This week I wanted to highlight a book that not only left a tremendous impression on me but transformed my home into a safe haven. And while it has been a few years since I first worked through the process of “Tidying Up”, I still use these practices on a regular basis.
My Take on it:
“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo ushered in a movement for generation of people ready to live with less so they can enjoy their life more. Capsule wardrobes, minimalism, organization, storage, decluttering, and simplicity in your home: Marie and her “KonMari” method paved the way in highlighting the problem of excess stuff and gave language to clearing the clutter and better enjoying every aspect of your home life.
The (rather appropriately) concise little book packs quite the punch and quickly breaks down how to let go of the “stuff” that not only clutters your home but your mind and spirit as well by identifying the items that “Spark Joy”. Warning: Marie’s language and the way that she describes “thanking” the items before letting them go may feel a little “woo woo”, odd or even silly. However, in my opinion, this is the exact reason her book is impactful. Our homes are often crowded with “stuff” bought and then thrown into closets with tags still attached, never to be seen again. At the same time, this produces a guilt or loyalty that prevents us from discarding them. Her seemingly peculiar style is the exact approach that I needed to take a step back and be able to evaluate an item’s purpose and true value.
I first read her book about 6 months before we made the move to our current home and, per her instructions, I began with my clothing. Every. Single. Piece. Of Clothing.College clothes, concert dress clothes, professional teaching clothes, clothes that didn’t fit, clothes that didn’t work for me as a mom, even clothes I didn’t like but couldn’t bring myself to part with! All of it went into a pile in my room. But using Marie’s method transformed what had seemed like an impossible taskinto a very manageable one. Once I learned this principle it was not difficult to move to the next set of items.
Even now, years later, I still “KonMari” my items whenever it’s time to re-evaluate the “joy” they bring to my life and I can more easily say “thank you” before sending them off to their final destination. I am personally convinced that your physical environment is a reflection of your inner world, and I know that when my space is in order it is so much easier to think, concentrate, create, and achieve.
Why You Must Read It:
This is the book that started a movement! In my many adulting years, I have never met someone who said, “I hate my house, it’s so clean!” If your pinterest board is full of “capsule wardrobe how-tos” and “declutter your _____”, I would highly recommend starting here.
Most methods teach the room-by-room approach which does not give lasting results for some obvious reasons. For instance, items of the same kind are often spread out over the entire home and it’s far too easy to keep way too much. Think of the 11 decks of cards, only a few of which are actually complete, 9 winter coats, some that fit, some that don’t, and your 57 novelty coffee mugs. You get the point.
The difference with the KonMari method is that she actually teaches a category-by-category system to decluttering and organizing. For example, she recommends beginning with clothes and less nostalgic items before working on more special items like photographs or momentos and she outlines the order in the book. Approaching minimalism this way means that it can become a matter of principle to live by and incorporate into habit rather than a simple set of instructions or methods of sorting.
The result? Less undesirable or unnecessary choice, more satisfaction, a calmer mind, clearer thoughts, and a mental space that empowers you to actually live how you want. All this from finding and properly appreciating the joy in items worth keeping. Purging feels so good. There really is something to letting stuff go that works magic for your mind and heart.
Some Favorite Quotes:
“The question of what you want to own, is really the question of how you want to live your life.”
“When we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.”
“Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder.”
“You could say that tidying orders the mind while cleaning purifies.”
“To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”
