This year is the 25th anniversary of the publication of ‘Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui’. It continues to be one of the best-selling clutter clearing books of all time.
Over the years, I’ve received countless emails from people telling me how energized they feel after reading this book, and how enthusiastic it makes them feel to get started on clutter clearing and keep going until the job is done. However, some have suggested that there really needs to be a warning on the book cover about not reading it close to bedtime.
I did consider doing this, but decided against it because people tell me that even if they get motivated to stay up half the night clutter clearing, they generally don’t feel tired the next day. As I explain in my book, “The stagnant energy that stacks up around clutter causes tiredness and lethargy. Clearing it frees up the energy in your home and releases new vitality in your body.”
A woman called Maggie wrote to me to tell me this inspiring story about her and her boyfriend:
“I read ‘Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui’ and applied your principles to energetically streamline my life several years ago. Recently, I moved in with my boyfriend, a wonderful man, who is still sorting through his ‘old life’. I bought him a copy of your book.
Well, the book sat around for a while. As time passed I repeatedly moved the book into view, brought it to the top of the pile. My boyfriend was too busy and distracted by his other ‘stuff’ to look at it.
Finally, two days ago, I was feeling particularly congested and depressed amid the household clutter. That night I pulled my boyfriend into bed and read to him aloud the first three chapters of your book, until he fell asleep.
In the morning the two of us were a de-cluttering machine. We threw out enormous piles of garbage and junk, re-arranged furniture in every room of the house, and went through every loose slip of paper. My boyfriend found several undeposited checks payable to him totaling more than $3000… and he finished filing his taxes. We were so energized by the momentum of our spring clean, we didn’t stop until 4 o’clock the next morning.
This morning I woke feeling like a new human being. I eagerly did my exercises (it had been a while). My boyfriend visibly looks like a weight has lifted from his shoulders. We had been talking about moving… now we both love the house and want to stay. Even our dog looks peppier. All that clearing inspired by just the first three chapters of your book. I can’t wait to read him the next three chapters. Thank you from every fiber of my being.”
You can find this and many other letters like it in the Readers’ Letters section of my website.
Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd, 2011, updated 2023
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Oh, how funny. I’ve read this article several times over the years, but a couple of nights ago I forgot this advice and went to bed with the book. Yup! Up in the middle of the night feverishly getting rid of stuff, and this was AFTER I thought I had finished the areas in question – having done a major clear-up as part of Karen’s Fast Track Clutter Clearing course! I was compelled to jump out of bed and throw away clothing and kitchen items before I could get back to sleep. Too funny. But kind of wonderful! 🙂
How funny…I’ve been reading this every night and not sleeping well at all! Here it is 2:28 in the morning and I have been tossing and turning. I finally got up, threw a bunch of junk clutter away, and decided to visit your website.
Just got your book on Kindle…I had your original book and it is my absolute favorite clutter book ever. I used to run a very large support group online for cleaning/organizing help and your book was my #1 recommendation. After a long illness and recovery, I felt the need to clean the energies here and get rid of clutter, as part of my final healing. So of course I turned to your book for the wonderful inspiration. Oh, I have big plans for the next few weeks.
Thank you.
I LAUGHED when I read this! Some years ago when I first read this book I remember being so ‘wired’ that I cleared clutter until 3:00 am and was sore the next day. Personally, for me the lack of sleep was worth it! It was a big step in my life at that time. I also happen to be a night person. Really, I think it depends on the individual. I would say this: So long as your body can handle it and you aren’t bothering anyone else there is NO wrong time to clear clutter!