I first talked about Marie Kondo and the KonMari method (as explained in her best-selling book, The Life Changing Art of Tidying Up) back in 2015.
At that time, I decluttered my entire house using her methods. And it stayed that way for the most part! I did, however, do the process again this week.
I’m not sure if it was because the sun FINALLY came out here in Atlanta, or because everyone was talking about the Tidying show on Netflix or what, but nevertheless, I became motivated to do it!
I wanted to share my thoughts on this method, on Marie herself, and decluttering in general.
KonMari: How Marie Kondo Changed My Life
2014 was a rough year for me. In 2015 when I decluttered, I also gave up sugar and changed my eating habits. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of for that year.
I believe that tidying my home was an important part of clearing out the old energy and bringing in new, fresh energy and ways of life. And I love the KonMari method. There is so much wisdom in it!
As an example, she recommends that you sort by category (rather than location). This is wise because we underestimate how much stuff we have when it’s everywhere. Sorting ALL the clothing at once forces us to be honest about how much we have.
Sorting by category also makes it easier to avoid wasting money due to duplicates (exactly WHY were there FOUR bags of powdered sugar in my cabinets when I literally NEVER use the stuff?!). And, it’s easier to organize and find needful things when they’re stored in their proper places.
Kids love when their toys are displayed and stored like this:
My Top Tips for Tidying a la KonMari
In no particular order!
1) Drink lots of water
Tidying is hard work and it’s easy to forget to drink. Fill your biggest jar with water and sip on it as you work. Eat a good breakfast with protein before beginning. Treat yourself to an Epsom salt bath afterwards.
2) The mess will temporarily get worse before it gets better.
That’s ok. Breathe. Take breaks. You’ll be sore if you do too much in one day. But, do try to go as fast as possible. Don’t drag it out forever.
3) Do sentimental items LAST (as Marie suggests!)
Why? Because they take the most time and energy. And by the time you get to those items, you’re more in tune with your emotions around your possessions and what truly “sparks joy” for you.
4) Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
Don’t overthink it. Overthinking is a disease in our culture! People are paralyzed by fear over the tiniest things! Just jump in and do it.
5) The process of decluttering can bring up emotion.
Do what you need to do to support yourself during the process. Journaling, breathing, prayer, etc might be needed. Use essential oils, incense, open windows or other things that make you feel good and that freshen the air. Remember the importance of gratitude. Kondo thanks the home, and the items she’s letting go of. This assuages the guilt people sometimes feel when discarding.
6) Keep attractive boxes for storing things
This makes stuff look cuter. We take care of things that look cute and are more likely to use them.
Read Marie Kondo’s books! I love her methods of folding and organizing and they have “stuck” since I learned them.
An “after” picture from 2015. I LOVE opening cabinets and closets and seeing extra space! So restful to the eyes (and the soul!)
As a wife, mom and business owner, I also give Marie mad props! She started a business from scratch from an activity she loved and would do for free. She now has international best-sellers that have been translated into many languages and a sort of franchise where she teaches consultants to do what she has done. She’s a sensation and does it while raising two kids. I love it!
Have you read Marie Kondo’s books? Did you KonMari your home?
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