Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight (48 page)

Other items that I already mentioned, such as work-related equipment (especially reminders of a failed business), food, electronics, and stuff that simply belongs elsewhere in the home

Task 3:

CLEAN OFF YOUR BED (AND UNDER IT, TOO)

If you share your bedroom, come to an agreement with your bedmate on the type of environment that your bed will provide. Should it hold lots of designer pillows and decorative bedding, or a much less elaborate setup? A heavy comforter or a light blanket? Be ready to compromise, and review the
sidebar
on how to work together to reach an outcome that makes everyone happy.

Now summon up all the courage you have, put on gloves and a dust mask if you feel the need, and drag out everything that's under your bed. I think it's perfectly reasonable to store stuff under your bed, so long as you meet these four criteria:

1. You don't have enough storage space elsewhere in your home.

2. You truly need or want to keep these items (rather than just kicking clutter under the bed so you don't have to decide what to do with it).

3. These objects don't prevent you from keeping the area under your bed clean and dust-free.

4. The objects don't disrupt the good vibes, the atmosphere, the feng shui, or whatever you want to call the psychological climate of your bedroom. This is the space where you spend about one-quarter to one-third of your day. This is where you are intimate with your spouse. If something weird or disgusting (see the box on the opposite page) or just inappropriate (a wedding dress from a previous marriage) is lurking under the bed, I strongly believe it's going to contaminate everything that goes on in your bedroom.

Haul out any objects that you no longer wish to store, and for the rest, consider organizing like items together into dust-proof, under-the-bed storage containers before you return them to their spot. This will make cleaning under your bed an easier task, and it keeps these items clean and fresh.

If an object you pull out is covered in dust, ask yourself whether you really need it. In general, if something has been unused for 12 months—and that dust is certainly evidence of this—you should let it go.

Periodically check back under your bed to see if you're ready to part with anything you've stashed under there.

Task 4:

CLEAR OFF YOUR BEDSIDE TABLES

The flat surfaces in your bedroom, like all those throughout your home, tend to attract dust, clutter, and unnecessary decorations. This chaos makes rooms
look
smaller and
feel
less peaceful. This is especially true in the bedroom.

Just before you turn out the light, the last thing you see shouldn't be a mess on the bedside table just inches from your face. For this task, clear off everything from your bedside tables. Only keep items that have a purpose for being on display in your bedroom. That includes:

Lamps

A book and a magazine that you're currently reading

An alarm clock

A small number of deliberately chosen mementos Find a better place for your:

Books and magazines you've already read or plan to read after the current one. If you have a collection of books that you intend to read, keep the to-be-read titles on a bookshelf in your home, not here.

Keys

Pocket change

Jewelry