Since the first episode of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” aired on Netflix in January, it’s as if everyone decided to become a minimalist. The world simply could not get enough of renowned organizing consultant Marie Kondo and her inspiring home makeovers, making her decluttering genius nothing short of phenomenal. This is perhaps because Marie enchanted the world by her epic philosophy: keep only the things that “spark joy.”
The tidying expert’s best-selling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” transformed the lives of many with unkempt homes by turning them into “spaces of serenity and inspiration” through the KonMari Method. This method is done by gathering all of your belongings by category (clothes, books, miscellaneous items known as “komono,” and the sentimental items), sorting them out and deciding to keep only the things that “speak to the heart,” and let go of things that “no longer spark joy.”
How to Declutter Using the KonMari Method
Marie’s philosophy is based on six basic rules of tidying up. These rules, however, are not just for organizing your home, they can definitely be applied to all parts of your life, from your clothes to the perspectives you have in your relationships and personal goals.
Rule #1: Commit yourself to tidying up. Basically, you need to be sure you are willing to commit to decluttering using this method because it can be hard, requiring time and a lot of effort. You’d need to have your mind made up to face the mess, both the tangible and intangible, emotional mess.
Rule #2: Imagine your ideal lifestyle. This rule has a lot to do with seeing beyond what you have at present. It is being particular with having only the things you need for the ideal life you want. It’s good to ask questions like, “What kind of home do I want to live in and wake up to everyday?,” “What do I want to see in each room and corner?,” and “How do I see myself actually living my life in that home?” You need to visualize what you really want and once you’ve done that, the next thing to do is act upon that vision. This, then, becomes a pivotal moment in your adult life.
Rule #3: Finish discarding first. Put simply, you would need to get rid of things you know you don’t and won’t ever need. Be absolutely sure that you won’t store them anywhere in your house at all. You can either donate them or give them away to others who may need them. Point is? Discard, discard, discard. Once you’ve gotten rid of these unnecessary items, then and only then can you start organizing.
Rule #4: Tidy by category, not by location. Contrary to other methods, the KonMari Method is about tidying by category and not by room. For example, if you’d like to start paring down your clothes, gather all clothing items in the house in one spot and start sorting out. This also allows you to see just how much stuff has piled up over the years. It forces you to acknowledge the fact that you have been a hoarder one point in life. In the process, you might even wonder why in the world did you buy some those things in the first place. You’ll find yourself laughing at how ridiculous you were, that’s for sure.
Rule #5: Follow the right order. Marie says that the correct order in organizing is to start with the clothes, then the books, the papers, Komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, the sentimental items which include photographs. To be clear, Komono are anything from phones, plates, things in the fridge or pantry, consoles, furniture, appliances, cutlery, table napkins, office supplies, blankets, TVs, sports equipment, tech accessories, decorations, cleaning supplies, and even cosmetics.
Rule #6: Ask yourself if it “sparks joy.” The final step is crucial. In making the decision to discard something that no longer sparks joy, Marie says that it is important to actually touch or hold the item firmly with both hands as if sharing a conversation with it. Be keen with how your body responds in doing this.
When something sparks joy, you should feel warm inside and a certain thrill that comes from excitement. If, however, something does not bring joy, your body weighs down, feeling unusually heavy. As you do this step for each item you hold, you will surely be more sensitive as to which sparks joy. Bear in mind that in doing this, you are deciding which one to keep rather than what to discard.
Reality bites. If you think about the question, “Does this Spark Joy?,” it is not as simple as others may think. Some may have a hard time answering that especially when it comes to items that have sort of become a soul tie because of the memories and experiences associated with them. The hard truth is, when you start tidying up and decluttering, you’ll surely need to expect a therapeutic mess. You’ll be letting go of so much from your past and present before being truly free of all the clutter in life, not just the tangible clutter, but most importantly the emotional clutter. But if done right, the KonMari Method can be life-changing. Even if it is difficult to go through, at the end of the day, “it’s about choosing joy,” as Marie Kondo says so herself.