If you’ve been curious about trying Marie Kondo’s principles of tidying up and decluttering, this is your sign to give it a go!
Instead of being overwhelmed by clutter and mess, try these decluttering lessons from the legendary Marie Kondo herself.
By incorporating her simple steps, you can enjoy a clutter free home, release unwanted objects, and find a new freedom in your life!
Follow in Marie’s Footsteps: Understanding the KonMari Method
Marie Kondo is a renowned Japanese organising consultant, and author, who has gained international acclaim for her transformative tidying methods.
Her approach, known as the KonMari tidying method, is a meticulous and holistic approach to decluttering and organising living spaces.
Kondo shot to fame after the release of her book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” which then spawned a documentary where she helped victims of messiness transform their homes.
Her philosophy centres around the idea of keeping items that “spark joy” and discarding those that no longer serve a purpose in your home.
Marie Kondo’s 6 Basic Steps to Declutter Your Life with a Smile!
Marie Kondo’s principles involve following six steps to decluttering your life. They are designed to physically remove clutter and mess from your life – but to also help you let go with love.
By following all six steps in order, you’ll find the process to be much more joyful than you might expect.
1. Commit Yourself to Tidying Up
Begin by making a firm commitment to the tidying process. Understand the importance of decluttering and organising, and commit to completing the entire process to achieve the tidying goal you set.
This allows you to mentally set the tone of your tidying efforts, and align the process with your values.
When you’ve consciously set yourself the goal of tidying up, it’s easier to hold yourself accountable and stay on track.
2. Imagine Your Ideal Lifestyle
Envision the kind of life you want to live in terms of order and cleanliness.
Picture your ideal living space, considering how you want to feel and what you want your surroundings to look like once the tidying process is complete.
By keeping that vision in mind, you’ll remember what you’re working towards which will make some of those tough decisions a little easier!
3. Finish Discarding First
saying goodbye to less important objects seems simple, but it’s an often overlooked step in tidying up. Instead of sorting and organising through your belongings and fretting about where to put everything, focus on identifying and discarding objects.
You can plan how to store and organise your belongings once you know what you’re keeping. But for now, all you need to do is discard what you no longer need.
4. Tidy By Category, Not Location
This might seem counter-intuitive, but organise and declutter your belongings by category, not by where they are located in your home.
This ensures that you tackle all similar items at once, helping you see the full extent of what you own and make more conscious decisions about what to keep and what to throw or give away.
5. Follow the Right Order
Speaking of categories, there is a specific order of categories when tidying up: start with clothes, then move on to books, papers, kimono (miscellaneous items), and finally sentimental items.
The order is designed to help you build momentum and gain confidence in your decision-making as you progress through easier to more challenging categories.
6. Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy
Throughout the tidying process, constantly ask yourself if each item sparks joy.
Really take the time to hold an object in your hands, look at it, and think about whether or not it brings you genuine happiness.
If an item does bring you joy, keep it and find a suitable place for it in your living space. If it does not, express gratitude and let it go, allowing more room for the things that truly bring you happiness and fulfilment.
How These 6 Simple Rules Can Transform Your Life!
The Konmari principles have revolutionised lives by instilling a mindful and intentional approach to decluttering and organising.
Her book and subsequent documentary have empowered individuals to shed excess belongings, resulting in a more harmonious living environment.
People now focus on what truly matters, letting go of the unnecessary, and organising their spaces in a manner that aligns with their ideal lifestyle. This method isn’t just for your home, you can incorporate this to your office space tidying too and feel the satisfaction at work too.
This shift not only brings physical order but also cultivates a deeper understanding of personal values, creating lasting impacts on mental well-being, finding ultimate simplicity in storage and fostering a sense of gratitude and joy in everyday life.
So if you want to give the KonMari method a try and you’re not sure when to start – why not enlist the help of a professional?
You can book a professional cleaner or housekeeper through Wecasa, and kickstart your tidying journey today.
