feng shui
noun /ˈfəNG ˈSHwē/ /-SHwā/
(in Chinese thought) A system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when siting and designing buildings
I have noticed over the years that those families that allow their children’s toys to take over their home have the most stress in their lives, exhibit signs of anxiety, anxiousness, and frustration over the child rearing process. They appear frazzled and discombobulated. They have to deal with all of the challenges of raising their children and trying to maintain some semblance of sanity and calm. It can all be overwhelming at times. A chaotic home doesn’t help at all.
One sure fire trick to a having a less stressful life at home with the children is to adopt at least one aspect of one particular element of Feng Shui: decluttering.
To declutter your home life and be a little bit more organized and adjusted when planning outings, family meals and just trying to keep it together, limit the amount of toys that are laying about the home.
Some families live in homes that look like a toy store exploded in it. The parents allow their children to leave their toys anywhere and everywhere. But it doesn’t take much effort to simply designate ONE SECTION (maybe two) of the home for toys . Those areas should be the play room, the kids room or one area of the apartment that is quartered off and situated with a toy chest, storage bin or some place where you can quickly toss all the toys hanging out all over the house.
The tough part may be to stick to this one simple rule.
When the kids are not playing with a toy, there is really no need for it to be taking up space on the kitchen table or creating a tripping hazard for you or a guest. Either you, your partner or trained kids if they are old enough should make a concerted effort to gather all errant toys and keep them in the designated area.
It seems pretty intuitive, huh?
Over time, it will become a habit or second nature and you will find toys are not strewn about as much anymore. I do this with other areas of my home and life. All papers, books, newspapers, invoices, magazines are usually put away in our home office. All clothes go in a hamper, closet or bedroom. Dishes, cups and silverware discovered anywhere in the house are picked up and taken in the kitchen.
Think of this mantra: “There is a place for Everything and Everything in its place.”
Maybe it is a concept easy for Type A, first-born, Virgos like me to grasp, but following at least that that one simple rule is GUARANTEED to ease the mind, at least slightly, and help you breathe easier and be less stressed out when you are at home.