We've all heard of Marie Kondo – the extraordinary Japanese Organization Guru. She has dedicated her life to helping people tidy up. When Marie Kondo first published her book "the life-changing magic of tidying up" – it proved to the world something that women already knew. That keeping your home tidy is an art!
For those of you who still struggle to keep it tidy, we've brought you answers to some FAQs about organizing. All the answers are based on the KonMari method of tidying up.
Where Do I Start?
"It feels easier to continue dealing with clutter instead of tackling this arduous task. It would be a little bit easier if I knew where to start!"
– A Homemaker.
Before you begin decluttering, begin with a vision. Imagine how your room, closet, or garage would look if it were decluttered. Marie Kondo believes that if you visualize your life after decluttering – it will drive you to organize your home and sustain that lifestyle once you get there. Also, the KonMari method has a recommended order you can follow. Here it is –
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (Miscellaneous items)
- Sentimental items
How Do I Decide What to Keep & What to Discard?
"When you're choosing what to keep, ask your heart; keep only things that spark joy!"
– Marie Kondo
The KonMari philosophy insists that your focus should be on keeping and not on discarding. For every object, it is recommended that you hold it in your hands and ask yourself, "Does this spark joy?" If the answer is yes, you can precisely identify what you love and need.
I Have Too Many Clothes & Yet I have Nothing to Wear!
"Every time I open my closet, I am assaulted by a wave of guilt. Just looking at the sheer amount of clothes I have collected over the years makes me feel awful!"
- A Well-dressed Woman
Organizing clothes is one of the biggest challenges in our busy lives. But there is a lot you can do to declutter your closet. The best way to KonMari your wardrobe is to bring out all your clothes and decide what to keep. Once you have only the clothes that spark joy – categorize them by item and material. Fold your clothes and organize them vertically to ensure that everything is visible at all times.
I Have Several Drawers Full of Papers – I Wish I Knew Which Ones Are Important
"I keep all my paperwork, bills, and warranty cards. But when I actually need them, I can never find them!"
- A Family Guy
We all have that filing cabinet that's overflowing with papers. When tackling your filing cabinet, make two simple categories – Papers to Save and Papers to Deal With. Papers to save are your identity cards, birth certificates and tax documents. Papers to deal with can be to-be-filed applications or pending paperwork yet to submit or post. For all the rest of the papers, you will find that they are either useless or that you can get a digital copy of that document.
Saying Goodbye is Hard
Yes. For many of us, saying goodbye to nostalgic items is very hard. Ask yourself why it's hard for you to let go. It could be an attachment to the past, a fear of the future, or a combination of both. The more clearly you can think about it, the easier it will be to let go.
How Can I Keep it Tidy Forever?
Tidying up once does not mean that your home will continue to be tidy forever. Living tidy is a continuous process, and here are four tips that can help you sustain what you have achieved at the end of your tidying festival –
- Designate a place for everything. Give your belongings a home.
- All your belongings should be in their designated place at the end of the day.
- Store similar items together. Keep your storage solutions simple.
- Be respectful of your belongings.
Tidying is therapeutic, and decluttering can change your life. It enables you to be mindful, reflective, and forward-looking. Designate a week or two every year to the tidying festival and for the rest of the year, spend clutter-free days that spark joy! When you wake up to a home that is free of clutter, your mind can focus on bigger things.