Why The Marie Kondo Movement Resonates With So Many People

The Marie Kondo Movement, or the KonMari Method, is a minimalist approach that tackles the clutter in your house based on category and room. At the end of your mass cleanup, you should be left with items that only spark joy and fit within your ideal lifestyle. A lot of people have benefited from the Marie Kondo approach to a tidy home. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Overview of the Method: How to Start

There are six basic rules to follow when using the KonMari Method:

• Commit to tidying your space.
• Image your ideal lifestyle
• Thank your items before throwing them away.
• Tidy by KonMari category, not location.
• Follow the five categories in order.
• Hold the item and ask yourself if it brings you joy.

The final rule that involves holding the item is the most important. Most things may lack value to other people, or they have a specific sentimental value that’s hard to convey monetarily. However, if it matters to you and you feel happy while holding it, you should probably keep it.

Now, go through each room and start organizing your clothing, books, paper, miscellaneous items (or Komono), and then sentimental items. If you live in Hawaii and want to add items to your home that spark joy weekly, order flower delivery in Miami that includes local flora.

Be careful: You may think some items spark joy when they’re actually holding you back. For example, a box of letters from an ex-boyfriend may remind you of better times, but reading them could delay the mourning process. It’s better to throw them away, even if it hurts to do it.

Lessons Learned from Mari Kondo’s Decluttering Book

Mari Kondo has transformed lives with her method. Here are a few lessons we learned from her book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

Clean Based on Categories, Not Rooms

Mari Kondo starts the list by advising declutters to begin with items that are the least emotionally loaded, like clothing. However, it’s best to clean based on those categories instead of focusing your efforts on one room, as you’re more likely to move the clutter around instead of removing it.

Treat Your Belongings as if They Have Feelings

It sounds bizarre to give inanimate objects animate qualities, but doing so will allow you to consider the state of your messiness from another point of view. Kondo asks her readers to think about how they would feel balled up in the corner, forgotten, or squashed up.

Save the Emotionally Charged Items for Last

Nostalgia fills us with bliss and joy, but you don’t need to be burdened by these emotions while tidying up. You’ll easily get distracted, and one old letter or a yearbook will turn into multiple wasted hours. Don’t look at these items until you’ve tackled the bulk of the mess first.

Letting Go Feels Incredible

Mari Kondo prays before entering the home to fill the space with good vibes, and it’s essential to do this step of the ritual, even if you aren’t religious. Tell yourself your discarded clothing, old books, and miscellaneous items will go to a good home and free up space in your brain.

Fold Most of Your Clothing

Kondo uses a unique folding technique that lets you see each item clearly, so you won’t have to pull your clothes out to see their design. Her vertical folding method provides a pop of color and positivity every time you open a drawer. If you must hang certain clothes, leave enough space.

Less is More

The more you get rid of, the less space it occupies in your life. As you were removing items from your life, you probably found things you forgot you had or want to use in the future. That’s a good thing because it means you can fall in love with your closet or niknaks all over again.

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