No matter how many times I experience it, it still amazes me how much weight and stress is lifted from your shoulders when you clear clutter. Clutter (defined by Webster as "disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness") affects you in so many ways that often you don't realize how bad it was until it's gone.

And, clearing clutter pays off financially too. For example, after spending a weekend clearing clutter from my home office, the next week I booked 7 new clients! Letting go of clutter really changes your life. And its not magic, either. Clutter clearing is about letting go of the past and creating a foundation of positive energy that you can work with to bring new success into your life. When things get "stuck" in my business or in my life...I know it's time to go on a clutter hunt. Its time to clear out things that have become stagnant and time to finish things that have been left undone.

I suspect that one of the most important things I did to attract new clients was to "edit" my active client folders which I keep in a step file on my desk. It was so full I couldn't fit a single new folder in there! It was time to move my "graduated" clients from my desk to the file cabinet. I moved 15 folders out...and voila - I had plenty of room to add new clients! The very next day my phone started to ring.

The thing is you don't have to believe in clutter clearing for it to work! Energy exists whether you believe in it or not. When you change the energy around you - you change your life. This is what keeps me motivated to help people clear clutter and make fresh starts. I love seeing how it truly changes their lives and makes them happier. I actually get high from it! I love helping people experience the positive energy, life skills, self-confidence and hope they experience from finally clearing clutter and learning how to deal with their stuff. It empowers them to have the life they dream of and not be stuck in the past holding on to stuff that really doesnt serve them anymore.

So if you are in business, or if you are the CEO of your home, I challenge you to look around and find at least one item of clutter you can let go of today to give yourself a boost of positive energy. It could be cleaning out an overstuffed file, getting rid of some old catalogs that are lying around, or maybe letting an old item of clothing go. Perhaps you can ask your child to donate a few toys? How about starting a regular donation bin or bag next to your recycling center? Try putting 9 things a day in it for the next week and then donate it. See how your energy starts to change. Do this for a month, and you will have lightened your load considerably!

It doesn't matter what you do, just start! And see for yourself how clutter clearing really pays off! : )

2006 Ariane Benefit, Neat Living All rights reserved.

Ariane Benefit

Ariane Benefit is a professional organizer, speaker, and author of the popular Neat Living Blog which provides free organizing tips, home makeover photos and much more.

Her mission is to inspire people to simplify, clear clutter, and get organizes so they can get things done easily, and have more time to enjoy the things they really love!!

Contact me at 973-429-2100 or abenefit@neatliving.org. Article or book writing requests are welcome! I am also available to provide content expertise to other writers.

Background: Having grown up in an extremely cluttered home and having moved frequently, I learned first hand how to overcome the need to keep everything. Being the first and only person in my family to go to college, I also learned early on how important it is to organize yourself to achieve your dreams and goals.

I am especially empathetic to creative people, people in crisis, people with ADD/ADHD, young people, students, packrats, sentimental collectors, people moving, merging households, and anyone who needs to downsize.

I have a Master's Degree in Education with a minor in Business and a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish from the University of Miami in Florida. With over 20 years experience in corporate performance consulting, I am also certified in Process Facilitation, Management Development Training, and Accelerated Learning Methods.

My personal and professional qualifications uniquely enable me to help people not only get organized, but acquire new skills and habits so they can STAY organized.

I am an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (where I am currently pursing the newly established Certified Professional Organizer designation), the American Holistic Health Association, and the International Society for Performance Improvement.