I’ve really become a fan of hers since I tried her methods. Now she has a TV show but I haven’t seen it yet. Love to know your thoughts!
This is a break off thread from our “Bag a Day” clubbers.
I might feel more joyful about tidying if I lived alone. As it is, since I tend to clean after myself as I go tidying for me generally means cleaning up a mess that someone else has made and I find it the opposite of joyful.
After reading her book a couple of years ago, we began folding my husband’s T-shirts in 3 so that he can file them vertically in his drawer (instead of stacking them on top of each other.) Now he can choose the T-shirt he wants to wear without disturbing the rest.
That’s all I found useful. Undoubtedly her method of pulling out all the same-type items and only keeping the ones that “spark joy” would reduce a lot of what we own, but I don’t feel the need to live quite so starkly.
I emptied my walk-in closet this weekend and decided to be ruthless about discarding items. I know Kondo advocates for a more peaceful method but ripping off the band aid works best for me.
Another area I’m working on is my home office. My books are now neatly shelved in logical categories. (I also discovered a few books that I started and didn’t finish!)
The next two areas I’d like to tackle are the kitchen and my craft room. I suspect it will be more challenging to part with stuff in those areas. This is where the KonMari method will be helpful.
The KonMari Method intrigues me. Unfortunately, some of what I have does not bring me joy but can’t be helped. Other peoples’ stuff, clothing pieces I do not love but are functional, legal docs, sports equipment, kids clothes, bills, come to mind. I should try on the other areas though. I like the ideas for knick knacks, the kitchen, and things the children have lost interest in. I read it when it first came out now that it is back again with the TV show I may attempt it
I’ve watched the first three episodes I think.
Thoughts so far…
- she is younger and more gentle than I pictured - I don’t know why I pictured a older, strict woman!
- I think the clothing method of piling ALL your clothing in one pile (on a bed for instance) is VERY effective. When you see the quantity - wow, it can be disturbing how much clothing people have/keep!
- While I don’t “thank” the clothing I get rid of, this weekend when going through my pile I did think about if an item gave me “joy” - remember “joy” is relative - are you excited to choose it? Do you feel good when you’re wearing it? Do you choose it often? Does it evoke a great memory and one of the above? Can you not live without it?
I also appreciate how she introduces herself to the house. I don’t know, it’s corny perhaps but I think it is a genuine act and I think for the people she is working with it brings a professional edge to what she is doing with them - that she generally cares.
I watched an episode last night where she is literally standing on the kitchen counter in her adorable outfit and tights rearranging the cupboards - dedication to helping! And i also like when she shares comments about how she uses methods with her own family - and what sometimes doesn’t work.
I haven’t tried the folding…I tend to be a roller (tshirts and other drawer items)
I want to watch. I enjoyed her book, although she seems pretty intense (maybe hence the image of a stern old woman!), while I don’t agree with everything she says, I generally agree with her philosophy. I think her method of thanking is interesting, while I haven’t done it, I can see how it is actually useful when all that is holding you back from getting rid of something is the emotional connection.
@milee30 , it’s more about having less stuff in the house in the first place that needs cleaned up! And functional things like keep items where they are used, etc (and less functional things like have everytyhing away in drawers or cabinets).
I watched the first episode. It gave me a bit of anxiety to even watch the chaos in that home. I could see that being my D in a few years. What really struck me and I’m probably guilty as well you s how large the pile of clothes on the bed was.
I’m very ready to rid my house of a lot of stuff. I’m doing the January cure right now but I could see doing a bit of KonMari on several areas of my house.
I just discovered her and I believe she has two books out. I was thinking to create a new thread on this topic and I’m so glad this thread came up. I haven’t watched the show but I have been watching her videos on youtube. I truly believe if we live in a cluttered space it clutters our mind and stresses us out.
I think if I follow her methods I will feel very peaceful knowing my things are organized and all the clutter is out of the house. I want to read her book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNaPKFA1niUFRgzkVqqhJVg/videos?disable_polymer=1
Here is the “Spark Joy” audiobook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srav8fKkGzs
I watched this google talk just this weekend to learn more about her methods.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1-HMMX_NR8
I have always had the habit of folding my clothes really neatly because I don’t like to iron. I realized when you fold and make the item stand vertically it allows for much more to be stored in a drawer. I plan to keep learning more and more about her methods.
