Declutter Your Home the KonMari Way to Enjoy the Process

Clutter in any home is everyone’s chaos, because while it’s true that to some extent it can spark creativity, the reality is that when there’s too much clutter, it can have horrible consequences. But… what are the consequences of clutter?

Living in constant disorganization is undoubtedly one of the biggest agents that undermines well-being and causes stress. Inevitably, stress can cause a whole range of physical and psychological ailments: muscle pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal, cardiac, dermatological or sexual problems.

The most frequently mentioned stress factors are those related to the high demands of work and social life, while the individual’s physical environment often goes unnoticed when it comes to identifying the most significant sources of stress. Yet external stimuli such as cold, heat or noise are a major cause of stress. And, of course, so is clutter.

The result of living in constant chaos can also lead to a growing sense of guilt, which in the long run can be emotionally damaging. The longer the mess goes on, the harder it will be to organize your environment, and the guiltier you will feel for not being able to control the situation.

Have you ever thought that you could not only bring order, but also joy by tidying up your home? That’s exactly what the method developed by Marie Kondo, a Japanese writer who became a true guru of tidying, promises.

In this article, let’s look at Marie Kondo’s philosophy and teaching from her book the art of tidying.

The Marie Kondo Philosophy

What is the philosophy behind this method? The concept is simple: get rid of all the objects that no longer bring you joy, keeping only those that still speak to your heart.

It may sound strange, but applying this method will force you to take time to reflect and will lead you to a greater awareness of yourself and the space around you.

But how to do it?

The KonMari method (it has been patented under this name) follows 6 rules:

1. Commit to tidying up: it is likely that it will not be a quick process, so arm yourself with patience and dedication.
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle: how would you like your ideal home to be? According to the author, understanding this will not only give you a clear direction when you start tidying, but will also help you maintain this approach and thus the result over time.
3. Focus first on discarding what you don’t really need: there’s no point in getting distracted by thinking about how to reorganize the space. It is better to focus only on what needs to be discarded in the first phase in order to be faster.
4. Sort by category, not by room: does this sound strange? Let’s think about it… do you really have all your clothes or books in one room? The answer is probably no. That’s why sorting by room is essentially moving a bunch of stuff around, without really having a sense of what exactly you have.
   
   Gathering all the items in one category, on the other hand, will make you immediately see how much stuff you have. This will force you to consider more carefully what to keep and what to throw away.
5. Follow the right order: according to Marie Kondo, you should put away clothes first, then books, followed by documents, objects of different kinds (komono, in Japanese) and finally objects that have sentimental value.
6. Ask yourself if each object brings you joy: perhaps the most complex part for a westerner. The author suggests holding each object in your hands and observing it, taking care to note your reaction of joy or indifference to decide whether to keep it or throw it away (but only after “thanking” it).

Interesting way of decluttering your home isn’t it? Let us know your thoughts about this method in the comments below! Until then, we wish you a happy cleaning!