WHY WE’RE FOLLOWING MARIE KONDO
How a pocket-sized Japanese woman is bringing calm and order to the lives of millions
Marie Kondo’s new Netflix series (now showing) Tidying up with Marie Kondo has sent ripples through the homes of disorganised, untidy and just plain busy people around the world. If you haven’t seen the show, or heard of Kondo, she’s something of a tidying authority. Inflated as that title may seem, her process, coined the KonMari method, has proven to be more successful than any other, and her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising is a global hit. Kondo was named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” back in 2015.
What separates her from the Martha Stewarts and hoarding police isthe respect she gives to ‘things’. Marie’s approach is mindful and gives objects the value that they desperately lack in a consumer-driven world. Her request for tidyers to physically hold and thank the items that they are getting rid of is incredibly powerful as it forces awareness and results in gratitude.
WAR ON CLUTTER THE KONMARI WAY (The cheat sheet):
HAVING A VISION
Before you begin, envision what you’d ideally like your home and life to be like at the end of this. Having a vision and communicating it makes the process run smoothly and will keep you on track. TIDYING BY CATEGORY
Apparently method is everything and Kondo advocates tidying by category, rather than room. Why? One category (like paperwork) is often dispersed throughout rooms, so starting and finishing categories at a time brings resolution.
FOLDING
Trust us, there’s folding and there’s folding and Kondo has it down to a fine art. Generally you need to fold far smaller than usual and store things like clothes upright. You’ll quickly realise how much space is wasted laying linen or clothing flat and piling it, as opposed to upright.
MAKING MOUNTAINS
Make an enormous pile of the things in your category as a starting point. It will force you to take stock and face up to the task at hand. Plus it’s like a mirror to consumerism for those who keep objects hidden behind closed doors.
SPARKING JOY
Sparking joy is a notion at the core of Kondo’s process. Holding each item, ask yourself whether that pair of jeans, coat or book sparks joy (yes, really). Kondo describes this spark as a feeling that goes “tjing” within you. If it doesn’t spark joy, thank it and let it go. This process will actually teach you a lot about yourself. konmari.com