Right now I have a dish set that I haven’t used in years that I had contemplated getting rid of. I thought does it “spark joy” and my first thought was “no” so I am boxing it up and donating it. That will leave two big shelves empty in my very small kitchen.
After seeing what my parents went through to sell their home and downsize I am more than determined to not let myself get into such a difficult situation. They had donated 5 full Salvation Army trucks of furniture before moving to a two bedroom home. They are so happy now! Right now I am in the mode of “less is more.” In a way I have downsized when I moved from a single family home to a two bedroom condo several years ago. I want to keep it clean because in a smaller space the mess is more noticeable.
Unwatchable twee telly.
I filled a bag to donate today and it occurred to me that I have a different take on what brings me joy. I have shirts that I bought on clearance for $3. Getting that deal on shirts excited me, but I’m not sure if the actual items spark joy.
I grew up with a frugal mom and depression era grandma, so lots of hoarding and reusing and hand-me-downs in my life. Getting new clothes is a rush for me, and the cheaper the better. I’m not sure how to break that habit, although I have broken that habit when buying shoes. Only quality and comfort now since I had some issues a few years ago.
My t-shirts are Kondo’d from a year ago, and it is useful to see them all at once. I do think I’ve reduced my closet to only 20% not sparking joy, but am ready to go further. January is a good purge month for me.
I think there is going to have to be a bigger social conversation on where crap that is donated goes, the stuff that people can’t bear to throw away that needs to actually be thrown away. For sure society buying lots of cheap stuff is the bigger discussion.
I think we all realize that there is a difference: inevitable stuff (like our box of school papers that would have gone into the recycling bin one way or the other) and stuff that should not have been bought in the first place.
We can keep that conversation elsewhere.
Her approach to books has me twitching.
I read about her methods a few years ago, and like having my clothes folded her way. I have fewer clothes than I once did, but still more than I probably need. (Once upon a time we were living in Hawaii, I was a stay at home mom, but still hadn’t rid myself of all my professional, upper midwest winter clothes.
I’m about five years into a gradual purge of household items. I find that some things I need to look at and put back for several years in a row before I’m really ready to get rid of them. A drawer full of older (not charmingly old or antique, just older) cameras that I can’t quite part with is an example. I use my phone and a very good digital camera, and I would hang on to my original 35mm film camera, but there are a lot of old, cheap, film and digital cameras in there that need to go. Maybe this will be the year…
One thing that she said to do contrary to “a bag a day” is to do a category totally as fast as you can. Get it over with. Otherwise you spend your life mulling over stuff over months instead of enjoying your surroundings. And bring everything in that category from every corner of your house into one spot.
Clothes are easiest for people to part with so that’s a good place to start. You forget you’ve got more than one closet or stuff stuck under the bed or the spare room dresser. So get it ALL out at once. That’s when you realize you’ve got 30 pairs of navy blue pants and half doesn’t even fit.
I fold shirts and pants now. I tried rolling but the folding is easier actually and makes things easier to find. Plus they don’t get wrinkled at all.
I also think that once you’ve Kondo’d your shirts that it’s easier to sporadically cull them later on. They’re all visible so you can easily tell if you’re avoiding wearing one for some reason. No need to pull everything out to see what you own.
I read the second book first— it has more practical tips in it than just “thanking things”
I watched the first episode last night. I like her and some of the things she does. I’ve always been fairly good at purging things, but I need to take it a step further.
I liked her “thanking” the clothes. I think I will use that for items I’ve kept for years, don’t wear, ians have a hard time getting rid of for sentimental reasons. One is a sweater my DH bought me when we were 28. We were walking in a large department store and I just went crazy over this black, to the knee cardigan, with stunning appliqué and beading all over it. It was $200 then, something we should not have even been buying. He bought it for me on the spot and I wore that sweater constantly for several years. I’ll never wear it again, but i have such nice memories on the occasions I’ve reorganized and see it.
I need to say thank you for those lovely memories of my husbands generosity, our youth and our young marriage and let it go. For some reason it brings tears to my eyes.
I love her “does it bring you joy”. That will be helpful as I go around getting rid of Knick knacks.
@conmama — sounds like that sweater brings you joy whether you wear it now or not. I’d keep it! Re file it under Sentimental items and revisit it last after everything else. And then keep it.