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I have been on a tear. I have been feverishly cleaning, tossing, organizing and donating at a ferocious pace. This usually happens when school begins and we have to transport one child or another to university. We send them off with care packages, groceries and clean clothes. There is a method to my madness and the name of it is the KonMari Method. Four years ago, I read Mari Kondo’s life-changing book and decided to experiment. Did the KonMari Method Work?
If you are wondering what I am talking about, it’s a book written by Japenese Professional Organizer and Professor of Joy, Mari Kondo. Her 2015 book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” is a best-seller which has been developed into a Netflix’s show. Both are wildly successful and have spawn 100s of videos on YouTube, 1000s of blog posts and too many Pinterest pins to count.
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Downshifting means to voluntarily simplify your life. So the purpose of the blog has always been to inform my readers and as I transitioned into travel blogging, I realized that I did want to keep simplifying my life so that I could travel more.
This tiny book has affected how I fold my clothes, how I pack my luggage and even what souvenirs I bring back from a trip. It is no longer about what I use to wear when I worked in an office but what I need to keep me comfortable in my travels.
I am also a bit evangelical as I helped my daughter move into her new apartment, I was struck at how the KonMari method of decluttering and tidying up has impacted how I store clothes. We both have the same dilemma: (1) a limited number of drawers and closet space. By token, I store both t-shirts and jeans in baskets. This very precise folding method (into uniform, rectangular packages) has helped me maintain this system for the last 4 or 5 years.
I also have a limited number of hangers. If there is no hanger for a new piece of clothing, then I have to discard something I have not worn in a year or does not SPARK JOY.
This is how this whole system works. Mari Kondo has a specific systematic method of clearing the clutter. This whole house (and lifestyle) purge, clean up and organizing should take you anywhere from 6 months to longer.
I’m not going to lie, I have a big house with a lot of stuff in it and it is still not completed KonMaried. My goal is to have empty closets, cabinets and storage bins. However, I did manage to donate about 6 bags of clothes, shoes and sundry items this weekend and it felt GLORIOUS.
Durning the original decluttering session four years ago, I went from 35 pairs of shoes and 9 pairs of boots to 22 and 4 respectfully. I will complete another purge as shoes and purses are a terrible weakness for me. As I look at this picture, I realize that donated a few other pairs but know that I have purchased a few more casual pairs.
The KonMari Methods must be completed systematically starting with shoes, clothes. books, paper and komono (virtually everything else). The very last category is the hardest: sentimental items. This is deliberate. As you go through the process, you will become less sensitive to loss and more empowered by minimalism.
As you declutter, each item held then the question must be asked: Does it spark joy? You have one of two choices – yes, it sparks joy – you get to keep it. If it does not spark joy, it must be shown the door. You must thank it for its service and politely donate it or discard it.
Yes, I am aware this all sounds silly. At the very least you will have an amusing afternoon with your kids. But once you get going, you will see that the object may have brought value and ‘joy’ to your life but if it is not useful any longer, it must be released – along with the guilt it carries with it. It was key to making the tough decisions of letting go of things.
Below is a full time lapse video of the process I went through to KonMari my shoes and clothes one summer afternoon. It was long and arduous but with the help of my daughters, it was really, really fun and incredibly cathartic!
The Inventory
- 35 pairs of shoes
- 9 pairs of boots
- 15 Skirts
- 12 Dresses
- 20 ‘dressy’ tops
- 17 jackets/blazers
- 8 suits
- 16 tank tops
- 35 casual shirts
- 9 pair of capris pants
- 10 pairs of jeans
- 6 dressy pants
- 21 sweaters
Holy smokes did I have a lot of clothes. I discarded a lot of clothes – sold some, donated. Items that did not fit me or just did not make me feel good about my middle-aged body. If there was no joy, there was no keeping it. Through the years, I have tried the one-in-one-out game but this huge purge is even better. Does the KonMari Method work? Absolutely! Have I completed this on my whole house? Nope. Will I continue to plug away. You betcha!
Have you tried the KonMari Method? Has it worked for you?
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