The 'Give Back Box' program helps you open space by using your online shopping boxes from their partners (Overstock, Amazon, Loft, REI, Levi’s, Asics, Ann Taylor, Uncommongoods, Bon-Ton, Viva Terra, Ecru, Bonobos, Scrubs & Beyond, eBags, Lou & Grey, Envision, and Cherry Mad), or any other box you have around. You pack the box full of clothing and/or household items, attach the shipping label (UPS or USPS) from the Give Back Box site, then drop it off or arrange a pick-up. Your items are delivered to a charity that pays the mailing fees and they in turn provide jobs and products to others.

You can't expect new energy, ideas, and people to enter your life if your environment is crammed full of unused stuff. It makes perfect sense, when you think about it. Energy stagnates when it's not transformed by movement. And if your home or office is already filled to the brim, there's no space for anything else. Rule of thumb is that whenever you bring in something new, remove at least one existing item. Unless, of course, you're furnishing a new or partially furnished space. Even then, I almost always find things in the 're-ordering' of the space that no longer serve a purpose. According to a 2011 study, the average household has $7,000 worth of unused or unwanted items. Donating these items helps the 50million people in the US living below the poverty level. So not only do you 'open space' for yourself, you'll be recycling and redistributing, right down to the cardboard box.

When you consider the social, economic, and environmental impact of releasing the excess from your own environment, it's a logical choice. Besides, sharing your blessings with others is good karma. So pack a box today and do yourself and others a huge favor!