What do you want to declutter? Your junk drawer, your closet, your garage?
If you’re like most people, the answer is all the above. And if it’s been a while since you’ve tackled one of these areas, then perhaps it’s time to do a KonMari.
What Is the KonMari Method?
The KonMari method is a decluttering method introduced by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organization consultant. She released a book about it in 2014, and her practice has since gained popularity both in Japan and worldwide, including a spot on Netflix.
The KonMari method aims to manage your stuff and improve your life outlook by cleaning your house.
It involves separating items into four categories—toss, keep, give away, or sell—based on whether they spark joy or bring negative feelings when you touch them. According to Ms. Kondo, if it doesn’t fit well with your lifestyle and brings you joy, it’s better to get rid of it.
How the KonMari Method Can Improve Your Life
Contrary to what most people think, the KonMari method isn’t about minimalism. Instead, it’s about filling your life with things that bring about positive memories and energy. Of course, your mind and body can benefit from decluttering.
1. Decluttering Brings Peace of Mind
You have collected items without thinking about whether they fit into your lifestyle or not due to limited space at home. As time passes, more things do not spark joy.
When tidying up, you may figure out the reason why you have kept some items for so long and conclude whether it’s necessary or not.
For example, take an old item that you have left in your bag or car after using. Do you really use it frequently? Although keeping such an item used to be okay with you, now it causes stress.
This is because your lifestyle has changed thanks to the KonMari Method and your awareness of life. The stuff was holding you back from moving forward, so getting rid of it will relieve mental burdens and make a positive impact on your lifestyle and even wealth management plans.
This practice becomes extremely important when you’re relocating. Sometimes people don’t want to move even when they need to simply because the place, and all it represents, is holding them back.
Anyone who wants to have an easier transition can consider doing the KonMari at least a month before calling a moving company. This will allow them to graciousl
y go through each item and dispose of them, perhaps through donating or selling.
2. Decluttering Helps You See the Difference Between “I Want” and “I Need”
It is hard to figure out the difference in your mind where it’s not easy to differentiate what is needed from what is just unnecessary. When tidying up, you can distinguish stuff that sparks joy and those that do not easily by putting them on a shelf or under your bed. If you do this over a few years, these items will surely become less and less as time passes.
After decluttering several times, you may be able to know whether an item is necessary simply at first sight. You will find some items are useful for special purposes, such as souvenirs of trips, but once they have fulfilled their purpose, they are just junk that doesn’t spark joy.
3. The KonMari Method May Lead to Positive Changes
Before the KonMari method became popular, many people thought tidying up was a troublesome task that they needed to do every six months or so when their houses were too cluttered and messy.
Now, most realized that tidying up regularly, especially when it’s easier to do, can help reduce their stress levels.
For example, after decluttering under the bed once in four months, they may want to do it every two months. This works for people who have never tidied before, and those who feel like their houses are not tidy enough despite frequent tidying up.
Over time, they spend fewer hours dealing with the mess. They don’t even have to dread the idea of doing spring cleaning!
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the entire process of decluttering and cleaning, particularly if you are dealing with a major event like a relocation. But if you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, then the whole thing doesn’t seem so daunting anymore. If you’re looking for a way to make your home feel cleaner yet livelier than ever before, think KonMari.
