The New Year is here again. And as the old saying goes, “New Year, new you!” Forget the past failures and it’s the time to start anew. It’s time to chase for happiness. But where do you actually start? You can start by decluttering.
According to studies, decluttering reduces stress levels, fights depression, makes it easier to focus, makes you eat better, and improves air quality. One way to do this is through the KonMari method.
What’s the KonMari Method?
The KonMari method is popularized by Marie Kondo, the famous Japanese organizing consultant, author, and TV host. She devised a method to make it an enjoyable, mindful, and liberating experience.
It’s not just about decluttering your house. It’s doing it in a way that will spark joy in your life and bring you happiness in the long run.
What’s this bunch of emotional stuff? Well, before you reject the idea, she was heralded as part most influential people by Time magazine (2015). Her consulting customer list has a waiting time of almost forever since she is quite in-demand today.
In fact, Marie Kondo has 200+ consultants and their prices per session depending on their experience. Certifications range from green (10 tidying sessions with 2 clients) to master (500 tidying sessions with 50 clients).
A green consultant charges for $595 per session. A platinum consultant is priced at $3000 that sometimes includes 6 tidying sessions. Yikes!
So if you don’t have the money to spare, you can actually do it yourself. And here are the steps.
Start by Category, not by Location
When you declutter, do you start in your room? Then, the living room? And go down to your basement, and so on? Well, Marie Kondo suggests otherwise. Instead of doing it per location, she advises starting decluttering per category. These are the basic ones in order:
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (a.k.a. Miscellaneous Items)
- Sentimental Items
Make sure to start with your clothes as these items are easiest to declutter. And leave all sentimental items for last because it’s the hardest to let go.
Imagine Your Ideal Lifestyle
KonMari is not just decluttering your house. It’s making your house into an ideal home for you and your family (Or your pets, if you’re single). It should create a place where you are happy living your life.
But the question is, what’s your ideal lifestyle? What kind of house do you want to live in? Describe it as detailed as possible so that you will have the clarity when you start applying the concepts.
It Will Be Worse Before It Becomes Better
Why are you seeing so much clutter? What is this pile of clothes in front of you? It’s a total mess. Know that it will be worse before it becomes better.
So yes, go around your whole house and compile all the clothes, books, and types of items you can. It’s essential that you do this.
Two things will happen. One, after seeing this pile, you will be shocked at how many things you have of the same type. Two, you will see the items that you are lacking.
Does it Spark Joy: Discarding First Before You Organize
Now that you have the pile of items, it’s time to sort which one you should keep or not. And the KonMari method revolves around having the joy of owning it.
So hold your item up, and I ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?” It may seem awkward at first, but this is necessary. Along the way, you will find items that definitely make your heart at ease.
And as you pile up the things you need to discard. Thank them for their service for all these years. Aside from throwing it out, you can choose to sell them or donate through charity.
After this, you will have considerably fewer items to store. How do you organize them?
Organize items by Size and Similar Utilities
Now that you have all your items that spark joy, you need to start arranging your belongings.
Organize your items based on where you use it. If it’s for your games or your artist tools, you organize them together. Also, gather together items that are similar in size. It’s best if you put it in a box or clear storage bin so that it’s easy to see.
Based on the Frequency of Use
The next thing you should consider is the frequency of use. You want the items that you often use to be more accessible. For example, the plates you use every day should be on a more reachable shelf. And for those you use for special occasions, it could be at the topmost shelf.
KonMari Folding Techniques
As for clothes, the KonMari method likes to fold your wardrobe vertically. It makes your clothes easy to find and it’s a space saver. You can also opt to arrange them by colour so that it’s pleasing to look as well.
Here is a video tutorial for folding your clothes:
Here is a video tutorial for folding your intimate wear.
Conclusion
Are you ready to declutter your life? Apply the KonMari method and see how your life changes today! Good luck! Happy New Year!
