thing in the world, and who really has time to care? Well, there are dozens of reasons not to vote, but I'd like to talk about some of the reasons on the plus-side of voting.
There are overall mental and physical health benefits associated with voting.[1] These benefits often come from the sense of self-empowerment that comes with voting.[1] So I guess that if you think that voting is useless and you just go vote because someone tells you to, that's not particularly helpful. But if you think voting is useless or haven't thought about it much at all, you are in charge of your own thoughts and you have the choice to change your mind.
I find that the process of researching who to vote for, as long and tedious as it can be, often brings me a feeling of connection with the community. I start to understand what those around me may be experiencing and I start to get the feeling that things need to change and that voting may help that happen. Thinking that your single vote doesn't change anything is counter-productive; each vote adds to the total and if no one with "regular" lives votes, that leaves only the fanatics to decide elections for you.
A note on municipal elections... I find it interesting that so many people claim that voting doesn't make a difference but that more people show up and vote in federal and provincial elections than in municipal elections where the issues more directly affect each and every citizen's everyday lives. The turnout for the 2007 Edmonton municipal election was just over 27%! The difference between one mayor and another could mean short-term differences in taxes and construction of infrastructure (such as my favourite LRT).
CTV has a very good site to help you with research on your local candidates (for Edmonton). Please be a good citizen of your community and a good example for others... Please vote!
[1] Voting Counts as a Healthy Habit. WebMD. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/voting-counts-as-healthy-habit
There are overall mental and physical health benefits associated with voting.[1] These benefits often come from the sense of self-empowerment that comes with voting.[1] So I guess that if you think that voting is useless and you just go vote because someone tells you to, that's not particularly helpful. But if you think voting is useless or haven't thought about it much at all, you are in charge of your own thoughts and you have the choice to change your mind.
I find that the process of researching who to vote for, as long and tedious as it can be, often brings me a feeling of connection with the community. I start to understand what those around me may be experiencing and I start to get the feeling that things need to change and that voting may help that happen. Thinking that your single vote doesn't change anything is counter-productive; each vote adds to the total and if no one with "regular" lives votes, that leaves only the fanatics to decide elections for you.
A note on municipal elections... I find it interesting that so many people claim that voting doesn't make a difference but that more people show up and vote in federal and provincial elections than in municipal elections where the issues more directly affect each and every citizen's everyday lives. The turnout for the 2007 Edmonton municipal election was just over 27%! The difference between one mayor and another could mean short-term differences in taxes and construction of infrastructure (such as my favourite LRT).
CTV has a very good site to help you with research on your local candidates (for Edmonton). Please be a good citizen of your community and a good example for others... Please vote!
[1] Voting Counts as a Healthy Habit. WebMD. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/voting-counts-as-healthy-habit
Monday, October 4, 2010
Travel for Health
Why do you travel? Thousands of people travel to other countries to get medical treatments. But, a little less literally, many, many more people travel to feel good in some way - that is, to be healthier.
Some of us travel to get away from a part of our lives, and many times that part is our job. I remember when there was nothing better than to get a week off of work and fly to Mexico, or even better drive to the Okanagan. I remember how it would be all I could do to concentrate at work the week before the vacation, and as the vacation was ending I would feel sad and unhappy about coming home.
As a parent, travel is a little more stressful than it used to be for me. Some parents leave their children behind to travel (and that has it's own stress), but I only travel where and when my daughter can come with me. When packing, I have to consider all the things she may want while we're gone. While we are away from home she may not sleep as well and I always have to consider when to head back to "home" base for nap time. On the positive side, the travel gets my out of my routine, broadens my daughter's experience, and creates memories for my whole family.
Travel always seems to involve some stress and some rewards. I guess the trick is to make sure whatever trip you are taking involves more rewards than stress. There is all the usual advice... Plan the trip a little bit ahead of time - it's no fun not having a place to sleep. Don't sweat the small stuff - it won't necessarily all go as planned. Try not to overbook yourself - doing too much will just leave you more exhausted than when you started the vacation. Do your best to eat well and exercise while you are away from home. And so on, and so on...
I think there's another aspect of travel to consider. When you plan a trip, consider carefully why you are taking the trip. Constantly taking trips to get away from your life won't usually be really helpful. That sort of pattern might indicate that you would be better off making changes in your life at home than spending your time travelling. Also, keeping in mind your reason for taking the trip will help you prioritize what you are going to do.
Take a little time to think about travel and what it means to you. This simple practice may help you use travel as just another fun way to take care of yourself and stay healthy!
