The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy – Reflections On the Kon Mari Method
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used, if still available, or a similar item if not. Learn more on my Privacy Policy page.
By now, I’m sure almost everyone has heard of these books by Japanese author Marie Kondo. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up was translated into English in 2014, and it’s sequel “Spark Joy” was translated to English in 2015. Her unique spin on decluttering and organizing is called the “Kon Mari Method” based on the author’s name.
I didn’t hear about them until 2016, though, and then proceeded to declutter my whole house, garages, sheds and car! It took me about six months to go through most of my things to declutter and reorganize. I still haven’t finished organizing all my photos and sentimental items.
Do it Once and Never Again?
She claims that once you use this method once, you will never have to do it again. Is it true? Well, yes and no.
Life is not stagnant and there are always going to be new things coming and going in our lives. I still routinely go through my things and purge, but I have found that it is a lot easier and doesn’t take much time, as there isn’t as much to go through. With practice it gets easier. I also try to be more intentional about any new things I bring in. The systems I have adopted to keep my spaces tidy work pretty well, but I can still make messes with the best of them. I still have my clutter zones but they don’t get out of control.
So what is the Kon Mari Method?
The main principle is that you focus on what you want to keep – those things that “spark joy” – not on what you should get rid of. Even mundane things like a toothbrush or a screwdriver, although your initial reaction would be that they do not “spark joy”, are necessities that make your life easier, and not having would bring you the opposite of joy. Ever try to get a screw out with your finger nail? Not fun. Eventually you could replace those mundane items with a different colour or brand so that they would indeed “spark joy” every time you used them.
What else is different about the Kon Mari Method?
Declutter by categories – not location, and there is a specific order to how you start decluttering. You begin with the easiest category to declutter, which is clothing, and work through everything you own until you get to the hardest – sentimental items.
The order in which she suggests you declutter are:
- Clothing – divided into sub-categories – tops, bottoms, shoes, purses, etc.
- Books
- Papers
- Kimono (miscellaneous) which you can make your own sub-categories – kitchenware, furniture, tools, makeup, electronics, sewing supplies, office supplies, sports equipment, cleaning supplies, etc.
- Sentimental items – photos, old ticket stubs, baby clothes, heirlooms,etc.
To do each category you need to cull everything from wherever they are – different closets, rooms, drawers, outside storage, etc. and place on the floor, or some other large surface area. This is for the shock value so you can see how much you really own of a particular type of item. Do you really need fifty pairs of shoes or five can openers? Pick your favorites, that you actually use, and discard the rest.
How do you organize clothing with the Kon Mari Method?
When organizing clothing, the Kon Mari method uses a specific folding method so that the items can “stand up” on their own, very similar to the “filing method.” Even socks are folded, not rolled in a ball or tucked into each other. For hanging items, they should first be hung with other items in their category. Heavier and darker items on the left side graduating to the lightest on the right.
Finally, with the Kon Mari Method, it is important to...
Touch or pick up every object and ask yourself if you feel any “spark” of joy. Don’t just look at it – pick it up, touch it. Our things become invisible to us through disuse, even if they are right in front of us. you can also see the flaws better if they are in your hands.
Marie Kondo also believes it is important to thank each item for their service before discarding them. I must admit this is a very foreign idea, but I can see the value in appreciating the lessons we learn from everything.
Would I recommend these books – absolutely. Do the method to the letter, or take what you want from it as long as it “Sparks Joy.”
Share this:
