When it comes to decluttering, the first thing that comes to mind would be Marie Kondo and her KonMari method. Most people have heard about her from her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up but what really made her become a household name is her popular Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. If you enjoy decluttering all your things whilst asking yourself if it does spark joy, then this method is for you.
But before you get started, there are six basic rules of tidying that you should really follow.
#1: Commit yourself to tidy up
Remember, KonMari’ing is not just a one time or one-day affair as it is a chance to reset your entire lifestyle. But in order to make it work, you have to fully commit to its principles. To begin the KonMari method, you would need to put in the time and effort alongside with a clear vision and a can-do attitude.
Although it might seem there’s a long way to go, this change of lifestyle will be worth it in the end. Not only would you feel better but it’ll be a hobby that worth being addicted to.
#2: Imagine your ideal lifestyle
Ask yourself what kind of house do you want to live in and what kind of lifestyle do you see yourself living. Create a mood board that will help motivate you to achieve your goals. To be more precise, you can choose to draw or write or even cut out photos from magazines to describe your ideal lifestyle.
A mood board will help keep you aligned with what you want in life but more precisely, the tidying process.
#3: Finish discarding first
Usually, when someone has made their mood board, they tend to be overly excited and begin tidying right away, which is usually not encouraged if you’re trying to follow the KonMari method. It’s best to follow the steps accordingly so that you will never again relapse into clutter.
Discarding is one of the important parts of the tidying process as it will allow you to realise what to keep and what to discard. Then once you’ve got rid of all the unnecessary stuff, you can finally put your attention to things that bring you joy.
#4: Tidy up by category, not by location
It is so common for us to tidy room by room but according to the KonMari method, the proper approach is to tidy by category. The reason why is so that you won’t be repeating the same work from one location to another. Categories go from clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items) and then sentimental items.
#5: Follow the right order
Not only is tidying by category crucial but it should be done in the correct order as well. It’s proven that by starting with clothes and ending with sentimental items, it can help hone your ability to decide what sparks joy.
Right order: Clothes, books, papers, komono and sentimental items.
#6: Ask yourself if it sparks joy
Before you decide to keep or discard something, it’s important to always ask if it sparks joy. To know if it does, just pick up each object one at a time and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” then pay attention to how your body responds. Everybody’s experience when it comes to joy is completely different but according to Marie, you should definitely feel a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising.
However, if you are discarding something that no longer brings you joy, you should always say thank you before letting it go. By doing so, you are showing appreciation to the things that have been in your life which will later, help you take better care of the things you chose to keep.
Pictures by Green Hub, Vinicius Amnx Amano, Hutomo Abrianto, Kristopher Roller, Sarah Brown, Chuttersnap & Rebecca