By Cherry Rudge of Rainbow Red (Professional Decluttering, Personal Organising & Project Management Services)
Question: What’s the connection between the basic principles of Feng Shui and the 19th Century classic “Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management”?
The answer is that they both endorse living in harmony with our environment so that the energy surrounding us works for us rather than against us, to improve health, wealth and happiness.
In her classic epic guide to all aspects of running a household in Victorian Britain’s homes, Isabella Beeton (one of 21 children!) not only painstakingly documented a huge number of popular recipes of the time (“first, catch your hare”), she also wrote “I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife’s badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways”.
150 years later and much of the advice in “Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management” is out of date – typically those relating to health remedies (thankfully these days there’s not a lot of call in the UK for unction’s or potions to combat “Cholera and Autumnal complaints”).
However, many of the recipes and advice have stood the test of time and are just as relevant today: “Cleanliness, punctuality, order, and method, are essentials in the character of a good housekeeper. Without the first, no household can be said to be well managed”.
Let me give you a 21st century example of her wisdom: in a recent article, life coach, mentor, motivational speaker and author Louise Presley-Turner suggested that “the way to reduce your stress levels is easy - by decluttering and simplifying your life!”
Her top recommendations for success were:
- Sort your finances out
- A clear house equals a clear mind
- Clean out the cupboards
- Sort out those niggling outstanding jobs
- Spend more time doing the things you love
- Turn off the tv”
Noble suggestions indeed; but are they true? And can sorting out niggling outstanding jobs and untidy ways really improve your health and happiness?
The answer is definitely “yes”. Rainbow Red has had several clients who were in significant danger from falling over cables, newspapers, books, clothing or craft items until they were rescued from the perils of clutter; we’ve had others who shook so badly when we first met them that we thought they had Parkinson’s – only to see them become significantly less wobbly as they became less anxious about their home being cluttered, and their lives became more organised.
We’ve had clients who have benefited from being able to get into bed and change their bedclothes more easily once the volume of clothes on the bedroom floor had been removed, and others who were able to finally sit at their dining room table to eat for the first time in years. In many cases, clients have expressed huge relief simply knowing that there was a friendly face available locally to give practical help, and motivational advice and support, and others who have commented that their house was a more pleasant place to live in after only one short session.
We’ve improved cleanliness and hygiene by arranging for professionals to clean decluttered homes; we’ve re-organised kitchen cupboards and fridges (how often do you check and chuck out what’s out of date – or mouldy – at the back of your cupboard, fridge, or even make-up bag?), and brought in reliable tradesmen to decorate decluttered rooms, install television aerials, and install or repair windows; we’ve even had electricians install lights in under-stairs cupboards, as well as bathroom extractor fans – to combat mould caused by windows not being opened as a result from poor access due to clutter.
Rainbow Red is determined to recycle as many of our clients’ unwanted items as possible; for example, yoghurt pots go to www.stickyfingersart.co.uk kids arts and crafts workshops in Claygate; textiles go to www.1stweybridgescouts.org.uk for their HQ appeal; unwanted toiletries goes towww.womensaid.org.uk. And if you happen to know of anyone who has a use for newspapers and magazines, we’d love to hear from you!
Rainbow Red is a proud Member of The Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers UK (apdo-uk), which was founded in London in 2004 with only four Members. Today there are over 100 Members across the UK, all of whom are dedicated to reducing organisational stress in people’s lives, by providing discrete and confidential practical help and relief for the overworked and stressed, and organising homes to be safer, calmer, smoother running, and organised environments in which to live healthier and happier lives.
apdo-uk works with leading UK charities, not for profit organisations and corporate partners to provide advice and practical support to people affected by clutter or organisation issues; together they promote recycling, safety and wellbeing, and raise awareness of the practical, social, medical and psychological issues associated with the short and long-term effects of clutter, making it easier to find professional help – whether it be from apdo-uk Members or through recommended products or services.
So, if you would like to know more about Rainbow Red’s professional decluttering, personal organising and project management services (resulting from over 30 years organisational experience as PA to Boards of Directors, in Marketing roles and as a Project Manager), and how we can help you enjoy a more organised and functional lifestyle, please visit www.rainbowred.co.uk, or call Cherry Rudge on 07931 303310.
For details about apdo-uk or find a professional declutterer or organiser nationwide, please visit apdo-uk’s website – www.apdo-uk.co.uk or contact Cherry Rudge for more information.
And for the Mrs Beeton’s amongst us, all 1,112 pages of her book are available to view online for free, at www.mrsbeeton.com.