Some of us travel to get away from a part of our lives, and many times that part is our job. I remember when there was nothing better than to get a week off of work and fly to Mexico, or even better drive to the Okanagan. I remember how it would be all I could do to concentrate at work the week before the vacation, and as the vacation was ending I would feel sad and unhappy about coming home.
As a parent, travel is a little more stressful than it used to be for me. Some parents leave their children behind to travel (and that has it's own stress), but I only travel where and when my daughter can come with me. When packing, I have to consider all the things she may want while we're gone. While we are away from home she may not sleep as well and I always have to consider when to head back to "home" base for nap time. On the positive side, the travel gets my out of my routine, broadens my daughter's experience, and creates memories for my whole family.
Travel always seems to involve some stress and some rewards. I guess the trick is to make sure whatever trip you are taking involves more rewards than stress. There is all the usual advice... Plan the trip a little bit ahead of time - it's no fun not having a place to sleep. Don't sweat the small stuff - it won't necessarily all go as planned. Try not to overbook yourself - doing too much will just leave you more exhausted than when you started the vacation. Do your best to eat well and exercise while you are away from home. And so on, and so on...
I think there's another aspect of travel to consider. When you plan a trip, consider carefully why you are taking the trip. Constantly taking trips to get away from your life won't usually be really helpful. That sort of pattern might indicate that you would be better off making changes in your life at home than spending your time travelling. Also, keeping in mind your reason for taking the trip will help you prioritize what you are going to do.
Take a little time to think about travel and what it means to you. This simple practice may help you use travel as just another fun way to take care of yourself and stay healthy!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Cluttered Emotions, Cluttered House
Have you ever considered that your environment can sometimes reflect your internal state? Sometimes clutter in your home might be caused by your emotional clutter getting in the way of cleaning and letting go. Sometimes the clutter in your home might prevent you from emptying your emotional clutter. Either way doesn't cleaning up sound like a good idea?
Now I'm not trying to talk to full-on hoarders here. Anyone who has so much as a junk drawer or an overly full purse can benefit from a little de-cluttering. Those of us who have rooms full of boxes and piles of junk (yep, that's me) have all the more reason to consider this.
Removing the clutter in your life won't only help you find things more quickly, it can promote healing for your body, mind and spirit. You can feel the difference between a cluttered space and an open space. And you can go too far - being stressed about disturbing a hair on a pristine carpet isn't really that much better than jumping over a junk pile.
How do you get started? If you think "one day I'll find the time," chances are it'll sit on the back-burner indefinitely... trust me, I know. Try devoting 10 minutes per day to de-cluttering. Make a specific time of day (like during the kids' nap, right after work, or during the commercials of your favourite show) and stick to it as much as possible. I find that if I get started, I get motivated and do more than 10 minutes per day, and I'll stick with it until at least one room is done.
Remember, de-cluttering doesn't mean only finding new ways to organize old junk. Buying new shelves and organizing systems is only really useful if you're only keeping the things that are important to you. For each item you're dealing with, ask yourself why it is important enough to keep. Is it adding something to your life or is it just adding to your physical and emotional clutter?
I'm going to start de-cluttering my house by going through the boxes in my garage on Monday. How about you?
Now I'm not trying to talk to full-on hoarders here. Anyone who has so much as a junk drawer or an overly full purse can benefit from a little de-cluttering. Those of us who have rooms full of boxes and piles of junk (yep, that's me) have all the more reason to consider this.
Removing the clutter in your life won't only help you find things more quickly, it can promote healing for your body, mind and spirit. You can feel the difference between a cluttered space and an open space. And you can go too far - being stressed about disturbing a hair on a pristine carpet isn't really that much better than jumping over a junk pile.
How do you get started? If you think "one day I'll find the time," chances are it'll sit on the back-burner indefinitely... trust me, I know. Try devoting 10 minutes per day to de-cluttering. Make a specific time of day (like during the kids' nap, right after work, or during the commercials of your favourite show) and stick to it as much as possible. I find that if I get started, I get motivated and do more than 10 minutes per day, and I'll stick with it until at least one room is done.
Remember, de-cluttering doesn't mean only finding new ways to organize old junk. Buying new shelves and organizing systems is only really useful if you're only keeping the things that are important to you. For each item you're dealing with, ask yourself why it is important enough to keep. Is it adding something to your life or is it just adding to your physical and emotional clutter?
I'm going to start de-cluttering my house by going through the boxes in my garage on Monday. How about you?
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